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Filed under: Apple Corporate, Hardware

BrandIndex: Microsoft's ads effective

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on May 20th, 2009

BrandIndex is reporting this week that Microsoft's "Laptop Hunter" and similar ads are changing consumer's perceived value of Windows machines. YouGov conducted a survey of 5,000 consumers to measure the "value score" of both Macs and Windows machines. The value score represents a customer's perception of "bang for the buck." We don't know exactly how that's measured by the survey.

What they found was a steady increase in Microsoft's score since the price-conscious ads began. Simultaneously, Apple's score has fallen.

You can argue the validity of the commercials' claims, but what's undeniable is that people shop on price. When John Q. Public decides to buy a computer, 9 times out of 10 his initial thought is, "What's this going to cost me?" Most shoppers aren't like you and me, concerned with statistics and performance. They want cheap. As someone who has bought hundreds of computers for two schools over 8 years, I know what I'm talking about.

While the ads may infuriate Mac nerds like us, they might persuade everyone else.

[Via Electronista]

Tags: ads, apple, commercials, laptop hunter, LaptopHunter, microsoft

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Apple Financial

New Get a Mac ads after "Laptop Hunters"

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Apr 19th, 2009


Tonight Apple released four new Get a Mac ads that feature the same, and ever so lovable, PC and Mac characters. In the first new ad, "Time Traveler," PC travels into the future to see if PCs still crash. In the ad called "Stacks," PC is shuffling through thousands of photos to find the one he is looking for; Mac then tells him about the facial recognition in iPhoto '09.

In "Legal Copy," PC starts telling how "easy to use" he is, but as he talks, his disclaimer copy appears at the bottom of the sceen. The final new ad, "Biohazard Suit," PC explains his biohazard suit as he tells Mac about all of the recent viruses going around for Windows.

While these ads are funny, you can't help but wonder if this is Apple's response to the recent "Laptop Hunters" Microsoft ads, although with the production schedules involved it's likely that the new Apple ads were already in the can or at least well underway when Lauren and her pals hit the screen. You can watch all of these new ads by going to the Get a Mac page on the Apple site, and we'll be talking about them on the talkcast in just a few minutes.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Tags: ads, commercials, Get a Mac, GetAMac

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

New iPhone ads appear, bring joy and good cheer

by Aron Trimble (RSS feed) on Apr 8th, 2009


Last night while watching House, I saw what seemed to be a new iPhone commercial featuring some pretty interesting applications. Despite the fact that I was watching this particular episode on my DVR, I stopped fast-forwarding through the commercials so I could catch the latest Apple showcase of iPhone applications.

For many people, if you've seen one commercial for a given product, then you've seen all the commercials you need to see. Not so with iPhone. As these commercials so ably show, the iPhone isn't just one product, it's thousands of products. Thanks to the App Store, the iPhone and iPod Touch have become a tour de force of gaming, productivity, networking, and so forth. The success has become so ubiquitous that I am even willing to watch a commercial to learn of new applications that could enhance my life.

The good news is that after stopping by MacDailyNews I discovered that there are a total of three new iPhone commercials available for your viewing pleasure; all without having to interrupt any commercial-skipping. MDN has the hot scoop replete with YouTube vids to fill your stomach with all sorts of unicorn teary goodness. You can also check out the new advertisements, "Itchy," "Office," and "Student," in extremely huge resolution over at Apple.com

Via MacDailyNews

Tags: app store, AppStore, commercial, commercials, iphone, iphone 3g, Iphone3g, ipod touch, IpodTouch

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, Apple

New Get a Mac Ads: Bean Counter and V Word

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Oct 19th, 2008


With all of the political mudslinging going around this time of year, Apple has decided to add a different type of mudslinging to the barrage of TV commercials. Tonight, they released two new "Get a Mac" ads: Bean Counter, and V Word.

In Bean Counter [direct video link], PC is sitting at a desk, counting money out into two stacks. The largest stack is for advertising and the smaller stack is for bug fixes for Vista. When Mac questions him, he says that he's having to take drastic action because of the frustration of Vista users. In the end, PC gives up budgeting and puts all of his money into advertising. This commercial is no doubt in response to Microsoft's recent advertising strategies. In V Word [direct video link], PC makes every attempt to "beep out" the word "Vista" in the ad.

Sure, these commercials are well thought out and somewhat funny; but is Apple's mudslinging getting a little old? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below, and don't forget to take part in our poll. You can watch the new commercials by visiting the Apple website.

Thanks for the tip, Tony!

Do you still like the Get a Mac ads?

Tags: ads, advertisement, breakingnews, commercials, Get a Mac, GetAMac, tv

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple

New get a Mac ad: Off the Air

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Aug 20th, 2008

Tonight, Apple released a new "Get a Mac" ad. "Off the Air" shows PC, Mac, and a Mac Genius. Mac tries to win people over on the fact that the Geniuses will transfer your files from your old PC to your new Mac.

A mad PC then announces that his "frustrated" customers don't need to hear about that and that "fear of switching is the foundation of customer loyalty for PCs." PC proceeds to shut off the commercial by pulling a curtain down.

This commercial isn't as funny, in my opinion, as the last set that came out earlier this week. You can watch all of the Get a Mac ads by visiting the Get a Mac website.

Tags: ads, Apple, commercial, commercials, get a mac, GetAMac, Mac

Filed under: Cult of Mac, Apple

New Get a Mac ads: Pep Rally / Group

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on May 12th, 2008


Apple just released two new "Get a Mac" ads -- Pep Rally and Group. In Pep Rally, PC tries to pep himself up despite the fact that the Mac is the "number one notebook on college campuses." Just when PC finishes his rant, the cheerleader squad starts cheering for Mac.

In Group, PC is in a support group with fellow PCs. "You've just taken the biggest step, and that's accepting that our operating system just isn't working like it should," are some words uttered by the PCs. The comedy comes at the end of this one as a PC stands up and says "I am pleased to say that I've been error free for over a week" in a constant loop.

You can view these new ads on Apple's Get a Mac website. Apple has also redesigned their Get a Mac site for viewing these Mac commercials, you can now view them by year going all the way back to 2006.


Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Tags: ads, Apple, commercials, Get a Mac, GetAMac

Filed under: Cult of Mac, Odds and ends, iPhone

Pacific Catch offers iPhone Calamari special

by Erica Sadun (RSS feed) on Jun 21st, 2007


If life deals you lemons, make lemonade. If life deals you an iPhone commercial, make calamari. The Pacific Catch restaurant is celebrating the recent Apple iPhone commercial by offering a Pacific Catch Calamari Special at both its locations. No details are on-offer at the Pacific Catch site, but I'm pretty sure the deal involves tentacles. Next up, I expect surf shops start offering doggy skateboarding lessons.

Thanks Brian and Andrew

Tags: Calimari, Commercials, Pacific Catch, PacificCatch

Filed under: iPhone

Zaprudering the iPhone Commercials: Maps

by Erica Sadun (RSS feed) on Jun 4th, 2007

Wow. The things you can learn from Apple commercials. Notice anything about that map icon? It looked mighty familiar to me and as TUAW reader Brian noted in our comments, that's a wee stylized image of 1 Infinite Loop, Apple Headquarters--or at least...kind of. The arrow looks more like it's on North de Anza Boulevard than Infinite Loop itself, but it's close enough for me. Here are a bunch of other things I've noticed about iPhone maps.

  • We got a great look at the keyboard interface, when doing the Maps search. The QWERTY keyboard includes a shift button, a delete button, an option to switch to a numeric view, and a search button (which I assume is the same as "return").
  • It looks like the interaction order is: Search, select a pin, press the (>) button on the link, and then view the location information.
  • Pacific Catch is a real restaurant. I called it up and spoke briefly to a hostess named Fancy (like the adjective). "We've been getting calls all morning from all over the country. People want to know if we're a real business. We are."

Gallery: Zaprudering iPhone Maps

Main MenuMain Menu1 Infinite LoopOnscreen KeyboardMap search results

Tags: Commercials, Details, Maps, Zaprudering

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

TUAW Poll: The new Mac ads

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on May 2nd, 2006

We've all seen the ads by now, so it's time to ask the question: What do you think? Are the "Get a Mac" ads another example of Apple's quirky brilliance, or do the lack of specifics (OS, processor speeds, etc.) leave you wanting? Take our poll below, and check back tomorrow for the results.

Like the new Apple ads?
They're fantasic!
Pretty funny
Cute, but won't sell Macs
Typically vague
These are terrible
Another poll = slow news day
  

Tags: commercials, get a mac, GetAMac, mac ads, MacAds

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