justin long posts

Justin Long: PC User?

by Erica Sadun (RSS feed) on Apr 25th, 2008

We've gotten a few tips over the last 24 hours suggesting that 'Mac' -- actor Justin Long, of the I'm a Mac, I'm a PC ad campaign -- made a shopping trip to a Cupertino-area Best Buy and surprisingly, in a bit of a CLM, pooh-poohed the available Apple hardware:

[Best Buy's John] Beck said that he showed Long a variety of machines, however he was not really interested in the products that Apple had. "He said that he's got a few of them at home, but doesn't really use them much. He said that you can't really get any good games for them and that he doesn't like the mouse since it only has one button. He also said that his started crashing a lot ever since he got the latest updates for iTunes."

Leaving aside the question of whether a Hollywood actor is clever enough to grok the Mighty Mouse's right-click capability or using Boot Camp for gaming, it just so happens that all the instances of this story lead back to this Joking Around blog post. Joking Around, which provides amusing fake news ("Making up the news -- because real news is boring!"), is not an actual news source. TUAW giggled at the "Closet PC User" story (although the one about Apple patenting the click is funnier) but in truth we have no idea what platform Mr. Long computes on. It's his business whether he is in fact a PC user or not -- and we think it best to let such personal secrets remain behind closed doors.

[Actually, we're pretty sure he uses a Mac -- but it's still his business]

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

Tags: Justin Long, JustinLong

Filed under: Humor, Video

Apple ad spoofs with PC as the protagonist

by Michael Rose (RSS feed) on May 25th, 2007

This one has been climbing up the bloggeist for a few weeks, and it's a fine apertif for the start of the holiday weekend. Copywriter Laurie McGuinness, moonlighting as a commercial parody director, made a series of four Mac/PC ad spoofs in early 2007, with PC as the businesslike, successful protagonist and Mac as the geeky, freelance hand-to-mouth sidekick. (Is it just me, or does the guy playing PC look like a thinner, less crazy version of John Dvorak?)

All four ads are viewable on McGuinness' site or on YouTube, and they're mostly moderately funny; one exception is the 'Music' spot, which suggests that iPod users are selfish goobers who don't like to share music. Poor form!

If you've got a favorite Mac/PC ad parody, let me know in the comments and I'll highlight the top choices in a weekend post.

Thanks, Beth!

Tags: ads, hodgman, humor, justin long, JustinLong, mac/pc, parody, tv

Filed under: Humor, Cult of Mac

Justin Long in Live Free or Die Hard

by Erica Sadun (RSS feed) on Dec 25th, 2006

Mac: "Hello, I'm a Mac"

PC: "Hello, I'm a PC"

Mac: "Run!!!!!!"

Fans of the "I'm a Mac" "I'm a PC" campaign will be delighted to learn that Justin Long (aka "Mac") will appear in the upcoming Bruce Willis blockbuster "Live Free Die Hard" in which, we presume, he will be reprising his role as "Mac" opposite Bruce Willis's grizzled Windows Vista-based PC. Per previous installments in this now venerable series, you can expect a lot of explosions, screaming and reasoned discourses on the philosophical basis of end-user empowerment. Now that's what we call an operating system shootout.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Tags: Apple, Justin Long, JustinLong, Mac, PC

Filed under: Video, Apple

Justin Long a Mac no longer?

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Nov 8th, 2006

Radar Online is reporting that Justin Long, the actor who plays the part of the Mac in Apple's Get a Mac campaign, is no longer an Apple spokesman. A new round of ads is being worked on with John Hodgman (the PC) and director Phil Morrison but Justin Long with not appear in them, according to his 'people.'

Was this Apple's decision, or Justin's? We may never know, but Justin's representative said, "Justin's a movie star, not a commercial guy."

So, dear TUAW readers, who do you think should fill his shoes as the Mac in the new commercials?

Thanks, Matt.

Tags: get a mac, GetAMac, john hodgman, JohnHodgman, justin long, JustinLong

Filed under: Hardware, Retail, Odds and ends, Interviews

Justin Long on 'Get a Mac' ads, being harassed

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Aug 14th, 2006

In an interview more about his career (rather than Apple nerdery), Justin ("hi I'm a Mac") Long managed to wax ecstatic with Mary McNamara of the LA Times about 'the ads' and what they've done for (or rather: to) his career. He had stories to tell of being harassed on the street by people who might have taken the ads just a little too seriously, and he also admitted that, before the ads, he didn't even own a computer (just guess what he owns now). Also of note in the interview is a tidbit Martha wrote about a whopping 20 more ads in the "hottest campaign on TV" on their way (are these spots really resonating that well with their target demographic?). We've seen a few more ads trickle out since they were first introduced, and I would wager more will hit a Daily Show near you once the semester kicks back in.

There aren't many more Apple-related details in the interview other than what I've summarized, but check it out if you're interested in learning a little more about the actor who might (or might not) be helping the Apple cause with the powers of comedy.

Tags: ads, advertisements, get a mac, GetAMac, interview, justin long, JustinLong

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple

New Apple ads mean spirited?

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Jun 20th, 2006

Seth Stevenson, writing for Slate, makes a good point about the new Apple ads: John Hodgman (the actor portraying the PC) gets all the good lines. He's the funny, likable one. The Mac (played by Justin Long) is kind of annoying and not the least bit funny.

Sadly, I don't think Apple counted on Hodgman's rise in popularity before they shot these commercials, but does that mean the ads don't work? Since I am clearly already a Mac user I can't really judge if they work or not. I know there are a few switchers out there that read TUAW, so tell me: do these commercials make you want to buy a Mac?

Tags: commerical, get a mac, GetAMac, hodgman, justin long, JustinLong

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