Video: Apple responds to Microsoft's Laptop Hunters... with a Megan

According to Apple, there aren't any PCs with fast processors and big screens that work without viruses, crashes or headaches. But folks, this isn't reality, this is advertising. In fact, this is Apple's first jab since Microsoft took off the gloves with its Laptop Hunters series of pokes against Apple. So grab a Coke (or Pepsi) and check the ad after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Andrew Fujimura @ May 13th 2009 1:12AM]

Just trying it out for a bit to see what all the fuss was about. Better yet I am even helping by voting my own comment down. Soon we will get those bastards don't worry! Soon I plan on trying out being mac fanboy, oh wait I already am. ;) However I do prefer my Nokia because it has a decent 5 megapixal camera. Oh damn did he just say megapixel, lets stone him! Everybody knows that just a couple kilopixal's is more then enough. Sensor size damn it and lenses!!! Fuck I wish macs were cheaper the over priced pieces of crap!

[J Dogg @ May 13th 2009 1:06AM]

I'd like a Megan please!

[Nomar @ May 13th 2009 1:14AM]

To be specific, I'd like a Megan Fox please.

[AMiSH PiRATE @ May 13th 2009 1:44AM]

so... she's going to do it with a computer? that's kind of icky.

[brandonlindquist @ May 13th 2009 2:10AM]

"I'd like a Megan please!"

Haha! Awesome

[tb101 @ May 13th 2009 2:30AM]

Or it could be icky with an Apple. Hmm first time i could say "hey meagan do you do it dirty with an Apple?". haha sry i have both so im not going to say much I love my MacBook Pro and my Windows 7(RC) Tablet and me Desktop which i have running Windows 7 (RC)

[00ガンダム @ May 13th 2009 2:56AM]

Oh yes.. Megan Fox backed with warranty. Maybe I can jail"break" her ;)

[Mike Cerm @ May 13th 2009 3:59AM]

Don't forget to use an antivirus! Sure, she looks nice, but you never know where she's been.

[Nohone @ May 13th 2009 4:13AM]

It is rather disturbing how she has her hands covering her "naughty bits" throughout the commercial. Is the Mac a perv, and she wants to put up an extra line of defense?

[Derek @ May 13th 2009 6:52AM]

See, it's only icky to do it with a computer if it's a PC, because they're prone to viruses, then YOU'LL get those viruses too, and...

didn't you people ever pay attention in high-school Health class?

;)

[i.t._pro @ May 13th 2009 8:20AM]

bowchickawawa

[Barbaric @ May 13th 2009 10:21AM]

just to add to the dirty inspired comment list...did everyone catch all the double entendres?
Megan wants it BIG
Megan wants it FAST
Megan does not want any Viruses
Megan aint got a headache
Megan wants it to just work... so no helper pills

[iphonerulez @ May 13th 2009 10:27AM]

These new Apple ads only confirm what is already well-known. Windows PCs are crap and PC buyers are being dazzled by CHEAP initial cost. Chalk it up to ignorance and deception.
Apple = FTW

[dmglouis @ May 13th 2009 10:38AM]

@iphonerulez
Its funny you should talk about ignorance and deception. Throwing out blanket comments like Windows PCs are crap. Anyone with a scrap of common sense will probably never encounter a virus. (That means not clicking those SpeedupmyPC ads, etc). So, if you include that, and as you stated cheaper initial cost, windows pcs are better deals most of the time.

[Wwhat @ May 13th 2009 11:50AM]

Seems a bit useless to make such ads, apple types buy macs, the rest of us don't, so they only need to expose people that don't know that they are apple types as apple types, now this speed/screen/virus thing is simply lies, there are slow macs, with smaller screens, and yes even mac viruses (albeit way less of them), all those things don't define the apple user though.

But that's just my impressions, perhaps this roundabout way of being obnoxious makes apple users recognise themselves too, and want to buy macs :X

[Inect @ May 13th 2009 12:00PM]

@iphonerulez

stupid pc users not wanting to pay for more then what they need

[Dillinger @ May 13th 2009 12:23PM]

@dmglouis I used to say the same thing, and then the viruses get a lot more aggressive. If it really was that way we wouldn’t need all the security software companies in the world.

[Dan Fruzzetti @ May 13th 2009 4:36PM]

Here's what's sad:

They could nullify all of this nonsense with a commercial that said, "I'm a PC." "I'm a Mac, which is also a PC but with different software."

It's not like buying a Mac means anything other than buying an x86-compatible computer with BSD installed.

The problem is the companies don't want this because the commercials are probably making people buy more.

[Chrisboff @ May 13th 2009 3:44PM]

@ Dillinger

I use a pc without any anti virus or antispyware and i haven't gotten any malware in 5 years.

[chorscroft @ May 13th 2009 5:43PM]

"According to Apple, there aren't any PCs with fast processors and big screens that work without viruses, crashes or headaches."
WTF do you mean according to apple? There isn't a single PC (or Mac for that matter) which can work without the possibility of a virus, crash or headache.
Don't talk shit...

[Ryan @ May 14th 2009 2:41AM]

@chorscroft

They said, "According to Apple," because that is exactly what the Apple ad claims. Don't be dense.

[james @ May 14th 2009 11:22PM]

LOL-there is definitely an underlying meaning to that commercial. Either Mac is a pimp or megan just wantsa one night "computer" ---- the pwns the PC commercials

[nikster @ May 16th 2009 1:50AM]

@wwhat these are for regular people, not engadget-reading tech nerds. Stuff like this actually matters to normal people, and the antivirus stuff especially. All she'd have to say is "I click on email attachments" and all the PCs would have to head out the door.

I am a full time programmer and what I don't understand are so-called "techies" who prefer PCs. Do they not know about unix or the fact that there's a full blown unix on OS X? It's geek's heaven. Allright if you are a gamer you are excused, there aren't any games on a Mac.

[Nick Bradshaw @ May 13th 2009 1:07AM]

I cant wait for the drama this is going to create. PC hating Mac, Mac hating PC.

[Eric @ May 13th 2009 1:30AM]

I really wish PC people and Mac people were more like PC and Mac on the commercials... they take jabs at each other, but they look like friends to me.

Or, I wish PC people and Mac people were more like me - using what I like and not crucifying people who use what they like.

[CraigJ @ May 13th 2009 1:41AM]

"I really wish PC people and Mac people were more like PC and Mac on the commercials... they take jabs at each other, but they look like friends to me."

Most are. Believe it or not, people who comment here do not represent the majority. Generally only people with strong opinions (fanboys fit in this group) post comments.

Personally I prefer my Mac over my PC, but I have 2 machines on my desk as I type this. A Dell and a Mac, which are both talking to my Ubuntu server...

[Gregorian @ May 13th 2009 1:55AM]

I wish Mac people were like Hobbits and PC people like Elves and we all lived in a Magic Forest wit the Ents. Oh and Linux people are the Orcs, and Amiga people fail to get a reference at all.

[American @ May 13th 2009 1:58AM]

@eric

People already are. That is, NORMAL PEOPLE ie. with a life. Tell me, you must have friends whom some use pc's and others use macs, do they hate each other? Do they form cliques based on which they use and attack each other shouting 'viruses!, BSOD!, expensive!'

This "hating" only appears on the internet between nerds, people with no life, those with nothing better to do, those 16yr olds who just 'discovered how "cool' you can be seen with a mac', those childhood memories of being bullied, those that dare not voice out their opinions in real life, so they take it all out online behind the safety of anonymity.

[SimbaDogg @ May 13th 2009 2:03AM]

i for one can't stand the drama...especially when you have the likes of apple and their i'm a pc ads spewing well...seriously slanted info. like the worst one was that i'm a pc disclaimer/fine print commercial. i forgot what website actually looked @ the fine print, but everything they printed in the fine print would apply to EVERY computer. whether windows, osx or even linux. same thing w/ this commercial...more slanted info. i'm running vista ultimate on an OC rig, and not even dont well either...and i dont get any crashes at all, not do a lot of my friends...

i think the gizmodo is right, apple is getting increasingly "smug" w/ their ads, i think they're just getting increasingly douchey.

[Mike @ May 13th 2009 2:32AM]

simbadogg
its mentality like that which is a sign of beginnings of fanboyism.
note that these are adverts, 90% of adverts are not the truth, they have less than 30 seconds to sell something so they generalise, slimplify or stereotype they message.
actually, i didnt know people still paid attention to adverts, people today just switch off their brains and stare mindlessly when one appears. which is why adverts will come up of new ways to grab your attention, and that means things like these adverts - mac v pc, laptop hunters, where it is more of a joke to be funny in a stereotypical way than serious.
no one actually takes an advertisement seriously, they watch it, give a thought, and move on with to the next.

[bluesky_v2.01 @ May 13th 2009 2:36AM]

@Eric
Indeed, most are.
I enjoy myself some mac vs pc flame wars on the interwebz but in real life I'm very apathetic about the issue. In fact, my best friend is an apple fanboy (even though he denies it).

[Miker @ May 13th 2009 3:04AM]

I must admit I've been guilty of getting defensive of "my corner" on occasion. I just wish Apple and now Microsoft would sell their products on their own merits without having to resort to bad mouthing their competition - it's ugly, underhanded and smacks of desperation.

[CreepinJesus @ May 13th 2009 3:47AM]

It's funny how people have completely forgotten what "PC" stands for.... Are all your Macs public? Do you share them with random people? No?.. I guess that makes them PCs.

[r3loaded @ May 13th 2009 5:00AM]

I suspect Apple may get some stick from advertising authorities for the "viruses, crashes, and headaches" line since they occur on Macs as well. And I wish they'd stop referring to Windows computers as PCs - the strict definition of a PC is a computer for personal use, usually one that is compatible with the IBM PC standard (essentially, it must have an x86 core). A PC running Linux is also a PC, and incidentally, Macs fall under this definition.

I'm personally going round and correcting people in their usage of PC/Mac, reminding them that the primary difference is the OS that is loaded, and that Macs can run Windows - something many Mac users I know seem unaware of :/

[Romesh @ May 13th 2009 5:15AM]

I'm happy with my Mac laptop, Windows desktop, and Ubuntu server

[shravan @ May 13th 2009 8:51AM]

Ooo he spoke about Gizmodo on Engadget.. Is that not offensive ? Please tell me its offensive.. Please tell me the editors are gonna start adding to this thread.. no ?

[BREDS @ May 13th 2009 3:03PM]

I'm not an advertising exec or even work in the marketing dept, but I can tell you that the ads by Apple and Microsoft are brilliant. The Mac vs PC ads are funny and memorable. On the surface the ad's intent is sell more Macs and that would be an obvious win for Apple, but when you dig a little deeper every customer that buys a Mac is also a potential Microsoft customer because of the possibility of running Windows on a Mac.

Microsoft's ads are not as funny, but they are very effective. The message is a little confusing when you consider that a Mac is just another PC that can run what Microsoft is actually selling, but once you get past that you will realize that the actual point of the commercial is to buy lots and lots of computers (they don't care which kind). This commercial is a win for all....PC manufacturers like HP and Sony get good exposure, Apple gets to re-ignite the Mac vs PC commercials that sold a lot Apple computers, and Microsoft, they get the big win - the potential to put what they make (Windows) on everyone's computer.

[bosstoneska @ May 13th 2009 5:03PM]

The reason these commercials work is because they not only seem like friends, but because the PC is more likable. The Mac typically comes across as smug, and the PC like the lumpy fool most of us are. John Hodgman was a great pick for that role.

[Eric Van Boven @ May 13th 2009 1:14AM]

Rofl, macs crash just as much as pcs nowadays. The imacs like to hard lock or beach ball.

[Gi @ May 13th 2009 1:19AM]

the beachball of death!

[John @ May 13th 2009 1:29AM]

the SPINNING beach ball of death... it lets you know that no matter how bad things are, they aren't so bad that you can't have a ball with spinning colors running.

[Michael Scrip @ May 13th 2009 1:31AM]

Shhhhh, don't tell everyone that both Macs and Windows machines can crash... how else will they differentiate between them? What will Apple and Microsoft say in their commercials?

Justin: "Hi I'm a Mac... He's a PC... We both crash... But he is cheaper.... and I am more fun to use."

John: "True dat... I'm a Mac user in real life anyway... can I have my check now?"

[Col. Readily Apparent Upon Cursory Inspection @ May 13th 2009 1:07AM]

I love my Macbook and all, but it has crashed, frozen and in general been about as reliable as my old Windows laptop. Which is still pretty reliable.

But I understand this is advertising. Still, SBBoD is just as annoying as BSoD.

[insky @ May 13th 2009 1:11AM]

GAH, you can't say that both crash...you have to take one side or the other.

[Ray @ May 13th 2009 1:19AM]

HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE THAT MACS CRASH!!!!! [/sarcasm]

I like how they completely avoided the whole point of the microsoft ads, price was the biggest issue for the consumers.

[nerdtalker @ May 13th 2009 1:20AM]

So, that 10.5.7 update... How's that going?

I recall reading somewhere that it's "causing some problems for some people." Lovely. Wonder how Megan is going to take to that infrequent ED the Mac has.

[Al @ May 13th 2009 1:30AM]

Install Linux, problem solved

[Anticrawl @ May 13th 2009 1:38AM]

http://cad-comic.com/comics/20060513.jpg

[Cowman @ May 13th 2009 1:44AM]

Amen to Linux!

[Anticrawl @ May 13th 2009 1:50AM]

Apple users work for their computer, Windows users work with their computer, and Linux users work on their computer. That's pretty much how it works. Personally the only viable alternative to Windows is Linux because it's so versatile. If I was an over entitled kid who wanted a computer without needing one I'd get a Mac so I can surf the web and use the built in software to make youtube videos no one will watch. I hate working on Macs at work, and only one type of person in the entire Biomedical Research Facility uses Apple products… I’ll stop there so I don’t get flamed.