Apple's main ad man thinks different, steps down as Macs battle PCs like it's 1984

Apple's certainly seen plenty of shakeups in its ranks over the years and, while this one may not exactly come as a shock, it's still tough to overstate the influence of Lee Clow, who has announced that he's stepping down as chief creative officer of Apple's main ad agency, TBWA/Media Arts Lab. While he also made his mark with a range of other clients (including the Energizer Bunny and the Taco Bell Chihuahua), Clow was most closely identified with Apple, and founded the Media Arts Lab as part of TBWA in 2006 specifically to serve the company. Clow has been the man behind virtually every major Apple advertising campaign even before that, however, including the famous 1984 Superbowl ad, the "Think Different" series, the dancing iPod silhouettes and, of course, the Mac vs. PC ads. Not surprisingly, another Apple ad man, Duncan Milner, has been tapped to take his place, and Clow will be staying on as Chairman if he ever needs a little advice. Let's head on past the break for a brief trip down memory lane, shall we?

[Via Macworld]

[magallanes Posted Oct 30th 2009 6:24PM]

but this ads show people that never ever used a Apple.

So, what is the freaking point?.

To say that you must buy a product because it is (falsely) associated with a famous person, or what?.

[wollombi Posted Nov 24th 2009 5:46PM]

@(Unverified) No, the point is "Think Different", just like each of those people did. It's just that what Apple means by "Think Different", is "buy our stuff that has 1/2 % market share instead of the mainstream PC". Similar in one regard, I admit, but honestly, I don't see how buying one computer brand (no matter how revolutionary...and MacOS was for a time) over another makes one more intelligent. That's why it's called marketing, I guess.

[artshark Posted Oct 30th 2009 6:33PM]

Classy, elegant, simple.
All of these describe the "Think Different" ad series, and NONE, NONE describe the shitty Mac vs PC ones

[MLamont Posted Oct 30th 2009 7:09PM]

Too bad most of Apple users think more alike each other than one thinks and they will likely never be as successful as any of the people pictured here.

I'me pretty sure that Alfred Hitchcock and Amelia Earhart never owned or used a Mac. And Miles Davis probably did not either but it is only slightly possible that he did.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 30th 2009 11:10PM]

After reading this series of comments, one thing is clear. Most Engadget readers are really dense.
Sigh. The point of the Think Different ad is not that they were Mac users.
Does this have to be explained to you?

A nation of morons. Go play in the corner with your Windows 7 or your Ubuntu. Good Grief.

[flett Posted Oct 31st 2009 1:26AM]

i bet the guy who plays mac in these commercials has a sweet new dell with windows 7. or acer. or hp. or any other brand i didnt mention that isnt apple

[John Doe Posted Oct 31st 2009 3:29AM]

Apple may be many things these days. Think different is NOT in any way, shape, or form one of them. If anything they are more like big blue and Microsoft then anything else. And a class 1 douche as well.

[Toy Yoda Posted Oct 31st 2009 4:43AM]

The "Think Different" ad is quite inspirational I love the message. It's something that Goethe might have said. Maybe such ads are something that the government should sponsor every so often just to inspire it's people. But, my eyes have to roll when such an inspirational message is tied to consumerism. like right at the end.

The mac vs. pc ads are kind of entertaining. My favorite is the iMovie vs PC Movie and the original virus commercial. Hehehe... By the way, the paradies on youtube can be just as funny too.

I don't really get into the itunes/ipod ads. Maybe it's targeted for the younger crowd.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 31st 2009 11:12AM]

I am a Mac user, though not exclusively. I feel that the current ads need a revision. When weeks and months would go by without a new Mac vs. PC ad, I thought maybe they were working on a new campaign. That is what needs to happen. The Microsoft ads have their problems, and I feel they do not attack the real issue (Software). Apple needs to take advantage of this shortcoming IMHO.

[trois Posted Oct 31st 2009 12:37PM]

My favorite part is the first video with Karl Wallenda stroking his pole.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 31st 2009 4:01PM]

I wish digg discussions were more like this. less hating and more open minded. I like the music video ads, apple should go back to that.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2009 9:20PM]

@glamajamma: I believe the first ad is Maria Callas.