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Get a Mac goes web specific
We just posted about the three new Get a Mac ads, and now Iyaz Akhtar over at The Apple Blog has discovered that the campaign is moving from TV onto the web in a variety of banner ads. Iyaz found three new web ads, including (1) a site specific ad for PCMag.com in which Mac points out to PC that PC Magazine has "said some really great things about Macs," (2) the "Vista Nightmare" ad we also mentioned yesterday (also at PCMag.com), and (3) a "skyscraper" ad (right) touting the Mac's freedom from viruses. Iyaz also made transcripts of the ads for the "obsessive types" out there and (in the comments) even tracked down the Flash swf files so you can see them for yourself.So have you seen any other Get a Mac ads around the web?
Apple posts 3 more Get a Mac ads: Choose a Vista, Genius, and Party is over
Apple just keeps pumping out the Get a Mac ads, don't they? Three new ads have surfaced, and I think they are the best of the lot. The above shot is from 'Choose a Vista' in which PC spins a wheel to figure out which version of Vista he should buy while Mac points out that OS X only comes in one version, that includes everything you need. The second ad, called Genius, highlights the fact that you can get free tech support from a Mac Genius at every Apple Store. Finally, Party is Over pokes fun at the Vista delays and the rather lukewarm reception that Redmond's OS garnered.All in all, not too shabby.Thanks, Patrick.
Sneak preview of latest Get a Mac ad
Our readers are a wily bunch. Take Connor, for instance: he was surfing the web and noticed an unfamiliar Get A Mac ad appearing on the page, so he fired up his trusty copy of Snapz Pro and captured it for posterity. It's not yet on Apple's website, but we wanted you to enjoy it first. That's love, right there.The video title is "Vista Nightmare," but I am personally thinking of it as "PC in a Box." You'll see.Thanks Connor!
Get A Mac UK ad: Office Posse
Yet another Get A Mac ad has surfaced, though this time it is the British version that has a new addition. The ad, called 'Office Posse,' features PC, Mac, and Microsoft Office (those are the people in the colorful suits). Office runs just fine on the Mac, and it is implied that Office would rather run on the Mac (who wouldn't?). Another clever, if not compelling, Get A Mac ad.Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
New Get a Mac Ad: Stuffed
It seems like only yesterday that Apple posted a fresh crop of 'Get A Mac' ads. You know the ones, featuring Justin Long as the Mac and John Hodgman as the PC. Well, looks like Apple forgot to post one called 'Stuffed.' As you can see in the picture PC is feeling a little bloated thanks to all the trial software PC manufacturers cram onto their machines. He tries to commiserate with Mac saying, 'You know how it is,' to which the Mac points out that he only comes with software you need like iLife (no mention of the iWork demo that comes with most Macs).The ad is now available on Apple's website in a variety of sizes.
New Get a Mac Ads
Apple has posted some new Get a Mac ads. "Flashback" (above) has Mac and PC as kids doing then just about what they do now. And "Computer Cart" lampoons Windows' cryptic error messages. The last of this set ("Security") has been out for a while. Fun stuff!Thanks, Josh!
Novell releases Get a Mac spoofs
Apple's Get a Mac ads have inarguably struck a chord with both the advertising and our culture. People clearly either love 'em, hate 'em or wanna spoof 'em, and one only needs to comb our archives or check YouTube to see what we mean. Recently, Novell (yea, the Linux guys) tossed their hand into the mix with their own spoofs which debuted at their BrainShare conference (which you can attend virtually). The first video, linked here at YouTube, plays off the Win/Mac rivalry and pokes fun at how the industry often ignores Linux and its surprising (to some) user base size. The second video, embedded in this post, is arguably funnier, as it does a great job of poking fun at the way Microsoft and Apple market their products while pointing out open source software's advantage of being a community effort. They're both good for a chuckle and a nice effort from Novell, or whoever actually put them together.Thanks, geezer.
Ten more reasons to get a Mac
It may be hard to believe but not everyone who reads TUAW owns a Mac (shocking, I know). Lots of our readers are Windows users making their first tentative steps towards computing nirvana and we here at TUAW want to help. Today's ten reasons to get a Mac come from that bastion of tech journalism, the Register. Some of the points made are very good (fast wake up from sleep, target disk mode) and others are just silly, however, it is both entertaining and informative for someone on the fence.
New UK Get a Mac Ads
Back in January we mentioned Apple's UK Get a Mac campaign featuring local British comedy duo, David Mitchell (PC) and Robert Webb (Mac). Despite a report that the ads might actually be harming Apple's image in the UK, Apple is apparently pressing ahead with a few new ads including: Naughty Step, Court, and Magic. For my own part, I like the ads, probably even more their US counterparts. Besides, the word 'naughty' is funny all by itself! Check out the new ads at Apple UK.Thanks, John!
Found Pic: I'm Linux
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I think that's selling this one short. True, so true...[Via Digg]
New Get a Mac ad: Security
I am not one of those Mac people who immediately hates anything from Microsoft, in fact I actually think Vista is a pretty good OS (I've been using it for awhile now on my MacBook Pro). That being said, the latest Get A Mac ad from Apple is right on the money. It is called 'Security' and it features the familiar PC and Mac, but this time the PC has a security guard. The security guard gives the PC a chance to 'cancel or allow' pretty much everything, much like Vista's User Account Control which can be pretty darned annoying.It is nice to see Apple aggressively taking on Vista, but I would still rather see these commercials highlight features of OS X rather than simply mock Vista (though that has its charms as well).Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Apple UK: "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC." Smashing, isn't it?
Japanese isn't the only language barrier Apple's decided to cross with its "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads. Those UKians love their "shenanigans and tomfoolery" just as much as the next guy, and Apple has hired the Peep Show's Mitchell and Webb to do the honors as PC and Mac, respectively. The casting is in keeping with Apple's penchant for casting total squares as the Mac, but the pair do a good job of spicing up the commercials with a bit of dry British humor and sexy good looks. Peep some YouTube versions after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple posts three new Get a Mac ads
Apple has posted, in glorious QuickTime, three new Get a Mac ads (one of which we covered previously). The three ads are: Surgery - Featured in the Stevenote, this ad finds PC making ready for an upgrade to Vista Sabotage - The image above is from sabotage. The PC gets someone else to stand in for the Mac, extolling the virtues of the PC. Tech Support - The PC gets a webcam for serious business video conferencing All in all these ads are what I have come to expect from the Get a Mac campaign, ads that are kinda funny.
New Get A Mac Ad surfaces online
Apple has released a new, online only (at this moment), Get A Mac ad. This time PC is being upgraded with a webcam and assures the Mac that one day he'll be as high tech as the PC. The tech installing the web cam points out that iMac and MacBooks come with a built in iSight much to the PC's consternation.Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Apple posts new Get a Mac ad
Everyone's favorite Mac and PC duo are back again, this time PC is prepping for 'surgery.' He's being upgraded to Vista and he's a little nervous. Ahh, poking fun at Microsoft is fun, isn't it?
New "Goodwill" Mac Ad
Thank you to everyone who wrote in, to let us know that Apple had uploaded a new "Get a Mac" video to their site. In the "Goodwill" video, the Mac and PC decide to put aside their differences in the spirit of the holiday season. But of course, the best intentions can easily go awry. And yes, in the end they hug. Happy Holidays TUAW readers.
Apple inspiring 'non-PC' PCs
Sony is apparently trying to hitch a ride on Apple's bandwagon, at least in Australia so far, by attempting to remove the 'PC' moniker from their branding. On the VAIO C C Series product page for Sony Australia, Sony is not only using a "non-pc pc" slogan, but also a bizarre Flash movie directly inspired (right down to the costumes) by Apple's Get A Mac campaign, complete with a third VAIO character. The interactivity is strange because it doesn't seem to do anything - the three characters simply turn around and offer, uh, *strange* sound effects - not even catch phrases or complete sentences. The movie itself, however, is a clear sign that Sony is trying to separate its brand from the rest of the industry in the same way Apple does. Think about it: everyone, including Apple, makes PCs (i.e. - Personal Computers), but Apple makes Macs, and now Sony makes VAIOs. If we momentarily disregard the fundamentals at play here - such as Apple having a truly unique software platform, while Sony uses Windows like the rest of the industry they're trying to banish to the uncool kid's corner - this is a serious branding move for a company like Sony to make, even if it seems, at least for now, this is only done in Sony's Australian branch.In a way, I can't blame them for trying this out. After a detrimental year of exploding batteries, selling security-trampling Windows rootkits, embarrassingly low PS3 shipments and even a digicam recall, Sony could use a fresh change of pace. Unfortunately, I don't think they offer enough to have any chance of differentiating themselves and, more importantly, overriding the culturally understood definition of 'PC' to achieve some sort of cool factor. Sure, Sony has some impressive hardware, and they make some of their own unique software packages that do iLife-type stuff. Sadly, you'd be hard-pressed to find a journalist, amateur blogger or even a Mr. Consumer who can use Sony's apps without being overtaken by soul-wrenching pain. At the end of the day, Sony still uses Windows, which means they can't wash away the negative connotations with unimaginative marketing and a wish for things to get better.[via digg]
Translation of Japanese 'Get a Mac' ads
Oliver Reichenstein and Moritz Zimmer at Information Architects Japan have posted a translation of the Japanese Get a Mac ads we posted earlier this month, complete with essential cultural contexts. Included is a breakdown of the meanings behind the actors (and their interesting similarity), what they're wearing and what their body language means. IA finishes off the post with some criticism of the ads, complete with suggestions on what could have been done differently. If you're unfamiliar with Japan and its rich culture, this is an interesting analysis from a two-man design firm that lives right in the middle of it.[via Daring Fireball]
Flickr Find: Get a Mac ad with a twist
I was Zune hunting on Flickr this afternoon and came across this mock-up of a "Get a Mac" style ad with a Zune twist. Actually, I enjoyed the whole "iPod Etc" photoset so you should check it out. Perhaps you'd all like to have some fun by contributing a few lines of copy to this fakery in the comments? You won't win any prizes or anything, but I promise to pull out my favs and round them up over the weekend. I'll start:"I'm an iPod. And I'm a Zune."Your turn...
Get a Mac ads in Japanese
Apple has rolled out Japanese versions of the "Get A Mac" campaign. While you might expect these ads to be nothing more than the plain old English ads with a Japanese language overdub, the commercials are entirely in Japanese and use Japanese actors. Perhaps Justin Long (may he rest in peace) and John Hodgman just weren't otaku enough for the Japanese market.There appear to be three ads available right now, "iLife," "Viruses" and I can't quite determine the third one. You can see the ads on Apple.com/jp. If any of our Japanese-speaking readers would like to compare the dialog in these ads to their English brethren, drop us a tip!I wonder if Apple plans any other localized versions of these ads?Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
