@Tim Faulkner: Oh and Bill and talk show guy and astronaut dude and architect dude (he's been on Charlie Rose too)... I'm sure a few others are noteworthy... I don't know... But you don't watch E!

Tim Faulkner

@TheSonOfKrypton: I agree. I'm a Mac person but this ad is 100x better than the Gates add. Plus I much prefer if Apple doesn't gain market share.

metsarethe...

@imTheKing: no no. Pharrel used the money from this ad and bought himself a Mac Pro.

iDeadman

Someone edit this ad so the title card at the end is a blue screen, please

lucky_you

I'm a PACM. I wrote "I'm a.." in PC and "PACM" on my Mac.

iDeadman

much better ad but one issue...... Pharrel produces on mac.....

imTheKing

@Wilson Rothman: CRWheeler already corrected that it's Eva Longoria and Tony Parker, point guard of the San Antonio Spurs (3 rings - 2 NBA Championships, married Eva recently). Pharrell Williams - rapper/producer. Besides Deepak, I think the only other name is "I have a beard," but I can't place him at the moment. I feel like he's been on Charlie Rose.

Tim Faulkner

Server girl in red must be a gamer pc 'cause that's running HAWT.

Overall I liked it a lot. Haven't seen the Seinfeld commercial yet, but i heard that it was meh.

P3nnst8r

and when does all of a sudden mac have walls?

Jamaces

Catchy ad, but this is just a defensive play against Apple ads. Doesn't sell the product. Many of Apple's Mac vs. PC ads describe particular features of their products.

Agree with Wilson...doesn't beat Hodgeman.

(disclaimer: NOT a fanboy...more of a communications major critique)

net_addict

...and the very presence of Pharrell in that commercial makes me NOT want ANYTHING to do with a Microsoft product.

MrSophistication

"I'm a PC, and I have three rings."

Ohhhhhh shit, that's what I'M talking about.

rcast1986

nice, i liked the way it cut thru all the lines that normally keep people in their own little groups.

godwhacker

It's just unfortunate when a product can't compete with it's own marketing hype...

MrSophistication

Very well executed, imo. Also, let it be known that the very presence of Pharrell in this commercial makes me want to go buy a Microsoft product.

ezman

@Tim Faulkner: Guilty as charged. So how about a little help?

Wilson Rothman

I'm a PC and I date Linux

gemino

I'm a Mac. And this ad was pretty good. Of course, anything looks good after those absurd Seinfeld ads.

Still, it smells of desperation.

jimothy

@nyaz:

It is... period. I help people every single day of all ages and background that use both and people that have transitioned to both. I can tell you it is easier for people to learn and use Vista than OS X.

bacchus2678

"I'm a PC and I have a Beard"

Awesomeness.

unkpku wants a latte

Wilson isn't a sports fans / doesn't stay up on his celebrity relationships obviously.

Tim Faulkner

Nowhere was good as Apple's ads. It's not even as good the Jerry Seinfeld/Bill gates ads.

MICHAELSD

I hate to say it but... GOOD AD!

Nongeek

So 20 seconds into the video they're saying that pc's break the law? That isn't something you want to advertise.

Aoi

I'm glad it does the I AM PC instead of PC vs Mac thing, I personally feel those Mac's vs commercials are a bit silly, it's like trying to prove that they are better, yet, computers are just tools.

MDIFILM

I had high hopes for the seinfield/gates adds thou they fell short this one definitly makes up for the difference and then some, keep um coming microsoft.

mordecaidrake

"I'm a PC, and I sell fish"

Way to end it with a bang... lol

Blinklink11

@TheSonOfKrypton:
Same, I'm a huge mac guy, and I think this is a great commercial for microsoft!

jonahman2003

No A-Rod in the commercial, but it did have Tony Parker and Eva Longoria. Pretty good though, nice work Microsoft.

CRWheeler

It's cool to be a PC!

yoshi

They need to sit in a room and think about what makes Windows Vista better than a Mac, then come up with something other than a knee-jerk reaction in commercial form.

BTW, I am a PC & a Mac.

mciarlo

From a Mac guy: Good job Microsoft....I like this. And I don't like alot of things about you. But I like this. Keep that shit coming.

TheSonOfKrypton

So are they gonna try to sell that the PC(Vista) is easier to use than Mac(OS X).

nyaz

feels good man

Skeezy

@net_addict: Well, perhaps next year in one of your communications classes they'll teach you that you don't need to sell a product directly... sometimes you need to sell the company itself and turn consumer opinion before you can get to the task of selling things in plain speak.

AoE

FFS people, its an operating system.
We need more processor wars.

roflwaffles

I LIKE IT (no sarcasm i really do)

ZetaCrossfire

@jimothy: Oh, but Apple making ads directly attacking Microsoft rather than just advertising its own OS isn't desperation?

BTW, I'm a Mac and PC.

Kirril

@MichaelScrip:

Exactly. Let's not forget... Apple is the one playing catch up on market share not Windows.

This is just a friendly reminder that everyone in the word uses a PC with Windows. BAWAHAHAHAHAH!!!! WOOT!!!!

yoshi

I've got to admit that I like apple products, I'm a die hard iPhone fan, I've owned both 1st and 2nd gen. But In my house there a PC and a Mac and the OS on mac is less efficient and less usable to advanced users than vista, I'm using the PC now by choice, and I believe that choosing OSX over vista is just some sort of psychological objection to compliance.

stubbze

I wish they would have had one guy say "and I'm a Mac" and everyone laughs at him or "I'm a Linux" and they say just get the **** out of here

gamecrazychris

Definitely much better than Apple's mud slinging, apple ads are so last decade and underhanded that it reminds me of political mud slinging ads

"My name is Steve Jobs, and I approve of this mud slinging bullshit that I call an advertisment"

Fused7

@MichaelScrip: I wish Microsoft didnt make it seem like they're playing the "defensive" role. Shit, they still control the market by a whoole lot. It feels like there was no originality with the creation of this ad. Like other Giz readers mentioned they need to do some different than what we saw with the Mac ads and explicitly tell us why a PC is better than a Mac.

pdditty

I'm a PC, and i don't like vista.

Call me crazy, but these commercials don't convince me to buy anything. They're certainly more convincing than the billgates/jerryseinfeld commercials though.

wolfenstein-3d

Much better and more meaningful than the Gates/Seinfeld ads. While they were more entertaining on a whole, the WTF factor is gone from this. I think that they should've showed the actual application of PC, at least very briefly, but overall the message was clear. Good job.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

Hey guys, John Mayer here and I just want to say that was a great Microsoft ad! Take care!

No but seriously coming from an Apple fan and a future advertiser I think that was an incredible job. Keep up the great work Microsoft.

Mikestan

I am a Hackintosh nobody loves me.

Max-Fisher

@net_addict:
And by describe particular features of their products you mean take a half truths about their product and deliver it out of context in a smarmy manner.

The ads may be a reaction to Macs ads but they still have more class and deliver as much real context as the Mac ads do.

hedges1968

@net_addict:> "Catchy ad, but this is just a defensive play against Apple ads. Doesn't sell the product. Many of Apple's Mac vs. PC ads describe particular features of their products."

Hey at least Microsoft is trying something new. Despite their bad ads, PCs sell pretty well.

Apple ads basically insult you because you use Windows, point out flaws in Windows, and then just say Apple is better. I have yet to see anything that a Mac can actually do. It's just Justin Long trying to convince you that Apple is better, without showing you anything. I've sold more Macs to people through word of mouth.

If anything... neither this PC ad or any of the Apple ads sell their product.

The iPhone ads SHOW the product, and shows you what the iPhone can do. In over 50 Get a Mac ads... have we ever seen a Mac?

If a car company had 50 ads over 3 years, but never showed the car, we would think it was dumb too.

MichaelScrip

Ironically, the ad was created on a Mac...

[www.9to5mac.com]

As a PC tech in a small shop, I just have to laugh at this ad.
Oh sure, they're all "PC" .. they probably all have a virus that pops up on their desktop too that says "click here for virus protection".
Yay. you're a PC.. that'll be $79 please for your virus removal.
ch-freaking-ching

lucky_you

oh no... its working.

Face_523

to the guys at Crispin Porter & Bogusky reading this thread, yes, it "did what it needed to do." Which was...be slightly better than those Seinfeld spots? Bravo.

To be fair, I am a Mac guy. But I know the difference between a clever and original ad campaign and the one that's just a desperate reponse to it.

Guy_Whitey_Corngood

And oh, for the ad... I'd much rather see Seinfeld. These things were just boring.

They make me think of every other product that does this type of ad. It's been overdone.

ttech10

@Tim Faulkner, imTheKing, iDeadman: Thanks for the spotting. Benny G would have DEFINITELY caught Pharrel. And yeah, I've never heard of any music producers who use PCs.

Wilson Rothman

@nyaz: I think that a Mac is somewhat easier to use over a PC... but not by much. This is coming from a person who has used a PC for over about 10 years and a Mac for only 1 month.

I think though that if someone just started messing with computers that a Mac would be easiest to use.

ttech10

Wow, so Apple does a better PC than Microsoft does. (Hodgman that is.)

Seriously Seinfeld 2 was a better ad. That was actually starting to grow on me.

pantsonfireliarliar

I'm a pc and only difference between me and mac is my OS, I'm alot cheaper, you can buy me in pieces and put me together..I have the biggest gaming platform out of every gaming system combined...and within a couple years ill loose wieght with windows 7 or stay fat which ever i prefer.

ajcali08

I'm a Mac AND a PC, but that PC ad just spanked Apple to next Tuesday.

StopTheLHC

Its an alright ad.

ferrdidly

ZING!

marm0lade

I wish they were Pcs by choice and not by monopolistic business. Once you understand there are choices, most people won't stick with windows.

VakeroRokero

@MichaelScrip:

"In over 50 Get a Mac ads... have we ever seen a Mac?"

Umm,...pretty sure end every commercial by showing a Mac.

jvt

Also, remember that Windows already covers like 90% if not more of all computers. So these adds (and the Seinfeld ones) are not aimed at attracting new users, since those are Apple, Ubuntu or whatever users and it's impossible to get them to switch to Windows. So what they do is, they try to keep the users they already have by making these really charming adds and it works! Even thoug I'm a macfag, this kind of stuff really pulls the attention away from all the usual Vista-bashing.

Timooo

The Mac ads seem purely targeted at keeping their own users by making them feel superior and increasing sales through bamboozling 1st time computer buyers.

I purchased a Mac mini recently at Magnum Mac to do some iPhone dev and out of interest asked the sales guy about the 23inch monitor they had on show. Oh yeah he said, it's fantastic, the best you can get. How so I said? What do you mean he said? Well what about resolution, contrast, response times? Yeah he said they are all awesome.

While this guy was clearly an idiot I am constantly surprised how many everyday Mac users just mindlessly repeat the claims from mac ads while offering fairly little of substance about their choice.

I like my Mac mini by the way, it's cool given it's not a real piece of kit, but I had my first hang within 5 minutes of use. Usability wise and stability wise it's no better than my PC with Vista.

hedges1968

These are pretty good. They aren't directing any blows at any other specific company either, which I think is cool. When you're the biggest kid on the block you just have to come outside from time to time to remind people that you're there - you don't have to get specific about who you are bigger than and who's ass you can kick in 4 seconds or less. These commercials have a sign of confidence in them.

I especially liked that "air tight suit" comment in the second video and the dude who sells fish in the first one.

milliardo_76

It's not as snarky as the Mac ads.

Me like.

And I'm a Mac

DW

Leaves me thinking the same thing, "WTF"? I don't get it, maybe they've just given up on even seeming to try to sell crappy Vista.

DeeHaney

Yeah. Like, this ad told me absolutely nothing about how much better Micro$ofts OS is than Macs.

AGAIN, they are copying Apple, and doing it incredibly badly.

Is it me, or am I the only one in this community who enjoys not having to get a Micro$oft degree just to network my three Macs in my house? /\_/\ (as an example...)

My favorite of the Apple ads is the one with the Vista spinning wheel ala Wheel of Fortune. IT'S TRUE!! One OS does it all!

For all of you PC lovers - here's to your BSOD.

dezinewiz

I'm a PC, and it's nice not having Apple dominate the conversation for once. And compared to the negativity of the Hodgman/Long ads, which seem to have devolved into a Vista bash-fest, it's refreshing to see something so nice and inclusive and all that.

Re: MS being so much on the defensive despite their overwhelming market share--that kind of market share doesn't keep itself. But yes, to some extent I agree.

tophtucker

One more thing... Here is a question to everyone criticizing these ads as boring/uncreative/blahblahblah, how many FUCKING YEARS HAS APPLE BEEN USING THOSE HODGEMAN ADS?!

Fused7

I'm a Mac and PC user - nice ad... especially as a counter to the Apple campaign. HOWEVER... at some point Microsoft needs to use the campaign as an opportunity to highlight features of the OS and to address the criticism raised by User Account Control. This ad is a nice way to make Windows users feel good about their choice of an O.S.... but the reality is that some of the constant criticism I hear from users all the time can't all be their imagination.

Looking forward to seeing where this goes.

devron

I liked it, far better than the Seinfeld ones. I like the Apple ones too but as a PC & MAC guy I wish Apple would just market there Mac's in other ways like showing the OS in action or something other than that white screen with two actors making jokes and it insulting anyone using a PC. I think there is plenty of room for other operating systems and I hope HP truly launches one as is rumored and some balance comes about. Enough of these damn monopolies :P

e0ytk

They should have just started with these ads and skipped that whole "phase 1" (lets call it that for now) stuff.

theCornerinvasion

I think these ads will work in PCs favor.

After almost getting brainwashed for 3 years to buy Mac... people will realize that PCs are just fine and they'll go buy an inexpensive tower at Best Buy.

MichaelScrip

Not bad, but i prefer the Jerry and Bill ones.

Doerrfan

I'm a MacBook Pro user, and I love Microsoft commercials 100x better than those ignorant Mac commercials. A+ to Microsoft, F to Apple

Derek Devine

I am a PC and this advert made me smile!

pradster

Pharrell was on there too.

Nat3

Those are good

SatanicBoomBoomHead

@pdditty: I agree with you on that man. From all these commercials it seems like Microsoft is trying to defend itself instead of taking an offensive role. I mean I had a Powerbook back before Macs were cool and within FOUR days of the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials, I got contacted by four friends asking me about switching to a Mac. Microsoft is losing in so many major markets that they should be the leader in just due to their resources such as Video Gaming consoles, MP3, market and even Web Browsing is slipping. They are like the kid that gets beat up for his lunch money every day and does nothing about it.

Joseph

Really good ad. I liked the Mac ads because they are funny but this one is good because, well, because it is just solid and well done and delivered. PLUS anything will gates in it is automatically WIN.

Lavallee017

It's pretty funny that a company with 98% of the worlds computer OS market needs to "sell" itself. MicroSoft is a real underdog. *rolls eyes*

BiZarRroBALlmeR

The best ads aren't the ones that inform the buyer about the product, in fact, the best ads are the ones that the buyer REMEMBERS. You can say w/e u want in an ad and it'd be useless if your audience doesnt even remember it.

Fused7

Yes and ALL those people face the things that MAC comercials are talking about. These are cool, EXPENSIVE ads, but thre's no reason WHY. WHY. WHY put up with PC.

vgart

yes, i'm cool again!

ajadoniz

Shouldn't they say, "i'm a pc-user"? It's not like John Hodgman is saying I'm a person. He's representing a computer!

I like the ad, but honestly, having Eva Longoria in it, is just lame. What, Paris Hilton was not available?

beetlebug62

Other than the Hodgman clone at the beginning, this is a great ad! A cohesive message, some laughs, and most importantly turns the mac ad against Apple. I think Apple might have to come up with some new marketing now (about time anyway, the 'I'm a Mac' ads were loosing their charm IMHO).

No matter what I will totally be quoting that last guy for a fish. I mean a while.

labrats5

FINALLY! I have been enduring those awfully untruthful mac adds for too long without a decent response. Way to go Microsoft!

solOptimus

Definitely a better ad, from an ad perspective. Basically, it's telling its viewers "It's OK to use a PC. You can still do all this stuff. You don't have to use a Mac". It might not stop the bleeding, but might help slow it down ;-)

Dearhaw

@hedges1968:

You just made the case as to why Apple has been pushing its own stores over "dealers".

Personally, I believe that Apple needs to reset its pricing on the monitors. I don't know if they are waiting for some new technology or what to release newer monitors. That said, when Apple did introduce the 30" monitor, it was breath taking and it was only AFTER Apple that others started eventually coming out with 30" monitors themselves.

The Mac ads demonstrate (in very layman terms) the benefits of Mac/Mac OS X over PC/Windows solutions. I think some of the distortion comes from not getting too geek-speak.

Fact is, Macs are easier to setup and manage as an average person. They are a bit more expensive, but some people value their time more than others.

If you choose the PC route, that's great. Myself, I worked on Windows for 10 years and am happy to not deal with that OS anymore.

mmeister

Next Apple add, Am a PC and i have been copied or sabotage lol, watch and see

snitch29

I'm a Mac and I do like these new PC ads. Apple's Mac vs. PC ones are getting way out of hand.

chrstphr

@e-friend: "The iMac is a brilliantly marketed ICON for all its' flaws. People know what it is."

Brilliantly marketed? They talk about Windows the whole time... then show a picture of an iMac for 2 seconds. Am I seeing something different?

MichaelScrip

WTF was that?????? Dude they need help badly, is like this shiet just keeps getting worse and worse

snitch29

Good job MS. Now don`t wear this out.

apeguero

@nyaz: so you think vista is hard to use...

purple-pillows

@Joseph: They are like the kid that gets beat up for his lunch money every day and does nothing about it.

There would be no browser war if the government hadn't stepped in. They entered the console wars against two established giants and compete on a pretty even footing. They entered the mp3 market late and have taken market share from just about everyone other than apple with the ipod. OS wise MS vs apple it is like Zune vs iPod in reverse.

And all those companies aren't trying to compete in all the others markets like MS is.

hedges1968

I'm a Mac, and I hope this commercial finally puts an end to the Hodgman/Long ads. A defensive move? Sure, but one that takes the bite out of Apple's offense, if Apple chooses to continue with more of the same.

mikejonas

@MichaelScrip: The iMac is a brilliantly marketed ICON for all its' flaws. People know what it is.

e-friend

what was it edited on?

badweasel

@jvt:> "Umm,...pretty sure end every commercial by showing a Mac."

So Vista bash for 28 seconds, then show a Mac... and that works?

Besides, they show an iMac... I'm sure people think it's just a monitor.

MichaelScrip

The Jerry ads were a lot sillier and more fun to watch. Sorry if you didn't get the humor that was present in every action and every word. Not every joke has to make you HAW HAW HAW.

There have been plenty of adds that show all the individuals using their product.

e-friend

@Derek Devine: What Microsoft commercials? Besides this one and the Bill and Jerry what commercials are you talking about?

pdditty

I'm a Mac, and I think they did a good job with that ad. Why they thought that Seinfeld shit was better to lead with is an utter and complete mystery.

bkbkbk

@MichaelScrip: "In over 50 Get a Mac ads... have we ever seen a Mac?"

I think an iMac and/or a MacBook in one form or another is shown at the end of each clip. Don't quote me on that, though.

GTBruiser

WE'RE ALL FUCKING PCS! EVEN MAC USERS AND LINUX USERS! EVERYTHING RUNS ON PERSONAL COMPUTERS (PC) ITS JUST THE OPERATING SYSTEM THAT'S DIFFERENT! GAH!

daftrok

@VakeroRokero: Right.... someone strong armed me into a PC. Nah.

UniComp

great, can the graffiti guy get arrested or shot now, please?

jkr's bold comment

Oh Snap! Take that Apple! You sooo lame!! But seriously, I liked this ad, really showed that the rest of the world uses PC for a million different things, not just dancing in silhouette. Will it be more successful than the Apple ads? Not sure about that. Those apple ads are hilarious.

UniComp

This ad is ok. Just seems a little more generic than the Seinfeld ads. "Let's get a bunch of famous people to say "I'm a PC"!, That'll show 'em!"

meh.

The Seinfeld/Gates ads were better. Weirder, but better.

jvt

Wow I really liked the ads, I just saw the first one during the new season of It's always sunny in Philadelphia. (LMFAO the 2nd episode was the best! Watch the bank scene) Anyways back to the ad, it conveys a good message, and it's kind of just like saying "PC's are used by everyone worldwide, and Mac's are for Doushbag's" (Which isn't what I really agree with, it's just how I kind of interpreted the whole entire ad in reflection to the switch to mac ads)

Sam_Zebian

@daftrok: YAY! NOW I DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT AGAIN!

But yeah, CrApple used to have gold with the Mac vs PC commercials, but then it devolved into "HAHA! VISTA SUCKS!". But the advantage of a Windows PC over a Mac PC is twofold. One, it actually has software for it. Two, Windows users know how to shut the fuck up. CrApple should devote all of it's resources to the iPod and iPhone, then they could take their form over function philosophy and prefect it in the pockets of the impressionable and the smug. CrApple smugness rivals hybrid smugness, on par with AmericaHatingProtestor (TM) smugness.

Con Seannery

Pharrel Willians says his a PC???? what a laugh, Dude i guess you forgot about this video where you say clearly your a mac guy lol
[link.brightcove.com]

snitch29

Can we have a Linux add where a penguin just stares at you for 30 seconds.

citizensmith

@MichaelScrip:

Sometimes it's an iMac, sometimes its a macbook, just depends on what they're pushing at the moment. The point is, they do show Macs in the commercials.

I'm guessing Apple only shows them briefly because people really don't want to watch a computer for 30 seconds. Even a pretty one. Kinda like how Microsoft's new commercial is filled with people and not computers.

jvt

love the production, hate the message... it would've been so much better without the guy saying "i'm a human being. not a human doing, thinking... a human being."

if you're supposed to equate these people with a PC, then their PC's aren't doing or thinking, they're just... being?

retarded.

cloudnine

Even if I liked the ad (and I didn't) it wouldn't make me like Vista any better - XP at most.

I converted from PC over a year ago and I use my Mac for everything, including writing software for Windows - never missed a thing since the day I boxed my old PC and shipped it to some guy on ebay.

The latest ads only reaffirm my opinion about Microsoft - they always have to follow someone else's steps - originality: 0, large marketing muscle: 1; stupid commercials: 3 and counting

Raidah

I like these.

I didn't like the others.

Ajh

I honestly don't think that Apple will keep rolling with their ads. They'll go back to relying on word of mouth and their retail channel to sell Macs. After all, Microsoft seems willing to keep Apple's conversation going as they constantly remind the world through these new ads that a true Windows alternative exists.

cyclonus5150

@Joseph: Macs aren't any better than PCs. If you know how to use a computer, that is. If you don't, well an idiotproof mac is probably your best bet. Sure, you can screw a mac up pretty good, and do some impressive things with it. But the same is true of a PC.

Rodime

I'm a Mac.
And I'm in advertising.
And this spot sucks.

Mr. Kite

That's a mighty fine ad. Made me feel good about using Vista.

OMG! Ponies!

I consider myself a Mac geek, and I really liked those commercials. A LOT. Much better than the Apple ones. Great job Microsoft!

Tacos

@dezinewiz: Is it me, or am I the only one in this community who enjoys not having to get a Micro$oft degree just to network my three Macs in my house? /\_/\ (as an example...)

Are you serious? Networking MS machines is about one of the easiest things to do. It does most of the work for you.

I remember trying to add an iMac to a network. I setup the machines with static IPs. I put in the address, the subnet mask, DNS and gateway. After I do this, I get an error message stating that the subnet mask was wrong. I used the mask 255.255.255.64. And, was told it was wrong. What kind of crap is that? Macs are not easier. They both are a pain in the ass.

boobert

Probably the best ad to ever come out of Redmond. Nicely done.

SgtBeavis

@Con Seannery:

"One, it actually has software for it."

Unlike Macs, on which you cannot run any of the software that I need, like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, iTunes, Safari, Aperture, Final Cut, Firefox, Mail, Endnote, Mindmanager, SPSS, Google Earth, Transmission, Photmatix, RapidWeaver, Skype, Toast, Traktor DJ, and VLC. Yup.

"Two, Windows users know how to shut the fuck up. "

Well, apparently not :p

Dearhaw

@Rodime: I would never claim that Mac's are better than PC's. Both of them are hackable, both of em crash, both of em hang up, both have good points and both have bad points. And you're right, it is how you use it, but when you say that "Macs are idiot proof" I would ask how much you really know about Linux/Unix? OS X is built on Unix (1969) which you are comparing to your DOS (1981ish) system. In OS X's terminal, you have access to the full firewall via iptables, ssh, scp,port scanning, grep, more, less and tons of advanced Linux shell command that windows can't touch without downloading Cigwin. Windows is actually more idiot proof than OS X, but the fact that Apple has convinced you otherwise just shows how good their marketing is.

Joseph

Hi. I'm a mac... and I'm kinda proud of PC!

1timeonly

@maxfisher: lol i'm a hackintosh jajajajaja

Felix26591

huh. Huge mac fan here, but I like these ads. They are playing defense, but they're playing it well.

Except Deepak Chopra. that dick ruined the whole ad.

LazyPanda

@hedges1968: LOL, you're kidding right? NO SERIOUSLY?!!

Browser
Please explain in full details how the government stepped in? Do you know what the anti-trust lawsuits were even about? Microsoft had 90% of the browser market and by not keeping up with security and web standards, they let their lead slip by over 40%. [www.w3schools.com] . Because they were behind the times with IE6 and people realized that Firefox is better. Now they are playing catch up.

Video Game Console
So you would call the Nintendo Wii outselling the Xbox 3:1 In the US "equal footing" Despite the Xbox 360 coming out a full year ahead of the Wii?

MP3
Does taking 4% of the mp3 market seem impressive for a company like Microsoft that has practically unlimited development resources?

OS's (that Apple doesn't sell)
As far as your OSX vs Windows comment, Why do people keep thinking that Apple is in the Operating Systems business? You can't even buy OS X in a retail store without buying a Mac computer attached to it. The box OS's that Apple sells are upgrades as Pystar is finding out. Apples sells HARDWARE (they have a 45% mark up on the hardware), they aren't not competing with Microsoft for OS market-share, they are competing with HP, Dell, Sony, Lenovo and those guys for Hardware market-share. If you can't buy an off the shelf box version of Leopard to install on an brand new computer, explain how they are in the OS business?

And all those companies aren't trying to compete in all the others markets like MS is.

Joseph

This ad is so lame. Both companies are contributing to technology, but make mistakes; big and small, neither one of them will go under any time soon. -move on...

ziggieboi

For the life of me, I will NEVER understand why Apple can't/won't simply go for the jugular and expose Microsoft for its evils, going all the way back to the fact that DOS-->Windows's market share is due to the original bad judgement of IBM, leasing the operating system instead of buying it.

No good person, new to computing and in their right mind would choose a Windows machine over OS X if they knew the history of Microsoft, a company bent on dominating markets, not through superior offerings but ALWAYS through cunning positioning and bullying and essentially tricking people into getting hooked on their stuff, then making it expensive (therefore discouraging) to switch.

They've lost 100's of millions in lawsuits for their ruthlessness.

As I've said for almost 20 years, Windows has veterans, Mac has enthusiasts.

You endure Windows, you flourish in OS X.

I hate Bill Gates. You should, too.

bramachari

@jvt: "I'm guessing Apple only shows them briefly because people really don't want to watch a computer for 30 seconds."

Don't you think they could show Mac OSX? iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, anything? iPhone commercials show the phone for 30 seconds, while the voiceover talks about it... and shows you what it does... any why it'd different than other phones. All we can do with a Mac commercial is take Justin's word.

I'm pretty sure the clever people that make Mac ads could come up with something other than 2 guys standing in a white space talking about Windows... for 3 years.

MichaelScrip

I have 2 macs and just use a dell for a home server running Debian and this is half decent.. A lot better than the Seinfield one

keehun

I bet Mr. Frucci is loving these Ads.

berbar

"Life without walls"

Great line.

berbar

@boobert:

Amen to that. I bought my first (and last) Mac several months ago...the damn thing would not cooperate, open shares, or even sometimes handshake other (windows and linux) components on my network. Trying to mod or personalize anything on the Mac was way harder than it had to be and the whole proprietary Apple BS ended up pissing me off in the end.
I'm a PC and I'm proud to admit that I ran away from OSX Leopard and into the arms of Vista Ultimate. And seriously, I crashed my Mac more than I've crashed my Vista box.
Oh, and trying to switch my 4th gen iPod from Mac back to Vista through an iTunes v. 8 restore completely fucked up my iPod. All it does is cycle boot now...
....Good. I'm buying a 120 GB Zune and leaving all Apple things behind forever and ever and ever.

HeL0

It may not be original, but it has simplicity. It's clear and it delivers the intended message, which is: the other guy is wrong about us. In that respect, it's more targetted towards the consumer base, even if not as entertaining as the Gates-Seinfeld ads.

sridhar3

I like the ads. A lot less smug than the Mac ads, which were clever at first, but got old really quickly. I hope they go further though in the next ads, explaining a little more WHY people are PCs. I don't think their ubiquity is in dispute.

And, in the interest of full disclosure, I'm a Mac convert who still uses PCs (and Vista) on a pretty regular basis. Not sure I'd call myself a fanboy, though.

ACDlite

uuuuh "life wihtout walls" i like that

mpar

@bramachari: you are so right. lets hate a guy who donates more money than anyone on the face of the planet. what a terrible guy... grow up

robokasey

I know what this is all leading up to . . . .

In a life without walls, who needs Windows?

They must've seen the t-shirt . . . .

tarzan69

never in the history of ads have I been so keen to see the response (that mac will come up with)

.... mind you if you see the Obama/McCain 'pc' users it's kind of funny that the obama guy is like the mac guy and the mCcain guy is like pc guy

media_lush

I'm a PC and I play games.

Crowbot

I'm just imagining all the slapping of foreheads happening right now as the creative team responsible for this are reading the comments posted here (you just know they are!).

All-in-all it has to be one of the biggest backhanded compliments to mac ever, nice work "PC" dudes.

media_lush

I bet this entire campaign will not have a single mention of Vista and if anything it will end with the introduction of Windows 7.

AJ_Syrinx

Finally some fighting back! Some people just love to follow the advertising gimmicks. My sister admitingly said "SO I bought a mac today...with my starbucks coffee in hand....I'm such a marketing whore..oh well". And I laughed..hard.

jae_mez

@melikespi: Haha yeah those banners on Gizmodo are pretty imposing. I mean Gizmodo is trying to make money, but those things are huge!

Joseph

I keep waiting for Arnold to pop up. "Velcome to Kalifornia!"

Duncam

Blah Blah Blah. i don't think it's anything special and I'm a PC user turning Mac user.
It just looks like they took Apples ad and just fiddled around a bit after the 1st commercials sucked major ass. Kind of feels like Mccains way of turning something Obama said and spinning it like the pig and a lipstick comment. expect it's MS doing it. Someone must of been getting tired of Apple making them look like fools. I don't think people will notice the ads. it isn't something I would bring up in a conversation at work while on break. Does Eva Longoria even know what a computer is?

mercury69

@apeguero:

I agree. This is an awesome ad.

It reminds me of how I felt when the "I'm a Mac" ads first came out..they were clever, and fun to watch. However, now I can't stand them. Especially when I see the side/top banner ads on Gizmodo or CNN. C'mon that's just ridiculous, folks..

melikespi

it's a pretty good ad but I still think they've scored an own goal because they allude to one of the most iconic ads of all time and will subconsciously trigger "MAC" to anyone who watches it....

.... er, duh.... the last thing you want anyone thinking of is your competitor as soon as the ad starts! Product aside, for that fact alone this ad is a fail. Trying to take on Apple in a 'cool' way is destined to fail as, well, all the cool people are pretty much in the mac camp anyway.

of course the biggest problem is the use of the word "PC" rather than "Vista" - bok, bok, bok - (that's me making chicken noises to the ad team)..... Microsoft doesn't sell "PC", it sells Windows, the Zune and Microsoft

.... the more I think about it the more I see how easy this ad is going to be ripped apart...... notice how all the celebs/normal people - all they said is that "I'm a PC", it's like saying "I wear blue pants" no one mentions Microsoft, Windows, or whatever.... hell, if you take it to a logical conclusion these people could just as easily be talking about a mac!

I can't believe that after all those millions this is the best they came up with.

media_lush

I'm a PC (that runs on a macbook via bootcamp)

SgtToastie

Couldn't be any better!
Right to the point and emotionally persuasive.

Benzodiazepine

this ad was poop.

apple's ads are poop.

ads are poop. indistinct, vague, mind dummifying, commercializing, illiterating, uniformative, pixelated poop. isn't capitalism grand?

hatlandous

@Mr. Kite: I'm a PC.
And I comment on blogs.
And I think your comment sucks.

eblingmis

Lame ad. MS should concentrate on apologizing for making Vista such a POS.

peacefulpony

I like the ad's. But Apples focuses on the benefits of OS-X verses Windows. Microsoft can't go there.

Bodie1550

I'm a PS3 and I run folding@home.

Playstation

"The problem of course is that Apple presents the Mac in contrast to PC because it wants to avoid any unnecessary mention of Windows. By copying Apple's line, Microsoft will be spending millions to advertise the PC rather than the Windows brand.

Further, as PC companies such as Dell and Acer continue to seek new ways to use Linux in place of Windows, and as the top PC vendor HP begins its own efforts to create a Windows alternative as reported by BusinessWeek, the idea of advertising "the PC" would do even less for Microsoft. "

From AppleInsider. Promoting PC rather than Windows... LOL

Ken_Darrow

Dear Girl "studying the law" @ -43 seconds,

MARRY ME!

DaveExile

PRICELESS i'm a PC and i sell fish

Felix26591

I approve.

(I run XP on my desktop and use a Mac laptop. What does that make me? A Pac?)

LoganAdams

@Jamaces: A Mac does essentially wall you in, with such a limited scope of programs. You're safe, and everything works, but you're really handicapped.

A PC, you've got a lot to work with, but you can make mistakes and end up with problems.

Pi-face

Personally, as with most people, I think Vista was another Me repeat...

BUT, I am glad MS can jab back and be humorous about it.

Personally, I think the Mac craze is wii-esque in its viral spread. Sure it has its pros,... its pretty and not taxing (PC + Linux + Beryll > Mac OS IMHO) but in the end,... it depends on what you use a Computer for. Most people, qualified by saying "around me" that are getting a Mac are overpaying for something that they could use a Win PC for (or on that note, Linux).

Also Bill/Jerry < Im a PC commercial...

MS <3

UncleArgyll

great ads i think their sweet

tenio

... and not a single second of any of them actually using windows... for anything... or even pretending to explain WHY they are 'a pc' instead of something else.

WOW! That's another one out of the ballpark microsoft.

Ednonymous

@MichaelScrip: Also, thinking it's just a monitor isn't a bad thing when they go to check it out, and are told that the whole computer is in there. That is a huge selling point, not to mention a 'wow' moment.

The Magnificen7

Did anyone notice that the execrable Deepak Chopra actually quoted the motivational speaker from the simpsons who makes fun of bullshit new age crap like what Chopra himself says?

Just look up "brad goodman" from the simpsons.

Pope John Peeps II

Yay !

PC FTW !!1

Hellicus

Ya know, it's not terrible, but it still stinks. Yeah, wrap your head around that as I explain. The fact is, that by riffing off the Apple ads, they not only reek of desperation, but come off as a battered political party that are openly admitting their opponent is setting the trend. It's desperate, it's odd, but I will give it one thing, some of those one-liners are good. "I'm a PC and I have a beard." That was great. Also, keep the celebrities out. Just dumb.

The Magnificen7

@hatlandous: You're poop.

johnnyabnormal

@johnnyabnormal: Crack down on stuff before 9/11 is what I meant.

johnnyabnormal

also not condescending ;)

Hand_O_Death

@OMG! Ponies!: I used to live in NYC. Was there for 9/11 too. He did crack down on some nasty stuff and clean things up, but he's still a huge douche bag.

johnnyabnormal

actually well done, nice and gets the point across.

Hand_O_Death

@OMG! Ponies!: That video is so beyond wrong.

Crowbot

you can really tell from the comments who the sensible Mac users are and who are the butt-hurt fanboys.

tech-tard

The second spot (:15) ----> "Life without walls?"

I can just see this becoming a joke real fast. I can also see a mac ad responding to this campaign in a really funny way.

johnnyabnormal

@johnnyabnormal: A lot of people in NYC still remember the phrase "It's Giuliani Time!"

OMG! Ponies!

@OMG! Ponies!: The mayor of 9/11?

johnnyabnormal

Not that bad actually. I thought it was funny.

Nathan Drake

I like these ads!

Strider-No.9

@Dearhaw: I won't even try to list my apps. It would take up a whole page in here.

johnnyabnormal

Brilliant! Makes me happy.

NagChampa

@Pi-face: I'm actually having PC issues right now, that's the price of freedom and I'll gladly pay for the rest of my life.

Crowbot

@bramachari: Bill Gates is such a total dick. What kind of asshole gives millions of dollars to help develop third-world economies, further agricultural development, and fund research in curing pandemic diseases.

Founding a $38 billion charitable foundation?! What a colossal fucker!

You know who else pisses on people who use their good fortune and talent to help the poor? This knob-gobbling prick:

+ Watch video

OMG! Ponies!

@MichaelScrip: I think that would be a terrific direction to go once they are done with the Get a Mac ads, or even in just conjunction. They had an ad when the new iMac dropped that showed multiple iMacs spinning around, but it's still a good idea. I do have to agree with a previous commenter who said that the iMac is a very strong pop culture item, and is pretty well known.

The Magnificen7

@The Magnificen7: "Also, thinking it's just a monitor isn't a bad thing when they go to check it out, and are told that the whole computer is in there. That is a huge selling point, not to mention a 'wow' moment."

I agree! But show the iMac, pan the camera around it. Don't just show a picture of the iMac from the front. There are people (potential customers) who don't live near an Apple store and don't go to Best Buy. If the Mac vs. PC ads are supposed to make you go to a store to find out all the secrets, I don't think people will. Apple should use that TV time to talk about their products.

Look at the iPhone ads. "This is how you turn it on. This is your music. This is your e-mail. This is the web. And this is a call." Bam. Right there. There's no doubt what the iPhone is and what it does.

Now, look at the Mac ads. A guy on a throne, a guy in a pizza box, calming tea? The stories they tell are amusing. But people are visual. Why can't they show the product? Surely, in almost 30 minutes of Mac vs PC ads over the last 3 years they could have shown SOME of the things that Macs do... instead of telling tales of Vista.

* My ideal Mac ad would be similar to the iPhone ads: "This is your new iMac. Here are your family photos (iPhoto). This is your vacation video (with a burned DVD ejecting from the side). Here are all your favorite websites (Safari). You can even make your own website (iWeb). And yes, here is Microsoft Word." End (Apple Logo)

That's a Mac ad.

MichaelScrip

That totally beats the Apple commercials!! I mean come on, Apple's commercials are so geared for young, rich, middle class, white suburbia is sad. Who cares if it puts all my photos in perfect pristine order! What does that prove to anyone? That I paid exorbitant amounts of cash to look cool in front of nerdy unimportant goth geeks that post their lyrics on Myspace?? I don't think so! Give me a computer that I will be a workhorse. Give me a computer that puts me in the driver's seat. Give me software that works with everyone and get's the bills paid. I mean really, what's that stupid college kid sitting in front of you. updating his status on facebook with that overpriced macbook really accomplishing. PC's run this world and haven't let the masses down yet. They survived Y2K, they survive updates and upgrades. REIGN ON you proud PC followers. You are the people that keep the computer revolution alive, not that stupid guy with the tucked in black turtle neck, blue jeans, and no belt....

blazedshaggy

I think this ad was okay. Better than the Seinfeld ads (though the whole version is entertaining and has Mel's husband from Flight of the Conchords). What was unintentionally funny to me in the new one was that Pharrell seemed to be hiding behind his glasses, hat and microphone. Another comment: for some odd reason it reminded me of those Post cereal commercials where they have a bunch of people talking about the cereal being advertised.
I'm probably in the minority in that I do not share the opinion that the Mac ads are that bad. Been around for a long time sure but the characters almost seem inseparable from the brand at this point. And really, how can you hate John Hodgman? The man is awesome. However I preferred back when they would just show the beauty of the computer for 30 seconds and have old songs playing (like in the Indigo/Ruby/Sage iMac ads). My personal favorite was the G4 Cube ad but now I'm just getting off topic.
What I think would be the ideal Mac ad would be something similar to that video that was done with the song Again & Again by the Bird and the Bee.

MrHaroHaro

Here is something nice:

A complete guide in only 4 pictures that shows the whole process of upgrading MACs. Look:

[trunks.fireball20xl.com]

Isn't that nice?

ProSeven

I think we should have a genocide plan for mac users, I would like to say all pretentious ppl, but we gotto start somewhere ppl!

Crescent

@iDeadman: Way to go sticking to the post there buddy! Great Ad, I still prefer the G/S ads though.

ThatsMrOffDutyNinja

"I'm a pussy"

pwnz0r

I'm a PC and a Linux :)

This ad is sooo kool. And its refreshing to see that Microsoft doesn't need to rely on negativity (like Apple does) to sell its product.

Keep 'em coming Microsoft.

JagsLive

whats so hard about using a pc anyways?? i only got 1 b