this is an awful decision... the gates/seinfeld ads got microsoft to be the talk around the water cooler/coffee maker/copier... and i wouldnt even bring it up... the older people in the office would

now we are in for beer like commercials... [insert beer company] only uses the finest hoops and has [some low amount of calories]... cut to either people drinking or the beer in a glass

im a mac college kids love me and such

im a pc i make stupid commercials just like those "im a mac" commericals (actually that would be a great commercial)

purple-pillows

@monkeybars: Yeah, sorry - I didn't chuckle.

And when we saw them at the ad agency I work at - BOOs and thumbs down around the room.

But, hey, what do I know?

shorty63136

I'm a pc, I take 10 times longer to do anything in the real world of software development and in the corporate world, I need so many firewalls and virus scanners, it's impossible to even reply to an email.

I'm a mac, I get shit done.

Hmmm, tough choice....

Crazymonkey

I use all kinds of Apple products (along with tons of Microsoft products.)

I like the "Hello, I'm a Mac" ads, but mostly because I like the PC guy. The Mac guy just comes across as smug and condescending. I'm pretty sure this isn't the reaction Apple was going for.

I look forward to a memorable series of ads that remind people that PCs completely dominate the computer market.

dc-united

What kind of person wouldn't like the Bill & Jerry ads? Sure, as promotional tools they were terrible, but c'mon... You couldn't not chuckle.

"Hey what are you doing, that's Jerry and Bill's mustard."

monkeybars

@redspectre: Shoulda chosen applications that aren't cross platform or have good substitutes, like XTorrent. Maybe AutoCAD, or some other 3D modeling software that doesn't exist for Mac (yet) :P

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

Sorry but, I switched to Mac a year ago, and haven't looked back.

Only reason for using Windows is games and softwares only available on Windows.

Honestly, those who will endorse Windows never tried Mac OS.... Pharell? Pff.. Get Scarlett Johansson!

freakerz

@shorty63136: On that last point I agree. I'm sure plenty a fanboy will enter the blogsphere and praise it, but it'll only trigger more Microsoft-copying-whatever claims. In this case, it would be correct.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

Im a PC and I can run photoshop and Utorrent!

redspectre

Hopefully this may spark a paradigm shift in Apple's approach to advertising. The snark and potshot tactic was fun for a moment, but the moment's over and the theme's gotten a tad stale.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

I didn't like the Seinfeld/Gates ads - they were odd and didn't really do anything or have any substantial messages.

Apple's approach has always been pretty direct and pithy, but to try and come back with them with their own tactic really looks childish, unimaginative, and spiteful IMO.

shorty63136

Honestly, I can't stand the Apple Ads. I've got a MBP and I still greatly dislike the ads. They are completely useless and need to go away.

Hoominaga

@EVEs_Mako:
That makes sense..if you ignore any form of logic or fact.

Darkest Daze

RE: Windows - You can put lipstick on a bulldog all you want, but it's still just an ugly-ass bulldog.

I liked the Seinfeld ads, but it's not going to be advertising that would ever get me to switch from mac to windows. If MS ever got a clue as to how to design a UI, then I'd take a look. Until that day, thanks for the entertainment!

FritzLaurel

I wish Apple would stop using such a childish approach using steretypes and subliminal messaging to attack Microsoft.

[farm1.static.flickr.com]

cowpop

@lazerpenguin: I thought those were really funny. They didn't really get a message across, but they were very entertaining to watch.

Solday

I'm a PC and people prefer consoles and Macs over me.

Fight over.

EVEs_Mako

@lazerpenguin: Not the only one.

I loved them. Maybe not as ads, but they were bitchin' skits.

.endejas.

Uhm, I actually loved the Gates/Seinfeld ads. Make more of those please! kthxbai

Jon B.

Am I the only one who liked the Seinfeld ads? I was really looking forward to the next one. Hopefully they are still gonna make one or two more.

lazerpenguin

@kahri: A fool and their money are soon parted.

thnkwhatyouthnk

I liked the Gates/Seinfeld ads. Sure they weren't informative, but they certainly portrayed Microsoft as more laid back and a little witty (if weird). It was nice to see Gates poke a little fun at himself.

LJN

What were they doing with that campaign? and wasn't it uber expensive? good work. This is a muuuch better idea. Should've done this to begin with.

kahri

"I'm a PC, and people install video games on me."

Fight over.

Substance_D

Huh...Are they even going to try and wrap up anything with Seinfeld? Weird. I think the sledge hammer response is weak sauce.

MasterSauce

This could be a really effective move if Microsoft does this right. I for one am hoping that this set of ads will be good and not the complete mess that the Gates/Seinfeld ads were...

Katoejoe

And I liked the Seinfeild ads but couldn't see them helping sales. Mac adds completely suck but I guess the sell, taking half truths and presenting them out of context. The weird thing is I like my Mac and touch, but the ads make me want to identify with the PC crowd, I can't help but think what effing tossers apple users seem to be.

hedges1968

@freakerz: Duh, that's exactly the reason to use any computer. That is the tools that you need exist on that computer. Macs are good at what they do but they are lacking in certain high-end applications.

As a desktop, personal computer they do OK but when you need server horsepower they are severly lacking compared to Windows and other OSes.

You also have to keep in mind that until recently Mac OS only ran on Apple hardware which limited the choices for customers. Whether Apple will support non-Apple hardware remains to be seen but the genie is out of the bottle, as it were. This may help Apple in the long run if they are smart enough to realize it.

Windows is not nearly as bad as Apple and its fan-boys make it out to be.

cowboyshootist

@emorphien: Apple has shown, however, that they can advertise in a way that isn't lambasting the competition. The iPhone ads and the iPod ads are good examples. I think you're right, but I hope they manage to change it anyway. I'm sure even THEY must get tired of it at some point.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

This is exactly what Apple want's, lol. Why is Microsoft chasing and even trying to copy adds from apple, are they forgetting that they have about 90% of the world market???? Apple is so small that by nature they have to grow and Microsoft is so big that by nature they have to lose some market share from time to time, heck i have a windows machine and a mac, i love more my mac than my windows machine but hey that still doesn't make think Apple will be bigger than Msft anytime soon, now if apple decides to price macs more competitive with PCs than they might have a chance but hey they don't want that cause then they will have to many people switching over and that's problem cause that's when Antitrust law sue start flying over

snitch29

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Not to mention how stupid it would be, considering most of the market runs windows or some linux/unix version.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

This is a better campaign idea. Think about it. It'll be like all the mac vs. pc comment wars. Just at a slower pace and better produced.

kahri

@Crazymonkey:
What a load of toss.

Macs are overated in terms of UI, stability and speed. It's only really security where they have any edge and that is because there are just so few of them in global terms. And even then I still run a firewall and anti virus software, it's not freakin immune.

Most applications are similar in setout and use and I still experience as many lockups on my Mac as I do my PC. I've always felt Apple does a very average job given they only develop for specific hardware.

hedges1968

Oh yeah, I think that ad sounds cute.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge:
Unfortunately in some fashion or another that's always been a major Apple advertising tactic and it's just obnoxious. Rarely are their claims grounded in reality as the article notes, and they're just snobbish and stupid. Each new line of ads starts out amusing at first (the I'm a mac ads were amusing at first) but have eventually just gotten more and more annoying and overdone and have long stayed past their welcome.

emorphien

I was ambivalent towards the Microsoft Sienfeld Gates ads but I hated the I'm a PC and I'm a Mac ads. I think it is sad but the Mac ads were more effective at getting my attention.

Microsoft should stop being ashamed. Every company has had failures but I don't think anyone could say that Microsoft is not one of the most successful and important computer companies ever. Maybe people need to be reminded of that.

I work at a neuroscience center at a large hospital and when we do anything whether it be collecting and saving data or protecting sensitive patient information we rely on the Windows OS.

Crash900s

@Crazymonkey: "I'm a mac, I get shit done." In the real world of software development? Are you kidding? HA! Have you ever tried to development any software on a Mac? Code Repositories? Sheet, about all they're good for are the freshman year of college 'Hello World' programs.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

Can't wait to see what they have in store.

takashimiike 7

IMO Mac vs PC arguments are ridiculous, they do virtually the same thing, it mostly comes down to personal preference. Classic pot calling the kettle black.

toemissile

Alas, the Abbott and Costello-esque Windows Vista is now officially over, after Microsoft decided to go with a slightly less ambiguous OS, Windows Mojave.

nocar

so i just read the nytimes article and it makes more sense now...

purple-pillows

Isn't Microsoft doing what it normally does anyway? You know copy Apple? ahahaha

Ken_Darrow

I didn't think so, just what I've seen since OS 10 was initially released.

Crazymonkey

Will Microsoft's ads feature a stoned 14-year-old girl talking about how crap her dad's Mac is?

tarzan69

@Crazymonkey: Kinda laying it on thick there.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

I loved the gates/seinfeld adds too...i wish they made more of them...and for those who were confused as to how it pertained to vista...dont worry because those adds had nothing to do with vista or any other microsoft product...they were simply brand adds...

shakes

hops

purple-pillows

Just watch Apple Turn this around and this back fire badly watch and see

snitch29

@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge:

Agreed, they're beating a dead horse at this point. Microsoft started advertising long after Apple, and they've already managed to come up with two different advertising campaigns.

On a separate note, is it confirmed that no more Gates-Seinfeld ads will be airing? I would've figured that even if they decided not to have Seinfeld on for any more new ads, they'd at least air the rest of that first set (assuming they've finished filming them all).

sridhar3

I actually was really impressed with the seinfeld ads. They were fun, made me laugh and lets face it, microsoft doesn't really need to answer mac ads. this new move turned me off entirely.

1timeonly

awww... I was expecting for more Seinfeld/Gates ads.

But anyways, I'm glad they are demoralizing the "I'm a Mac" ad.
I mean, they were funny and all, if you consider it was a joke with stereotypes.
Apple fanboys killed the fun of it when they started saying the ads were 100% truth.

Just glad Microsoft strategy isn't just "counterattacking"... you know, they could just make a counterattack bragging about games, the percentage of PC users, and several other stuff like that. But that would be just as douchey.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

LMMacAO - MS failed completely - what a shower of sh!t

Now all they can do is copy Apple - as usual....

MINI Driver

@darthuv:
wait until we see one of the bloody things, k?

roflwaffles

@fuzzymuffins: Run over to you favourite TV download site and grab a few episodes of Mad Men...that'll explain it pretty damn good.

Zennalathas

@aeroworks: Or simply spend less and have Windows in Boot Camp :P

Apple's already touted this feature for a long time, and it's a pretty good selling point for people who want the hardware and OS, but want the capability of crossing over without having to have a separate system.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

@snitch29:
Because 10% of the global PC market is-scientifically speaking- hueg.

roflwaffles

WTF. what ever happened to advertisements actually selling you on the benefits of products and not 'attitude', which has absolutely nothing to do with the product itself.... do people now care more about how they 'feel' after they've bought something (read: bragging rights) instead of finding out what it (and their competitors) actually offer them?

fuzzymuffins

I'm sorry but I'm just trying really hard not to laugh remembering all the posts defending the Gates/Seinfeld ad say the later ones would make more sense.

As I've stated before I'm a long time PC user and not a Mac fanboy; but I can't help seeing this as somewhat pathetic on the part of Microsoft.

darthuv

"Hi, I'm a PC. I'll be anything you want me to be."

Coy smile coupled with images of high and low end computer desktops, laptops and servers.

"Seriously, anything."

EFix fades in and commercial ends.

Zennalathas

Heres an idea. Show a kid playing games and his friend just brought his imac over to party with his itunes collection. Friend looks over at guy playing a cool game like crysis and says, "Hot gee wiz tom, Hook me up with that so we can play together!". Tom looks over and says, " Sure, heres the keys to my car so you can buy yourself a pc".

aeroworks

@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge:
Certainly true. Those ads are really not at all annoying, I may be relatively indifferent about them because I don't want an iPhone or an iPod but they're not attack ads.

I'm generally down on attack ads regardless of who does them. Apple, cable or satellite companies, cell companies... I don't care for any of it!

emorphien

@Crazymonkey: I...I...I just dont know what to say...are you serious...what kind of code do you write...software development is done on PCs period...Jobs and CO. are notoriously bad at supporting developers...

Im a PC and I: Get your money out of the ATM..Check you into your hotel...help you buy your house...run graphical displays...bring you radio and tv...run your nuclear power plants...and the list goes on and on...oh yeah...and i play crysis...

shakes

@snitch29: It wouldn't matter if Apple even priced their stuff to be competitive with the lower end. Simply having such a limited range of products and having a proprietary OS would still keep them in the lower percentage, but then high volume is not what they're going for. They do this with the iPod, as they should, but PC market domination is never much of a point to tout when the competition is not aiming to become the biggest piece of the pie.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

It is funny when you take a stroll voer the macrumors.com. anytime something microsoft or something poking at apple( E.G. apple pulling apps). they have huge votes in the negative. for example, when the seinfeld thing frst came about they did nothing but say how retarded it was and should move onto something more like apples ads. Now that they may just do that people are sayhing the opposite and still giving negative rateings. Is there anything besides apple fandom that makes these people happy? rofl.

[www.macrumors.com]

aeroworks

Here's to hoping that Apple counters with Steve Jobs on safari in Africa with Dave Chapelle.

JackHoliday

@donlphi: Ding! Ding! Ding! Someone with reading comprehension. The NYT definitely makes this seem the case (and a much wiser decision), with only this one particular MS engineer truly and directly alluding to the Apple ads. We'll have to see, I guess.

Tim Faulkner

@Dinotech:
The only one for me is you
And you for me
So happy together
So happy together
How is the weather
So happy together
We're happy together
So happy together
Happy together

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

I just don't think you beat someone playing on their terms.

4ster

@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge: Well, maybe it was... Just don't let Chen know I'm making propositions for him.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

Imagine.. for a moment if you will...
Microsoft and Apple working together to bring the best of both corporations to the computer market for the benefit of all users and...

(insert record scratching noise here...)

no fuckin way.

Dinotech

@monkeybars: "What kind of person wouldn't like the Bill & Jerry ads?"

It's the demographic. I asked my 16 year old son if he knew who Jerry Seinfeld is. He said no.

The younger demographic, who Microsoft should be targeting, was completely out of touch making Microsoft appear to be their "parents OS."

Tank

@donlphi: I agree, I loved the HP commercials although I hate HP (use to work their, no comment... ::cough:: carly buttplug). Anyhow, Mac has been bashing Microsoft for a while now so I think it's about time they stand up. I don't think it's copying, I think it's just a smart (and cute) way to shove them back a little. I think Microsoft by far has a better sense of humor.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: That can be misconstrued as a come-on.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

I actually think HP had one of the greatest ad campaigns of all time. I haven't seen one in a while. It was informative and seemed rather cutting edge. By far the best advertisement the PC/Windows had going for it. I certainly hope Microsoft goes in that direction rather than copying Apple's "I'm A Mac" idea. I think it would come off as cheap.

donlphi

@MINI Driver: Psst...

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@Elaine Chow

"I don't look like John Hodgman. I use my computer for more than just spreadsheets. "

And I don't look or dress like Justin Long, either, and I do plenty of spreadsheet work (although mostly in statistics programs). Not the point. As a Windows user who likes it and doesn't want to switch (which, btw, is absolutely fine), I can see why you might be offended by the ad, but believe it or not, the ad isn't catered to people like you, or most of the haterz yapping left and right in the comments.

It's catered to people who are largely limited to using Windows for boring shit as part, or all, of their work in the office. Who feel that using computers is bland, a chore, not enjoyable. Apple is providing them an alternative; an environment that can actually be fun to do stuff in.

Now, can you not have fun on a PC? No. Is it completely fair that Apple characterizes the PC/Windows environment as a less fun one? Perhaps not. But then again, since when have commercials been completely fair about ANYTHING?

Seriously, it's pathetic that some people are genuinely pissed off about a motherfucking TV commercial.

@dc-united:

"I'm pretty sure this isn't the reaction Apple was going for."

I think that's exactly what they were going for. That's why the ad works. If the ad bashed Windows, and the "PC" guy was not a likable persona, then the ad would look desperate and too negative.

Dearhaw

adds are funny as hell

ZetaCrossfire

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog:

Are you kidding me?

/shakeshead

1995 called, they'd like their argument back.

Unless you're working for some tiny, almost out of business startup, pcs have no place in the realm of software development.

Rails/Java development belongs on a Mac. Besides, how many companies in their production environment (the one's who don't have their heads shoved up their arses) are running windows servers?

Every place I've ever worked in the last 15 years has had Solaris in production (most are running some flavor of *nix) - so why develop on the PC? Why install cygwin? Why go through the hassle of changing "\" to "/"? Why bother forcing onto a pc a *nix environment?

@hedges1968 - Not sure what you're doing, I've only had to restart any of my macs post software update. Seems pretty stable to me.

Crazymonkey

Can't wait!

vgart

I'm a Mac. People buy me because of the great advertising and then have to use bootcamp to install XP just to get any work done.

citizensmith

Oh man, THIS is weaksauce... I really liked the approach that they were taking with the Bill & Jerry ads. THAT was innovative and different. This is just lame, and sympotamic of executive risk-averseness. I think that they should stick to their guns....

Mandatory_Field

As a self-described Mac hater, I honestly liked the "I'm a Mac" ads, until they did ten billion of them.

If I were gates, Id get a Gates/Hodgman ad going, give him like 10 million to do the following:

Gates: I'm a PC
Hodgman: And I'm a douche.

Fin

unibrow4o9

Gates and Seinfeld are over?!

I wanted to see what happened next!

:(

DW

'I'm a PC. I'm gay. I'm younger and more fit than John Hodgman. I'm also more down-to-earth and less manic than most Mac users I know. Should I mention that I also do most of my best graphic design work on a PC?'

I personally found the 'I'm a Mac' ads to be amusing, but after a while they turned PC into a desperate maniac and unreasonable maniac and Mac has almost faded into the background of the ads. It'll be a nice change to see *something* positive instead of a passive-aggressive, half-nagging, half-bragging series of adverts.

DigitalSciGuy

Trying to make Windows attractive = lipstick on a pig.

Bodie1550

Does this just solidify the dig that Microsoft innovations are just copies of 3 year old Apple ideas?

Hiphopopotamus

@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge: or a cry for help that would result in a trip to the free clinic.

se.blackheart

oops
[www.brightcove.tv]

slepton

Pharell uses an iphone. Does that mean he uses a mac?

slepton

@Tank:

Your son sounds a little retarded. Sorry about that.

akashhhhh

@MINI Driver:

Dude. You ostensibly use Macs and drive a fucking Mini. Nothing you say matters, ever.

akashhhhh

@smitherssocal: relax lady.

se.blackheart

i love all the libertarians that are offended by a stupid mac add.

what lame losers you all are.

oh wait.....i meant to say "what lame PC users you all are"

i think the mac ads are funny, eat a bowl of D__k if you cant take it.

smitherssocal

I'm a Mac, i create new features and hardware everyday.
I'm a PC, i rip his features after 3 years, i even ripped his ad campaign.

come on M$ even in ads u r copying the guys. (if people are aware, they will just say we want the original innovative people), but people dont like changing.

anyways, Eva Longoria will take Jerrys role!!

Im Eva, i use a Zune hehehehehehe

medopal

Dear Microsoft,

More time fixing security loopholes and drivers,
Less time trying to out-clever the competition.

kthxbai

Pezmanb

@akashhhhh:

Hmm ... That would be a Cooper F with four on the floor?

Brau

@akashhhhh: Hey now, the Mini is a good car. I'd rather drive a Honda Fit if I was going compact, but yeah, they're really nice machines.

Kaiser-Machead on the Edge

I think the problem with the first Seinfeld/Gates ad campaign vs. the Mac ad campaign are akin to the Obama/McCain campaigns.

Basically, Obama/Windows assumes yer smart enough to get it.

McCain/Mac just attack you w/ a kick to the nuts.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for competition in any market. (Hey Nader/Linux!)

But if you really want to compete, don't make your machine waaaayyyy overpriced for what it actually offers.

Flame on.

kangaroo

o_O Never though to see Microsoft so threatened by Apple that they sink millions into ad campaign just to counter Apple ads.

ara

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Ahh, sorry, that came out meaner than I intended.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

Haha

I am a PC and .........

*driver to wireless keyboard gets corrupted*

Typed on MBP

Kevin

@Crazymonkey: I work for a company that employs 20,000 US citizens, 95% engineering. Ruby on Rails is hardly software development, I would imagine most monkeys could utilize it along with most other web technologies. How often might I ask have you seen a website run on a mac (since this appears to be your market)? Or, perhaps the question should be, how often do you run into people stupid enough to pay 3-4 times as much for a mac server?

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

This is silly. They can't even come up with an original ad campaign? First they copy Seinfeld, now Apple ads? Microsoft would do better to give away Vista. Oh wait - still no one would want it. I think Microsoft should embrace who they are and stop trying to run from themselves! Admit Vista is a dog, move on. Lets face it - Microsoft is not gonna be "cool" like Apple in that way but they out sell them nine billion to one. There is room for both to live. I agree with @Pezmanb, fix the software, forget the ads!!!!

larry91403

@Tank: The younger demographic are full of morons. That's why they buy anything Apple dishes at them, smile at pointless Apple ads, and smoke Steve Job's pole when he wants demands it (proof:See Mac fanboys online).

garytek

@Crazymonkey: "Unless you're working for some tiny, almost out of business startup, pcs have no place in the realm of software development."

Tell that to the investment banks Barclays, Credit Suisse , RBS, and all those banks using ATM machines etc... They all have PC Applications running in production. I wouldn't call them startup and out of business...

djangopool9

@djangopool9: Well, I wouldn't be so sure about the out of business part... not in today's ecomomy!

But seriously, ATM's in Britain do run on Windows. How do I know? I've seen about 10 with either BSOD's or error messages on them.

Also, what's the point on this constant flame war? If you like Macs, you buy Macs, if you like PC's, you buy PC's. Hopefully everyone on here is mature and open minded enough to do some research and then make an informed decision?

craig_16

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog:
Apple hasn't been bashing Microsoft. They've been bashing "PC". As in some nebulous entity that can't actually sue for defamation or false advertising. They aren't specifying that they're Microsoft-powered PCs (could be Linux or even OS/2). They aren't picking out a specific brand of PC either. Just "PC". That way no one company has any valid legal grounds to tell them to TSFU with the full backing of the US court system.

And that said, the _best_ PC vs. Mac parody that I've come across is this.

Purple Dave

Of course Mac are overpriced, but I rather pay more for good software, than cheaper stuff that will not even run from the store. It can't be possible that the first thing you should do to a brand new computer is erase everything and start clean.

And the ads are so sad. Following into mac "I'm a Mac, I'm a Pc" is just a "me too" and amazing a ad agency can say that's the best they can come up with for tens of millions of dollars they are getting...

I wish they would rather invest in making 2 Windows 7 versions:

Windows 7 legacy for all the people with old stuff.

and

Windows 7 for all the rest of us that haven't used IDE and CDROMS and SERIAL PORTS.

VakeroRokero

@lazerpenguin:

Nope. The NYT article on the ads indicates that MS had an eight point positive shift in public perception and that two-thirds of on-line comments were favourable.

The first phase did its job. Let's see what phase 2 brings.

Drummer_Boy

@craig_16: Hey, buddy. Gizmodo is -the- battle ground of the platform war. If you can't stand the residual heat from the constant flaming, don't read the comments.

Oh yeah, and fuck PCs, microsith, and everyone who uses them.

Yes, linux dorks, that includes you. Now go cry yourself to sleep while compiling drivers.

...AND ANOTHER THING....all you "hackintosh"/OSX86 people are infidels.

I'm done...FOR NOW...

/excessive iVangelism

Ginsu

@freakerz: Amen to that.

Pharrel is one of what, 3 people in the entire scope of the music industry that doesn't use a Mac?

"Hi, I'm a musician that uses different software and hardware than everyone else in the business...oh yeah, and no, I'm not the most successful artist ever...wait, what am I doing with my life???"

Ginsu

Personally, I always thought the Mac/PC commercials had it a little backwards...

Macs users are usually more computer-savvy (and yes, often with that self-agrandizing air of superiority) than average PC users.

But PC users are everyday Joes, man on the street types - and yes, gamers.

(The 'Mac' guy looks like a gamer to me)

Plus 90% (or whatever major-majority %) of people who use computers use PCs.

(And that's why Bill Gates runs the world - bwa-ha-ha!)

Oh, and the Gates/Seinfeld ads? Awful. But I don't care for Seinfeld, so that's probably it. I'd rather see Chris Rock or Dennis Miller.

EricAlder

@Crazymonkey: Sorry dude, you are about as wrong as it's Possible to get, and shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog has the right of it. You're saying the the Mac, with ~3% worldwide market share dominates the PC with it's ~90%? Don't let your partisanship and the skewed reality portrayed by the "I'm a Mac" ads skew your own opinion. Mac and Solaris, fine though they be, are a drop in the bucket, not a dominant platform. Most of the world uses Windows servers, very closely followed by Linux. Everything else is far behind. I don't know that Apple servers even register in the statistics, although we all know they're out there. The ads are an excellent example of the Reality Distortion Field at work, and you're buying into meaningless hype that tip-toes along the edge of blatantly lying. I happen to also manage a team of 10 web developers: Linux (LAMP) on the outside, Windows and .Net inside. No Macs. I have one at home, but it doesn't get used for my work (but not a developer myself). Very few web developers use Macs when you actually look at the numbers. When you look at traditional app development, "very few" drops to miniscule. My org has more than 15,000 users btw, and we're not even remotely some small out of the way org. Yeah, people that use Macs think they're great, but that doesn't remotely mean that they rule. Do some research before you spew next time....

Mandatory_Field

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: I agree, I work in a company of about 70,000 and most of us use PCs (actually, I don't know of one Mac here, but then again I'm in engineering).

ALL of the servers here are obviously either PC or *nix. EVERY development computer is a PC. I don't know how someone could think PCs have no place in software development. If you want any sort of permissions to be dispersed across the network or administrative tasks done, you need to develop on a PC and there's no denying that.

KStrike155

@Purple Dave

Who are you kidding? They've been bashing Vista like it's no tomorrow. It's only a matter a time that you retaliate after somebody has been kicking dirt on your name.

I still want a Mac...but they're overpriced. I might just stick it out with a PC and get that HTC Dream. Perfect Combo.

kgbrolic

I try to leave.

BUT THEY KEEP PULLING ME BACK!!!

YOU HAD ME AT DOS GODDAMN YOU!
YOU HAD ME AT DO-O-O-OSsssss.

(sniff)

strider_mt2k

@se.blackheart:
hahaha, that i enjoyed!

General Halfshaftery

@lazerpenguin: I loved them they where just bizzare little story. I like the idea that Bill Gates and Jerry just run around from house to house causing mischief.

taftsearlobe33

"So a PC and a Mac walk into a bar..."

That's effective advertising. But really, Microsoft's desperate. They're new OS is failing miserably, and lets face it, XP was never a winner. Apple has been gaining market share because, like me, people were fed up with Windows and the crappyness of Dell and HP (and in my case Gateway).

AND i've seen dock like programs for windows and yahoo widgets that mimic OS X on Windows...and that is lipstick on a lizard. It's still ugly and horrible.

mixtronic87

@Substance_D: You win...so hard.

Wormfather is Wormfather

I'm a PC. I'm about as pretentious as a shoe.

Fight Over.

Chromeo

I'm surprised they didn't integrate the Bill & Jerry ads into the other campaign they're running.

You know, the one where they tell a bunch of folks that they're using Microsoft's brand new OS, but then they go ha-ha! You're using the same old OS. We lied to you! Doesn't that entice you to trust us with your business?

Now that's a Seinfeld moment.

BeowulfRex

I am apple and I stiffle creativity by taxing developers to death and deciding which applications can and cannot be run on my hardware.

Welcome to my little fruit shaped filtered world.

keepr

I hate those fucking "I'm a Mac" commercials. Apple can burn because of those.

Ike_Skelton

@akashhhhh: So you're a PC user and 'carist' - interesting.

I'm trying not to judge you based on your comments, but it's really difficult not to get the impression that you're ignorant.

MINI Driver

"As a Windows user", I can't believe that someone at Giz wrote this. I thought this was a MAC loving, Windows hating blog. Man, that blows my mind.

vincentw561

Crispin Porter + Bogusky became the PC.

This isn't Microsoft doing this... it's CPB, and it's ALL advertising. Not to say that Apple doesn't advertise - but let me remind you the world of advertising isn't about selling products - it's about the ad company making money, so they'll do everything possible to make the product "they're all about" look the best, which makes the client money which makes them come back to do more advertising.

The agency I worked for and recently quit from had CPB stop in and tell us all about themselves, and then they started showing us "hush hush" Microsoft stuff they were getting ready to launch.

People, that campaign never saw the light of day - it was all about how people that work for Microsoft are humans and they want to do a good job. Zzzzzz... why don't we stick a 1960's bug in a white room and give it a German accent.. Zzzzz... or how about making a website with a chicken that does stuff for ya who's buzz was more in the advertising world no the consumer world. Zzzzzz...

Earrings on the P(c)ig folks. Try looking up the word Meme.

But, who cares really... it's really all about what YOU actually need to do on a computer and if you have the correct setup that is relevant to accomplishing your goals. There are people probably still making music with their Amiga 2000's that would still woop everybody's arses using the latest technology.

Don't believe the hype!

Augustum

I agree with those who are saying that this approach is only going to highlight the accusations of copying, lack of originality and creativity and so on that are typically leveled at Microsoft/PCs by Apple fanboys. I get why they're changing their tactics here and going with something more direct, but I think it could seriously backfire.

Then again, maybe this will finally spell the end of the Mac/PC ads- they'll get more and more meta, making ridiculous ads about each other and die off once and for all. I liked the Mac/PC ads from Apple initially- they were funny and different. At this point, though, they've been airing for years, and it's just getting stale. Every time I see one, I feel like I'm getting clubbed with a sledgehammer- and I'm a lifelong Mac user! If it's making *me* feel irritated and bored, I doubt it's convincing many people to switch at this point.

That said, I still love the Japanese versions of the Mac/PC ads- do a search on YouTube for them, they're great. Apple should just start airing those with some subtitles if they really can't be bothered to, y'know, think up a new campaign.

FaustianSlip

@lazerpenguin: I got a kick out of them as well. I like ads that are not just completely over wrought with "buy me."

zenpoet

@Ken_Darrow: Just like apple did copying Xerox, right? Hahahaha.

y2julio

@FritzLaurel:

poodle

Brookespeed

I don't watch commercials. Ever. :)

avconsumer2

"Funnyman Seinfeld"? I know both of those words, but when you put them together like that they don't make any sense...

StarChaser Tyger

@shorty63136: They made me want to buy churros. I think that was what they were trying to sell, right?

Oranges w/ Cheese

First, copy the competitors product
Second, copy the competitors advertising
Third, copy the competitors marketshare

Why does MS want to be Apple. Has no-one told them that THEY are the dominant platform. I throw MS in with a small handful of companies that have an unwarranted inferiority complex. Jack Daniels is another- they swipe and swipe at Jim Beam despite the fact that people largely view JD as a premium brand and Beam as swill.

MS attacking Apple will only elevate consumer's perception of Apple. Taking the high road is the cross that a category or brand leader must carry if they wish to maintain their leader status. Period.

barkolounger

wow, so much angst this early. i find it odd that all the mac users know the intricacies of vista and xp, almost seems like they use them, perhaps on a day to day basis? proving who the big dog in the fight really is.

as for the gates/seinfeld ads, i have NEVER watched a complete episode of the seinfeld show, as i never found the guy remotely funny. like other, i did find the idea that gates would make fun of himself like that refreshing.

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog:
i found your response to minidriver to be perfect. the troll never sticks his/her/it's head out unless he/she/it has something snarky to say.

use what OS works for you, no skin off my nose. me, i use a modded xp build, and i have tested vista on my machine and while i liked it, and really had no problems while running it, i don't believe that it is a system for a enthusiast, more a system for someone who doesn't spend a lot of time "under the hood". i also have played on a couple macs, and the interface is slick and all pretty. is it better? not for me.

godwhacker

@akashhhhh: fyi, he's highly intelligent, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do but more interested in Jujitsu.

The younger demographic was watching cartoons when Seinfeld was popular. They spend more time on Facebook, Myspace and on their cell phones, or listening to mp3 players than sitting in front of a TV...unless they're playing video games.

They don't have to be morons to not know who Seinfeld is. They simply don't care.

Tank

I'm a MacLinuxPC

I don't know what I'm doing half the time but eventually I git'r done.

Jrsy is the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude

@DigitalSciGuy:

Agreed. The "I'm a Mac" ads were funny at first but now they're just annoying. It's ironic, though, that the PC character is so much more likeable than the Justin Long Mac character.

gerrylum

"I don't look like John Hodgman. I use my computer for more than just spreadsheets."

And you still have poor taste in software. Even if you don't actually look at him, the minute you start telling us how much you like using Vista we start picturing you as being just as lame as John Hodgman's character. It's unavoidable. It's like people who talk about how cool their H2 is, everyone else around them is going to think they're a douche no matter how much justification they lay out.

unit3

MS is riffing off something that Apple has done for years? Well, now, there's a shocker.

halloweenjack

"I'm a PC. I can very personalizable and you can get parts fron thousands of comapanies to fit your needs and your wallet. I also rock at gaming."

"I'm a Mac, Everything you need for me is at one place. Sounds convientent and it is, as long as you like paying out the ass, because you can only get my stuff at ONE PLACE!" nah im not bitter

Hand_O_Death

I knew those seinfeld ads were going to bomb. I kept waiting for some punch-line and none came. The whole thing felt dull and minutely amusing. I'm glad they canned it.

(fyi, I use both pc and mac)

qrius

So yet again, microsoft will attempt to copy Apple... and fail miserabley (not to mention publicly as well) while doing it.

*yawn*

Wake me up when they finally smarten up & license linux.

I'm not interested in a flame thread but FFS you'd think these morons would actually fix windows instead of wasting $$$ and time on everything which hurts them instead of taking care of business.

The $300 million would have been better spent ditching widnows entirely, firing ALL of their 'software engineers' and hiring Linus Torvalds.

Ednonymous

@barkolounger:

MS want to copy Apple's marketshare?

Oh my! Come on now, that's just silly. Almost as silly as Ednonymous saying he doesn't want to start a flame war and then posting a load of inflammatory comments.

Drummer_Boy

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: @shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Totally agreed

On the flipside, have you tried editing film or audio on a PC? It's not just a personal preference, clearly there are things that each system does significantly better than the other. The other area of difference seems to be spamblocking/virus probs which I personally have never had on my macs (MB and MBP) but have had on my PCs (Thinkpad, and Dell desktop) (I use both, for different things, if you couldn't guess).

For your average person, it probably doesn't matter but primarily I HAVE to have a mac.

ExtendedRockyMontage

HI! I'm a PC and I run 99% more software titles then a Mac. With me you can actualy DO STUFF other then getting on the interwebs, making movies and listening to DRM Music. I cost a LOT less money, wont break your bank and when I break (which ALL electronics do) you can actually fix me YOURSELF!

JEmlay

@ Anyone playing the "They're copying Apple" card.
Until you've actually seen the AD, you have no idea what you're talking about.

Coop

@godwhacker:

You clearly think Shamoron needs someone to validate his sad crotch shot - interesting...

Back to the original post - MS are to cool advertising, as Lehman Brothers are to portfolio investment.

How exactly are they going to make the sad grey tool that you're forced to use at work, into something hip, cool, trendy and desirable.

It's not going to happen - they are Big Brother, The Man, the thing we all love to hate about being told what to do, and what's 'best for us'.

They'd have more luck trying to sell me AIG insurance!

MINI Driver

Oh, and sorry to double post, but they were not informative either.
I think they know of the idea that having a mac is cool or popular or some shit like that, and they show people who are interesting using them, but they forgot that stupid, uninteresting people (read ~85%+ of people) want something easy and fun, and they want to hear about why it is good for them.
I really think that they wont update Vista, realize it is not worth upgrading to from XP, and have no real reason to get you to buy it. All these ads are just for brand awareness about shit everyone already knows about but doesn't want.

mferrari

I just saw the commercial during Futurama, which means so did the majority of Giz. It was that guy in the picture saying the "I'm a PC, and I've been made into a stereotype" then 20 or so other people saying "I'm a PC and I am *job or current activity*".
They had some cool people doing interesting things and a couple others thrown in for humor, and it ends with the windows logo and "Windows, life without walls"

mferrari

@MINI Driver: On my behalf, that was not in fact my crotch. Also, the post godwhacker was referring to was my response to somebody else.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog:

Wow, no - not at all - totally missing my point. Why develop on windoze and deploy to *nix. Why not develop on *nix and deploy to *nix.

You're the guy at the meetings talking loud and not saying anything aren't you...

Crazymonkey

Abort, Retry, Ignore.

loslosbaby

@djangopool9:
Sorry, in my world, "production" is outside the firewall. I'd never dangle raw meat to the lions like that (push a windoze server out past the firewall).

If "production" in these cases are windows apps designed for internal use for trading - so be it, who cares about internally consumed software?

Crazymonkey

@Mandatory_Field:
You clueless wonder - that sound was my point flying over your head.

See any of my other posts and this time read them instead of just looking at the pretty little letters.

If "you guys" are in an engineering roll that employs tens of thousands of developers - what are you working on? Maybe I should back pedal a bit - any webdev env should be a *nix variant - the only reason I'm pimping osx is because invariably the fools in marketing or legal or some other non-tech area can barely handle windoze as it is - think throwing Ubuntu at them would work? No, I didn't think so either. So at that point, why have a company running 10 different operating systems? Why not pick one that can do it all?

Crazymonkey

@Crazymonkey: I develop and deploy on **ix (there is more than just *nix), which is actually my my favorite OS.

::shrug::

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

Beer, it's what's for dinner.

::runs and hides from the banhammer::

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@Crazymonkey:
"I'm a pc, I take 10 times longer to do anything in the real world of software development and in the corporate world, I need so many firewalls and virus scanners, it's impossible to even reply to an email.

I'm a mac, I get shit done."

What did I miss in this meeting?

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

And Carly is a butt plug. Who said that?

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog: Oh, and I'm not a web developer, although I started out that way. Two years developing web based security systems, a year or so grunt work at HP, a few years programming military grade wireless routers, and currently involved with one of the largest database based applications that exists. Not once have I seen a Mac in action.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@Crazymonkey: Quite fast, I have dexterous toes.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@Crazymonkey: I said database based application, I didn't say I worked for a database company.

shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog:

How can you type so fast when you're so busy thumping your chest?

Crazymonkey

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog:

How many of these things have you been working on since the inception of OS 10?

Additionally, I don't see HP throwing out all their desktops and running out and buying mac pros - and never said so. What's your point?

If you say you work for oracle, I'll call shenanigans. And if you say sybase I'll roll my eyes. Lotus notes doesn't count.

Crazymonkey

@shamoononon has a hebetudinous dog:

If you build/run on *nix, why are we debating this? In summary, my point is (yet again) - the easiest *nix to integrate into a webdev env is osx. And considering every place I've worked has built on windoze and deployed to *nix my general assumption is, why bother forcing the duplicity, why not just stick with an easy to operate/maintain *nix variant (osx)?

I'll whole heartedly agree - developing for os 9 was a nightmare. 10 is so much better in both native apps AND webdev.

Crazymonkey

Ugh... all these ads do is prove exactly why a company that needs advertising should basically not help create it. There are reasons advertising, PR, and integrated communication agencies exist. A big one is to avoid this kind of crap. Microsoft either gave Crispin Porter a terrible brief, or is interfering with their work and the creative direction. I'll guess both. And those HP ads that were mentioned? The ones with JayZ, Burton, and Shaun White? Those ads? Jay Z and his girlfriend Beyonce have been photographed using MacBook Pros or Powerbooks, in public, numerous times. Burton runs a serious chunk of their company on Apple hardware, and relies on Apple software to edit their most critical communication tool: video. As for Shaun White, well, he still gets laughed at by a significant proportion of snowboarders, despite his accomplishments, so he's not exactly the most effective spokesperson/sponsored athlete. Sure, he rides for HP, but once again, the software that makes his fame possible is made by Apple. How? 99% of pro skate/snow/surf/ski movies are edited with Final Cut, on Apple hardware. The magazines? Apple-hardware dominated. In fact, HP might have signed him, but a significant proportion of action sports athletes would rather, and in fact do, pay for Apple hardware. Even if they can get Windows-based stuff for free. Worst of all? The youth market that HP was trying to cater to with those ads knows all of this. So, here's a big bag of fail for HP. Microsoft will be receiving a big bag of fail soon as well.

DerwinLycus

I just love how PC guys in tech departments absolutely fear Macs. I work for a large University and anytime staff wants to switch to Mac (which is quite often these days), the I.T. guys freak out saying this and that, and then whammo, the staff member just opens the box and it's up and running on the network. They'll try their best to persuade them otherwise but the landslide of PC & Windows complaints are too much. If a tool just works, and works well, people will use it and recommend it to others. But for some reason the computer industry has blown I.T. smoke up peoples asses for so many years. It's simple, the majority of people using computers in this day and age are not "coders", "hackers" or "Techie Nerds", they're just people who want to get shit done, now... like the minute they buy the tool... not after some long drawn out Dell Hell afternoon of 1-800 numbers.

RosalbaIshed

@Kaiser-Machead on the Edge:

Mac's have 3D and CAD software. Ever hear of Maya?
Shoulda chosen Spyware or viruses, they aren't cross platform and don't have substitutes.

I'm not just bashing Windows, from 1994 - 2006, I was Windows only. Then I looked for Mac versions of all the appz I use, found them, then switched.

WilllliW

@aeroworks kid wonders, "why did I spend my 4 years worth of allowance for a graphics card when all my friends are playing xbox..." Thus another wow player is born.

Togroovy

@cowpop Welcome to advertising, look around everything on tv, news, magazines, etc is about subliminal messages and images. The mac campaign is quite effective at portraying PC's as bland and problematic. You can argue PC vs Mac but you can't argue good advertising, especially given how everyone knows what you mean when you say, "Hi I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC"

Togroovy

Man, Microsoft has been blatantly desperate and uncreative lately. Not only is the fact that they needed the Mojave experiment ridiculously hilarious, but now they need to copy Apple in order to recover from a terrible ad campaign. The only thing good about those ads was that Seinfeld was in them, and Seinfeld is a genius.

HageNuttz