Apple\'s ad surprises Intel

Apple's latest advertisement--which aired for the first time during . The ad claims that for years, Intel's chips have been "trapped inside PCs--dull little boxes, dutifully performing dull little tasks." Apple's ad says that the Intel processor will finally be set free, but Intel's vice president Deborah Conrad responded to these claims yesterday in an interview. "Never would we characterize our customers that way," Conrad stated. The exec said that Intel cooperated with Apple for some particulars of the TV spot, but added, "We didn't know what the end result was going to be," according to a report from CNET News.com.

Intel was allowed to view the ad just before Tuesday's keynote speech. "It's probably a good thing that we didn't see them earlier," Conrad said.

Intel won't complain, however, if Apple's work with the chip-maker inspires other customers to think more creatively.

"We certainly hope that this innovation engine kind of picks up and that you do see the beige box makers going, 'You know, maybe we could do something that looks and feels like that.' That would be a good thing, I think, from our perspective."

by MacNN Staff