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Mac ad campaign too easy to parody?

updated 08:55 am EDT, Mon July 31, 2006

Ad campaign low-budget

After much success with the iPod ad campaign to push the digital music player as hip and cool, some question the quality of the new Mac-centric "Get a Mac" ad campaign. In a recent OSWeekly.com report, columnist Brandon Watts says the ads are rather low-budget compared to previous Apple efforts. The ads have already been easily parodied and mocked by internet-based Windows enthusiasts--using supplies as simple as a white backdrop and video camera. However, Watts believes that the critical belief that these advertisements are too harsh to Microsoft and come off as rude and condescending is simply not true. "Companies always try to point out the advantages that they have over the competition, but instead of going the traditional route, Apple used two distinct individuals to portray the differences between Windows and OS X," wrote Watts in his recent column. The advertising battle will heat up later this year as Microsoft gears up for the launch of its new campaign for the release of the much-delayed Windows Vista featuring comedian Demetri Martin.

 
Previous Comments

Because it is popular

07/31, 09:11am reply

It is only parodied because of how popular Apple is. Do people parody on stuff that is unknown to the world?

buffalolee

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Oct 2001

0

Apple ads have long...

07/31, 09:29am reply

...been parodied. The "Switch" ads were a very popular target, but I've also seen parodies of the high-budget 1984 commercial. This is nothing new, and reflects positively on the fact that Apple is part of popular culture.

jimothy

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Joined: Sep 2000

0

Yeah Yeah

07/31, 09:42am reply

People talk cause the ads are DEAD ON RIGHT! Windoze is pure c*** and those that love it and 100% morons that couldn't find a clue if it was pasted on their foreheads. Of course, none of these idiots will ever admit that, but then again, that's why they're morons, cause they don't know they are!

jarod

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Joined: Apr 2005

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just as it has been...

07/31, 10:03am reply

people have long parodied apple's ads because (mostly) they're jealous that they have a junkier computer and os. I've seen a CD company that pretty much copied off of the iPod ads to make their stuff popular. everything that apple has put on the most recent ads is so true.... I mean when I got a PC, i had to erase a bunch of trial software and some of it WAS in another box... what a bunch of poor losers that work with a pc there are out there

11schest

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Joined: Jul 2006

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this is news?

07/31, 10:04am reply

again, this is news? One person's ignorant "editorial" is news?

chadpengar

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Joined: Oct 2001

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re: yeah yeah

07/31, 10:11am reply

i'd agree with jarod's post. alot of the parodys that are out only talk about how mac sucks because there are no games. and if you do ask a windows user about mac they call you an idiot, say mac sucks because it sucks, and mac sucks because of no games. so yeah, alot of the windows users are morons for acting like that

FastAMX79

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Joined: Sep 2000

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Apple Commercial Parodies

07/31, 10:28am reply

Have been around for a long time. This reminded me of one of the old SNL parodies of the PowerBook ads from the 90's ("the power to be your best stuff): http://pulsar.esm.psu.edu/Faculty/Gray/graphics/movies/powertocrush.mov

Elektrix

Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Sep 2001

0

They are crass

07/31, 10:44am reply

The ads are crass, rude, and in because it makes Apple seem radical, outspoken, and different in a conservative time. I, myself, would have done something similar.. however, the "Networking" ads makes me crack a smile every single time (the others not so much). Apple needs to find a way to promote their software rather than bash the competition. Perhaps once a Parallels scheme is put into practice and they give us decent video cards, they can show some first person shooter playing with a core of it's own along side Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac, running in Rosetta, and a native Firefox browser just so all the bases are covered.

ibugv4

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Joined: Jun 2003

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popular

07/31, 10:57am reply

It is only parodied because of how popular Apple is.

They are not parodied because Apple is popular, they are parodied because the ad themselves are popular (i.e. known) and easily identifiable, and, in fact, some parodies aren't even mac/pc oriented. The parody is of the commercial, not the product.

If you recall the switch commercials, there were lots of parodies there that had nothing at all to do with Apple being great or sucking.

Do people parody on stuff that is unknown to the world?

Again, since its about the commercial, if the product is unknown, its probably because it has no advertising. And therefore it can't be parodied.

And I would have to say that this was all part of the plan of the ads in the first place (esp. considering the switcher parodies). I'm sure the advertiser and Apple knew that the simple ads would make them easily parodied, which raises awareness of the product and the ad even more.

testudo

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Joined: Aug 2001

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buying publicity

07/31, 12:24pm reply

Hey, Apple can't BUY that kinda publicity! This kind of thing just increases Apple's visibility. Every time a parody comes out, Apple's marketing types do another high five!

rwahrens1952

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Joined: Feb 2006

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