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http://www.macnn.com/articles/02/06/25/orlowski,.dvorak/

Orlowski, Dvorak criticize 'Real People'

updated 06:10 pm EDT, Tue June 25, 2002

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The Register columnist Andrew Orlowski last week posted an editorial criticizing Apple's new Real People advertising campaign, characterizing it as "low and dirty." In an attempt to take a humorous perspective on the campaign, Orlowski refers to Damon Wright, featured in an ad, as a "Manson Family cultist." PC Magazine contributing editor John C. Dvorak calls the Real People ads an act of "desperation," in a column posted Monday. Mr. Dvorak believes that Apple's latest advertisements are part of a trend towards "weird ads," citing Dell Computer's "dude" commercials.

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06/25, 06:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
Damed if you do...

If Apple doesn't do these ads then they complain that Apple doesn't do enough. And weird, obviously Dvorak doesn't watch much TV because these are nothing. Whatever, this is why I don't read his opinions anymore and the register person must be a jealous PC user who is afraid he is going to be converted. Don't worry, he will.

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06/25, 06:25pm | report spam | close Reply | delete
Orlowski just jealous...

that Apple didn't want him in their ads. If I were the target of Mr. O's invective as were several of the folks in Apple's ads, particularly if he accused me of being a "Manson Family cultist" I'd be suing him for defamation of character faster than he could say "dude"!

As to Dvorak, he's just "desperate" for an audience for his drivel, so he spouts any inane thing he can come up with knowing that Mac folks will get all heated up, giving him the publicity he needs to continue to sell his irrelevant mouthings.

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06/25, 06:30pm | report spam | close Reply |
They should be ashamed!

Hmmm. I wasn't offended by the ads at all, all I saw was some people talking about their Mac computers and why they like them better than what they had before. I use a Mac at home, and a PC at work, and really don't have much feeling about either one. I certainly wouldn't have appeared in an ad, but I can understand if someone else wanted to.

What I don't get is why so much personal negativity towards the people in the ads? I don't feel it's necessary to call someone a "loser", or even worse, a "Manson family cultist" because they don't fit your pre-conceived notions of how a computer person is supposed to act or look like.

The Register and John Dvorak should be ashamed of themselves for attacking these people who don't deserve it. Criticizing Apple is one thing, personal attacks is totally different.

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06/25, 06:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ouch.

This guy Dvorak has unbelievably stooped to new lows -- lows previously unbeknownst to mankind. Taking pot shots at apparently *real* people with *real* life situations, unlike the Dell "doood." How much longer will this bitter, loathsome creature live? Life is so unfair.

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06/25, 06:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
Dvorak ... Real A$$hole..

Everything this guy does is anti-Apple....I would like to know how many times his 'golden' MS apps crashed...puked...corrupted other files..and left him holding his sausage in the dark. On second thought, I don't care how much he grabs it...as long as Apple purrs along..and keeps me happy!

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06/25, 06:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
Dvorak = MORON

Either Dvorak is an absolute idiot and actually believes the c*** that he writes or he's just doing it to get attention from us. I've stopped reading his articles because they are worthless c***.

I read the Register's article a while back and I wasn't too impressed with this guy's opinions.

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06/25, 07:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
Huh?

The register article had some valid points. I don't care much for these Apple ads, but they certainly don't offend me.

But the Dvorak article is mean-spirited and hateful. That guy has some chip on his shoulder about Macs and mac users. No wonder he writes for PC magazine.

Sending this guy hate mail would only encourage him. He needs to get a life and begin defining himself by what he stands FOR, not what he hates. That guy is so consumed by hate it makes him look weak and pathetic.

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06/25, 07:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Must be pretty good...

The ads must be pretty good if a tiny vocal minority absolutely HATES them.

Think Different really REALLY irked a lot of people and now the Real People/Switch ads are doing the same. Frankly until Steve Jobs jumps around with a Dogcow while speaking UNIX will EVERYONE be satisfied in the media world (while the people who actually based their decisions solely on TV commercials/print ads will be running away screaming in horror with the Gateway ad viewers).

roehlstation
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06/25, 07:21pm | report spam | close Reply |
Pot Calling the Kettle...

Ok John, before you go making fun of how other people look, grab a picture of Andy Ricter and place it next to a mirror, now look a the mirror. See any resemblance?

Both of these "writers" talk about the annoying commercials that work for Dell and Compaq. "Look at the numbers." they say. Well, the new Apple campaign has been going a week now, and I'm already seeing the numbers. I got 3 phone calls today day from some VERY Die hard PC Users. They were asking me which Mac I recommend they get. Working at the local Apple Store I also have talked to a pretty good number of Switchers. They love the iMac. What I think is helping is the fact that I see the commercial all the time now. In the past, Apple commercials have been pretty scarce, sure Mac users knew where to find them, but these new ones have been in a lot of spots.

Oh, and the commercials are shot with a plain white background....that is called "Corporate Branding" it is a certain consistency that corporations like to use for folks to identify it easier. If you look, Apple uses the white background to focus on the subject, not hide it in a Cow Print box

Elektrix
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06/25, 08:44pm | report spam | close Reply |
Dvorak

Dvorak has always been a d***, even when he was writing for MacUser. He is completely irrelevant now as a columnist, and the only time he can get attention now is when he writes for shock value. That is about all he is "good" at any more.

mjsickel
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06/25, 10:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
Ads are effective

I was talking to a die-hard PC guy at work and he was intruiged by the "switch" ads, especially the one talking about how they "think like I think."

chas_m
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06/25, 10:59pm | report spam | close Reply |
"Switch" works

... and this will be shown in HARD NUMBERS eventually, but not any time soon. Maybe next year this time.

Remember this: we are at the BEGINNING of this campaign.

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06/25, 11:39pm | report spam | close Reply |
On Target

Apple is on target to double it's market share. When that happens, watch out. They will have some momentum to be a big presence again.

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06/26, 07:07am | report spam | close Reply |
I'm a "switcher"

A couple months ago I was on target to switch from PC to Mac. Right now I don't really want to. These ads basically say "Dumb dorks use Macs" and Apple's Switch website says "Macs are inferior to PC's if you know up from down." I don't believe either of these statements, but this campaign gives me the impression that Apple does. Dell's Stephen is a self-mocking annoyance, while Apple's characters are sincere annoyances.

Hey Apple, your iMac ad campaign was very impressive and made average people look at iMacs, at least to say "those are pretty." You could have said "Macs have several features that make them more powerful and comfortable to use, such as..." but instead you basically said, AGAIN, "If you're a r***** and don't know how to play mp3's or hook up a digital camera to a PC, then boy do we have a product for you!"

Here's a hint: AOL is having the biggest decline in its growth in its history because its "So easy to use!" campaign is becoming irrelevant; everyone in your market knows it's not hard to connect to the Internet. If you're targetting people WHO ALREADY KNOW HOW TO USE PC'S and are happy with them (yes, most pc users are happy with their pc's), then don't broadcast ads with "real people" who come out and SAY that they switched because they're TOO INEPT to use pc's! Or at least only broadcast these ads in retirement homes and kindergartens.

armas
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06/26, 08:28am | report spam | close Reply |
Dvorak & Apple Ad's

OK, DVorak has been around FOREVER! He FREELY admits he can BUILD a PC from off the shelf parts. ( To be fair, so can I, or I could build a Mac from Motherboards, etc. I just need a ROM ) BUT Dvorak *Thinks* Everyone who can't or wont is "An Idiot".
While I can slap together a cheap biege ( or iMac Bondi colored PC Case - and make a server, etc. It is NOT as elegant as ANY Mac! Titanium PB G4, Forget it! New iMac? No way....but to get most technology for dollar...say Linux servers for $299 - makes some sense.

What DVorak does NOT get, is that my Grandma, My Father, my sister, and frankly MOST people want to buy a Beatiful "Looking" computer which "Just Works" - and NO, they do NOT know how to replace speakers...and why SHOULD they? A Mac has always been to enable the impossible - to a beginner, instantly, and stay so intuitive...well Apple makes a whole Computer Dvorak is NOT needed for....and he hates it!
Apparently, he's rather his mom call him EVERY DAY for tech support....I want my Grandma to never even need to ask a question....and as most consumer devices, say a camera, why should you NEED to be an expert to be an Artist, make Music, make Movies, create a homepage, a Photo Album, listen to MP3's, etc.?

Dvorak can run his computer in DOS command line...woopee! So can much of his readership....but this represents more like 5% of the PC Market...and another 65% want to know what a GEEK thinks.....I want to know what Mom, Grandma, Dad, think....can they USE IT?

Sincerely,
Armas

wfzelle
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06/26, 09:10am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: I'm a "switcher"

I really don't see why you are upset. Apple showed real people, telling their own story. They didn't make these people say anything, they didn't select these people based on charisma or looks. They are just ordinary people who switched and are happy about it.

The point is that their reasons might do well with PC users and having ex-PC users in an ad doesn't put down potential buyers because they used a PC before. I have heard some stories already that indicate it works for some. They don't mean to point out that mac-users should look or think like these people. Apple would have used Shaq if they wanted to show you the boring, old 'role-model' ad. Personally, I feel that this is a refreshing change in advertising.

PS. Why would Apple target their ads at people who are happy with their PC? Why would anyone want to switch when he is perfectly happy?

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06/26, 10:05am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: I'm a "switcher"

I don't think that we were watching the same ads. I don't recall the people being too inept to use computers. For some reason I don't think of people like developers, LAN admins, and people who just want a computer that behaves in a predictable way (with emphasis on OS X getting out of your way while Windows gets in your way) as too inept to use computers.

I think that you did a pretty bad job of pretending not to be a troll. I know that it isn't good practice to feed trolls but your comments were so incorrect I couldn't help myself.

Something I will never understand is this idea that you must be a moron to use something that is simple and efficient. If you are choosing to do something the difficult way simply because it is more difficult, how intelligent could you possibly be?

Jeff.

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06/26, 10:27am | report spam | close Reply |
compared to other ads...

Compared to other ads on Television, the "switcher" ads are great. There's no hi tech distraction, no wacko music, you know right away what the ad is about.

And some of them are quite funny. It takes a certain honesty to get up on TV and say why you did something most people don't even think of trying.

Anyone who watched all the ads and read the Orlowski column knows how out of step he is. And maybe even sick. he compared the people in the ads to people trying to get dates on a dating service. Maybe that's because dating service videos are the only TV he's been watching recently?

It's funny, computer columnists, thinking they know something about advertising, just spouting off on their reactoins. It's quite gratifying to see that the Ads are having a definite switching effect. Makes me think Apple knows what its doing in the marketing area as well as in operating system and product design.

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06/26, 05:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
MS monopoly supporters

are nervous about these ads because they don't try to sell the Mac as an alternative computer. Instead they encourage Windows users dissatisfied with their computers to try a superior Mac.

With 95% marketshare Microsoft is the company with the most to lose if people start exercising their knowledge of computers, however limited, to help break the monopolist's grip.

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06/26, 10:46pm | report spam | close Reply |
Yawn

I'm not a troll because I don't believe Apple can do no wrong. Yes, the people on these ads did come across as inept. Basically saying "I switched from a PC to a Mac because I hated the PC's bad speakers" is very inept. Yes, they said they were programmers or LAN administrators but they didn't come across as giving good reasons. "I use PC's at work all day but I bought a Mac" -- cool, I work with cars all day so I bought a horse.

And yes, if you don't know how to switch speakers you are not a normal consumer and you probably either attend kindergarten or live in a nursing home. A friend of mine just bought his first computer and after two weeks he was burning cd's fine and plugged his computer into his stereo system. Go to Walmart or Circuit City or Target -- you'll find tons of computer speakers. This is a hint that the average person knows how to use them or could figure out in a couple minutes.

The "PC's get in your way" or "Mac's are built for the Internet" argument might work with first time buyers but not for users of other platforms. If Apple were honest they'd say PC's and Macs are pretty much identical for most tasks.

There are great reasons to switch to Macs. Apple chose to highlight very poor ones. It's like teachers telling their students that smoking a joint will kill you and having s** once will get you pregnant and get AIDS. Pretty soon you don't listen to a word they say.

wfzelle
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06/27, 05:27am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Yawn

I think you're blowing this one example out of proportion. Perhaps she uses a laptop. The speakers in her Dell may suck compared to speakers in the iBook. This is a very valid complaint since you don't add external speakers to a laptop.

And the "PC's get in your way" is a valid complaint*. A Mac can fit your work-style better than a PC. It's subjective, but not wrong. And this is a subjective, personal ad.

*Most Mac-users I know agree with this BTW, usually they cannot describe the exact reason why a Mac makes them so productive, but they see it does.

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Orlowski, Dvorak criticize 'Real People'

updated 06:10 pm EDT, Tue June 25, 2002

Damed if you do...

Orlowski just jealous...

They should be ashamed!

Ouch.

Dvorak ... Real A$$hole..

Dvorak = MORON

Huh?

Must be pretty good...

Pot Calling the Kettle...

Dvorak

Ads are effective

"Switch" works

On Target

I'm a "switcher"

Dvorak & Apple Ad's

Re: I'm a "switcher"

Re: I'm a "switcher"

compared to other ads...

MS monopoly supporters

Yawn

Re: Yawn

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Orlowski, Dvorak criticize 'Real People'

updated 06:10 pm EDT, Tue June 25, 2002

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Damed if you do...

Orlowski just jealous...

They should be ashamed!

Ouch.

Dvorak ... Real A$$hole..

Dvorak = MORON

Huh?

Must be pretty good...

Pot Calling the Kettle...

Dvorak

Ads are effective

"Switch" works

On Target

I'm a "switcher"

Dvorak & Apple Ad's

Re: I'm a "switcher"

Re: I'm a "switcher"

compared to other ads...

MS monopoly supporters

Yawn

Re: Yawn

Login Here

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