It's official, the Mac is history.
"I'm a PC."
"I'm a Mac."
"Not anymore, you're not."
Justin Long, the actor who plays the Mac in Apple's latest rather mean-spirited series of commercials, is no longer doing the ads.
It seems public opinion, along with his movie acting career, dictated the changes. Long, known for his role on television's Ed a few years back, as well as roles in movies such as Dodgeball and Herbie: Fully Loaded apparently was just a bit too much of a Mac in the biased ads and the audience sympathized with the PC, played by John Hodgman.
Although the ad spots caught my attention, as a PC user I was a bit offended. I'm a creative sort into photography, photo-editing and more. The series of commercials brought back all the snobbiness, smugness, and self-appointed superiority I've seen in Mac/PC debates for well over a decade. I kind of wanted the PC to just cuff the Mac atop the head and send him for a timeout.
An article from Fresh Intelligence: Radar Online about the commercials ending was even a bit more strident about it. They claimed the audience wanted to push the Mac under a bus. Well, yeah. I could see that, too. The article quotes an ad critic from Slate as saying, "[Long is] just the sort of unshaven, hoodie-wearing, hands-in-pockets hipster we've always imagined when picturing a Mac enthusiast. It's like Apple is parodying its own image while also cementing it."
Hodgman, the PC, and the director of the spots, Phil Morrison, will be back to do a new series of commercials for Apple. While this has been confirmed, no details regarding content for the ads have been released.
I'm a PC. And, if I were a Mac, I wouldn't slump in a hoodie with a five-o'clock shadow that probably took two weeks to grow.
Article comments
1 - Chanakya
Jackie,
It was a very interesting read. I have been peeved at the ad myself. You are correct about the visibility factor. Given the Mac's market share vs. PC's such cheap shots are maybe necessary! Apple has repositioned itself as an innovator, thanks to the iPod suite. They should stick to wearing their thinking hats and lay off dusting their pugilist gloves. Not that I'm any Microsoft fan. Sans Gates's philanthropic efforts there is little to like there. Maybe a handful of their products if you are not being swindled by their infinite upgrades.
Peace
2 - Jared Wright
My chief problem with the Mac commercials was their factual inaccuracy. Either way... So much for those.
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
"factual inaccuracy"
Such as, PCs aren't contributors to The Daily Show?
Macs can't dodge a wrench?
4 - RJ Elliott
Those commercials always annoyed me too, as a PC/Windows user. Good riddance!
5 - RG
I think the point of Mr. Long's casual demeanor in the commercials is to promote Apple's "more relaxed atmosphere," if you will. I believe they want to show they have a more "homie" feel (the comfy kind of "homie," not the thuggish).
My personal experience with both Mac and Windows is this: My mom had an old Dell with Windows 3.1. Then she had an eMachine with Windows 95, and then Windows 98. Then I had my first personal computer in 2002: a Dell Inspiron 8200 running Windows XP Home, then upgraded to Pro. In nearly an identical timeline, my dad had some kind of old Apple computer running Mac OS 6, and eventually Mac OS 8. Then he switched to Windows and has since remained with Windows. Just recently, I made the switch back to Apple, and now have a MacBook Pro running Mac OS X (10.4.8).
I made the switch because I am sick of Windows' network ability (or lack thereof). My fiancee owned a Compaq running Windows XP Home. I had to upgrade her computer to Pro just so she could join my network, and it only worked two thirds of the time. Maybe it was Compaq, maybe it was Windows; it sucked either way.
Now we both own MacBook Pros, and our experience has been nothing if not exquisite. I'll give credit to my old Inspiron's age, but I can do things with my new MacBook Pro I never would have imagined doing with my Inspiron - "immature artsy stuff" like listening to music while viewing a slide show, all controlled from a small, simple remote. That "artsy stuff" is the "homie" stuff I was talking about, which actually brought my family closer tonight (not that we've ever been that far apart).
I was also tired of the stuffy old Windows - the ugly beige brick of a computer that I've so often seen crammed in offices and schools - the hideous monstrosities I'd just as soon use as a latrine than a personal computer - the boring, dull-as-dirt "suit" personified by Mr. Morrison. I appreciate the visual aesthetics both physically and "software-ly" of my Apple. I can't begin to explain how much I adore my backlit keyboard - I can't believe it wasn't ever pioneered sooner, or if it was, how come it didn't get the spotlight it deserves - as well as my 15" glossy wide-screen, which is great for viewing movies. I've watched more movies on here than I have on my 32" TV, lately! And the animations on Mac OS X are stunning. I could minimize and maximize my windows all day just to watch the "Genie Effect."
Since this is really about the commercials, I'll mention the one with the Asian chick personifying a "latest-and-greatest" Japanese digital camera. After I made the switch to this computer, I didn't have to reinstall the drivers to my old printer. I just plugged it into my MacBook Pro, and it worked. Now THAT'S "plug-and-play!"
Personally, I think the commercials are kind of funny. I like the one with the councelor the best - it's the one where, in spite of Mr. Long's concede of Mr. Morrison's abilities and aesthetic design, Morrison is still sore, and batters Long with personal attacks, anyway. I believe it's the latest one (or the last one, apparently). Perhaps there's more truth to those commercials than meets the eye...
Having used both sides rather extensively, having made the switch twice, each, I have to say Mac has been better to me every time. I won't use another Windows machine, if I can help it.
And, for the record, despite my Mac usage and ownership, I am NOT a hippie; I'm a soldier - a hoodie-wearing soldier, and I'll go unshaved if I can get away with it, too! You don't have to be a hippie to relax once in a while.
Thank you for reading. I just wanted to share a different point of view.