The problem with those Mac vs PC commercials
Unless you don’t watch any TV whatsoever, you’ve undoubtedly seen those Mac vs PC commercials. I like them; they tend to be funny:
With the recent release of Windows 7, Mac has launched a counter-campaign, reminding people Microsoft that they keep promising to fix whatever was wrong with their last OS–and failing:
Microsoft’s OS problem
Certainly Windows ME was horrible, and Vista suffered from dreadful launch (although if you waited until Service Pack 1, it was fine). But XP was a good product, and this is Microsoft’s biggest problem. XP works so well for most people, there’s not much motivation to upgrade.
Apple’s commercial problem
Understandably, Apple can’t say in their commercials Windows XP was good, but the most recent attack feels a bit unfair. But there’s a bigger problem with the Mac vs PC campaign:
The PC guy is funny and interesting. The Mac guy is not.
Mac stands there, supposedly hip and cool. Occasionally he has a snappy one-liner. But you know PC is going to be driving the entertainment…you laugh with (or at) PC…subconsciously, good times and feelings are being associated with PC. Mac feels too aloof and arrogant.
Yea, I always find myself liking PC more in each commercial. But I think that’s the point. Apple wants Mac to look smug; he’s exactly like the stereotypical Mac user.
If you watch the commercial and identify with Mac, then that’s how you know you need to go Apple.
Reply to AllenDonnie, you hit the nail on the head. I still run XP and I am trying to figure out why I would even need Windows 7? Soon I’ll have no choice as my current machine overheats when I put Fritz to analyze a game, and I believe my computer making days are over. I will probably just submit and buy a laptop or a cookie cutter prefab machine, which will undoubtedly have W7.
Reply to wang@Allen: LOL windoze fanboi. Steve Jobs is GOD and if u want to be a slave to Billy Boy i guess thats ur loss.
@Wang: A lot of people are in your shoes where Windows 7 will only be experienced with a new computer.
There was going to be a stage in PC development where people just don’t need anything new (at least, until their hard drives obtain enough malware). Computers are fast enough for most purposes and XP worked fine.
Reply to DonnieNice observation about PC having personality while mac is more of a sheep. Besides Mac has no good chess programs
Reply to Smite Knight@Smite Knight: True enough…heck, Mac is lacking in the games department, period.
And, uh, since this is your first time here, there IS chess stuff once in a while, I promise!
Reply to Donnie