Actor says Apple's 'Get a Mac' ads could be at an end
In an interview with The Onion's A.V. Club, Long, who has appeared in movies such as Drag Me to Hell and Live Free or Die Hard, said he heard from Hodgman that the commercials may be over.
"You know, I think they might be done," he said. "In fact, I heard from John, I think they're going to move on. I can't say definitively, which is sad, because not only am I going to miss doing them, but also working with John. I've become very close with him, and heâs one of my dearest, greatest friends."
He continued: "It was so much fun to go do that job, because thereâs not a lot to it for me. A lot of it is just keeping myself entertained between takes, and there's no one I'd rather do it with than John."
The latest commercials came last October, released to counter the launch of Microsoft's Windows 7. For years, Long has played the role of "Mac" in the commercials, the straight man to Hodgman's bumbling "PC" character. The successful campaign has portrayed Windows PCs as machines that are prone to issues that frustrate consumers., and lack the simplicity and ease of use of the Mac.
The commercials debuted in May 2006 with six TV spots that attacked Windows for being susceptible to viruses and system crashes. It was recognized as the advertising campaign of the decade by Adweek in December.
Years after the commercials debuted, Microsoft attempted to reclaim the catchphrase from Mac commercials, with Windows users proclaiming "I'm a PC." Since the launch of Windows 7, the tagline has been tweaked to become "I'm a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea."
99 Comments
Isn't is amazing, as the article points out M$ couldn't even come up with original marketing! They had to try to use Apple's tag lines in some way. They should use something like "30 years of copying others" and at least be honest.
I am glad they are ending them . Some of the commercials actually blatantly lied(like the one stating only apple had webcams on its products).
Apple should stick to marketing its usability and longevity instead of bashing its competition.
I say Copy your iphone and ipad Ads. Just Show a person turning on the imac or laptop or what ever and using it then at the end flash the Name of the product .
... hint that Steve and M$ and back in hand again.
Keep enemies closer.
These were great ads, the idea was brilliant and they were executed perfectly, simple and highly effective. I'll miss them.
But I can understand that it might be time to move on. After all, maybe the time has come to sell Apple on its own merits instead of being "not as clunky as a PC". Windows 7 getting a better press than Vista also makes it more difficult to be effective with the "not Windows" argument.
But it is an hard act to follow. After all, find something that is just as easy to connect to as an ordinary (prospective) customer. "Think different" for instance, only alieniates your major target audience. "Get a Mac" made them see Apple as 'more "likable" than Windows', now they need to let people feel that a Mac would be a 'normal' part of their lives without constantly referring to Windows.
It's time for a change. But that does not mean the campaign was not brilliant (except maybe the very latest ads).
priceless:
'You are coming to a sad realization, Cancel or Allow'
..... allow