I think it's pretty lame that Apple's marketing focus isnt so much about telling us why their platform is better but why Microsoft sucks. It's like a presidential campaign... they spend to much time trying to smear the other guy's image. Think Jobs is still holding on to a little grudge against Gates?? lol.

I will say that it was pretty funny though - i got a laugh out of the miami vice outfit ROFL

Windows 2? What about 3.1!

These are getting old... They went past the 'cute' stage about 3 months after they started. And yes, the fact that all they do is bash M$ is making Apple look self-righteous (and undeservedly so). They seem to think the success of iPhone somehow equates to their pathetic computer sales. Windows -dominates- the business world. When Apple does that, THEN they can pat their own backs ad nauseum. Till then, Apple, STFU.

I really like both actors in the commercials but negative attack ads and mud slinging just isn't cool. It was amusing once or twice but now it is just old and cranky and that is coming from someone who owns a lot of Apple products. Sell us with catchy music and telling us what your products can do not by talking bad about other people.

Smug, self-Righteous, image above performance, sounds like apple has their left coast demographic perfectly targeted.

Why in the flashbacks does Windows get younger and Mac stay the same age? If it were me making the marketing scheme I would want Mac to age as well. At least that way they could get rid of the stigma that Apple only caters to 20 somethings.
Either way the marketing ploy is lost on me. Microsoft is a Software company and Apple is Hardware. Even if you buy a Mac, you can use Microsoft software. (Yes, I understand that the OS is what the commercials are targeting, but only Geeks understand this. Then again only Geeks understand that Not all PCs are windows.)

The commercials are funny, as usual, but pathetic really. Apple needs to get over it and not rain on the Windows 7 parade (and yes, I believe there should be one). Most of the people who are informed enough to decide whether they want a PC or Mac aren't going to be swayed by a commercial, so they're targeting people who want to seem hip or don't really know what they want.

I know the point is to sell macs, but I do get fed up with the whole, "we're great and you're rubbish" thing. Just tell us why macs are great, but don't make me feel like an idiot if I choose to use a PC instead.

[I'm a mac-user at home, by the way, and a pc user at work... and I like 'em both]

That commercial seems to echo my thoughts exactly regarding Windows 7, so no it's not getting old. It is very fitting.

Windows keeps doing the same thing every time. They introduce a new update claiming it's so much better than the previous version while you don't hear Windows admit to how terrible the previous version is until the newer version comes out.
Somebody needs to say something, and it it's Mac, at least it's being said.

Oh and Mac fanboys (not users) are tards. :)

I find theses commercial fantastic, as usual.
Poke fun at the lack of good taste, judgement and critical thinking abilities buying a pc implies... Wake up people!

Vista was a perfectly fine operating system. The moans and cries about driver support should be laid at the feat of the hardware manufacturers draging their lazy-ass feet. They knew Vista was coming out for several years and chose to throw out shoddy drivers, M$ shouldn't be blamed for their incompetence. AS for the UAC... Put simply, 99.9% of computer users are undereducated, or just plain stupid - The UAC (while annoying) saved many of them from dumb mistakes... Since it was toned down (or shut off), the fake antivirus malware has exploded... And the user is squarely to blame. Garbage in, garbage out.

Should Apple ever achieve the market penetration that M$ has, they will face the wrath of the hacker community - and be whole unprepared.

I just want to say that I am a Mac user, and I do agree that Win 7 is getting a bit more praise than it deserves, but I dislike these ads.

I think it would be better to list some things that Macs are good at. Customer service, faster OS, simplicity, better performance, etc.

I'm surprised Apple has pointed this stuff out. They should make some 'Get a Mac' ads that actually show things on a Mac.

I got tired of them first time I saw one. Apple lives off being "cool" and for no technical advantage. So, to see an advertisement trying to look cool with a cool looking guy sponsoring Apple and a geeky looking guy sponsoring Windows, it seemed true to life and an abrasive reminder.

The commercials are just another extension of the culture they're supporting. A culture of "cool" people with limited options so can have more time to think about other ways of becoming more "cool".

It's not surprising they're preferred by those in the industry of being "cool", like marketing, graphic design, music, video editing, web design, etc.

I just wish these people would stop trying to sell it to the rest of the world and being such snobs about it.

We don't want to buy into fascism. Chill out.

It's like trashy political campaigns. Apple doesn't even talk about themselves anymore... they're all about dumping on MS. Frankly they're coming off like bullies to me.
On the flip side MS has maintained it's campaigns about positives about themselves... their campaigns are not as witty but... in the long run they come off as more likable.

They are tired and from what I gather ineffective. Remember a few months back when Apple was actually begging Dell(if I recall) to pull there PC adds where people walked into a store with a small budget for a Computer(I think it was less then a grand) and bought a PC.

I think it feeds their current fanbase but will do little to get neutral customers. XP was great. Vista is just fine... it's biggest competition was XP... not Mac.

The real competition for MS (and Apple) is Google. The war is web computing vs desktop computing.

As for the ads... they were really witty at first. Simple and effective, but also a lie. Mac is not anymore of a "fun plateform" as PCs. Lets face it... setting out to characterize the typical Windows user can only fail... it's to widespread to have a niche.

Change PC for a gamer and Mac for an artsie web designer with ambiguous sexual preferences and a lisp... would work just as well.

I love those ads! Especially the windows 7 ones. I'm a mac fan, but windows is great too!

@Realist:

Right on man! I was using Vista the day it was released and it was always did me well. Same with Win7, I've been using that for a couple months now and i simply love it...

Most people are just clueless when it comes to doing anything with a computer that doesn't involve checking their beloved facebook.

I agree with the previous posters, these ads are getting old. I'm tired of Apple telling us why Windows in bad, they need to go back to telling us whats good about Apple.

These Mac commercials are starting to remind me of those old Denny's commercials with these two old women. They would give their ad and always ended up with one of the woman mispronouncing "Denny's".

The point is, sure those Denny's commercials were cute, but only cute the first 10,000 times you see them. These Apple commercials have become like those old Denny's commercials. It was a good idea in the beginning, but please note they have had this sort of commercial out longer than OS X Leopard (I think).

I like this ad, but yes, I agree that Apple needs to comes up with something new (only cause it's a new age...with Windows 7 and all...they need a new ad campaign to compete).

I own both systems. Mostly because of needed software unique to both. And I like both equally. However, Apple missed an opportunity by not offering a more reasonably priced laptop at a time when the average consumer needed something more economical. I believe that factoid is going to stick to them like glue and could greatly negatively impact their future bottom line.

OpenSUSE! FTW!!!!!

Im a long time mac user and have never liked these adds. I agree Apple should focus on what there computers can do rather than two douche bags arguing over whats better

come on that was good a few year back, but draging the same old thing along for year, thats just getting boring, especially from a company that claims to be inovative.

Apple ads run like a political campaign - nothing useful, just a bunch of mud-slinging. It's gotten old. It's not informative and it does nothing for their image.

Who uses macs? 80% of them are democratic tree hugging yuppies trying to fit the "IN" scene.

Who uses the good ol pc? the yuppies and everybody else who dosent have 2k to spend on a shiny plasticly bubble toy.

Apple their ads have been stale and old for some time now. Like people said they are better of giving the advantages of a mac instead of trying to mud sling.
Really commercials like this make me want to punch a mac-user. Don't care which OS is better but a smug attitude like in the ads make me want to come out swinging.

So you guys don't get pissed when Microsoft ripps off other companies? It's rare when they come up with something of their own...wait, they never have. Even things that seem like they were the first of have even been user-submitted ideas which have been proven to be rip offs of other companies. Haven't you guys ever noticed how Microsoft even mirrors Apples toolbar, by placing it on the bottom of the screen, and then moving the system button to the opposite side? If you ever notice this then maybe you'll notice the other rip offs.

And I don't expect any logical replies to this because anything anyone replies I will gladly reprove next time I get on here.

'If it aint broke... don't fix it.' These Mac ad campaigns do what they do best - poke fun at Windows. It doesnt matter if they are cute or if its getting old, The message apple conveys to the consumer works. People have switched to the mac and will continue to do so. You can run Windows 7 or Vista on a Mac flawlessly.

"I find theses commercial fantastic, as usual.
Poke fun at the lack of good taste, judgement and critical thinking abilities buying a pc implies... Wake up people!"

This made me laugh uncontrollable, which leaded to uncontrollable coughing because I'm sick. But anyway, that's the most uninformed statement I've ever read. If you're going to make an argument, base it around facts.

Still works for me. The problem is PC people just don't get it, and probably never will. There is just so incredibly much to poke fun at with Windows.

It's just a commercial people. It either will entice you to buy, or it won't. Simple. This isn't Emmy-award winning stuff. It's not meant to be. If we are sitting here complaining over a 30 sec commercial, there is something wrong.

If we're spending this much time on an ad, then it is effectively raising public consciousness of the product. It works.

I think its funny how Mac Fanboys bash PC when 95 percent of the world uses a PC. You cannot buy any decent software or game for Mac. I once went to a mac store and tried to copy paste. I asked a rep and i realized it wasnt as easy as PC when he had to ask another rep. lol

true its a commercial, and just a commercial. Any windows fans who complain about it are tards cause they know that apple is correct in this commercial. we've all heard it every time something was released by microsoft. this one is better then the last and has none of the problems the previous one had, trust me. It's entirely too funny. Actually this one was the most cute of them all!

It seems so many have missed the point of these ads by saying Apple doesn't talk about themselves and what Macs can do. Yes, they are poking fun at and dissing Windows and PCs. At the same time, though, they ARE pointing out that Macs do the same thing... without the hassle. The ads were never intended to make Macs look better, but simply point out, in a humorous way, that Macs are just as capable as PCs but without the problems that seem to plague the typical PC user.
That so many PC users get incensed by the ads, suggesting that Apple is being smug or using "dirty advertising", is more a sign of their defensiveness at being told theirs is not the only way, and possibly not the best way.
MS is not innocent in the realm of baseless smugness, by the way. Watch any interview with Steve Balmer in which the interviewer mentions Apple or the iPhone and Balmer gets all smug talking about how MS doesn't have anything to worry about because they've got sheer numbers of customers to fall back upon -- completely missing the point that Apple's not out to overtake MS.

Realist: You cant just blame the hardware manufacturers. They should have thought about that when designing Vista. Secondly while I admit that there are lots of people who are uneducated in the use of computers, At least half are pretty well educated and can usually do fine with computers, even ones with computers that have operating systems as messed up as vista. Third the only reason that PCs have so high a market penetration is because there are many major companies that make them and they are cheap(and I mean them in all definitions of the word). Finally no they will not be “wholly unprepared” they have already added software to there operating systems that defend against all forms of malware that are known to affect macs and as more are made they will just upgrade their software, as well as other measures that have been in place for a while that make it difficult to create malware that would even affect them let alone getting around the systems defenses and the free antivirus software that is available(in order to make PC users safer).

Nullus: In those commercials they make it so the only thing the person can do is buy a PC if they had given people a larger budget it is very likely that a good deal of those people would have gotten a mac. Its just that because apple does a better job at creating quality products that they cost more.

Labolee: I agree with you. I really think that they should try in make a product that is in a lower price range. The only problem with this is that they would have to sacrifice ether quality of performance to do this, neither of which they want to do. Though as technology gets better they are going to become more and more affordable to make and therefore they are going to be less expensive to buy along with the fact that in the near future that nearly all the software made for PC will also be made for mac or work on a mac.

Blazedin: copy and pasting on a mac is just as easy as on a pc, if fact they are EXACTLY the same even the short cuts are the same. you ether go edit cut/paste or you use the shortcut (on a mac its command+C or Command+V)(on a PC you just press Control instead of command it really is not that hard).

Well, like someone said... When you throw dirt, you loose ground.

Tired and not really honest. Having owned three Macs over the years, each of which had to be completely replaced because the new improved Mac OS would not run on them, I have learned my lesson in Mac ownership. Mac owns you, you do not own them.

@Chris Downs: What has Apple created itself exactly? OS X is just a copy of open source software (BSD) with interface tweaks. Creative Labs invented the MP3 player. Blackberry popularized smart-phones long before the iPhone. DiVX pioneered FFT video compression. Sony made the first online music store. Apple finally went Intel and ARM after decades of PowerPC.

So, Microsoft rips off others but what's Apple doing?

Get off your high horse.

Without nokia, iPhone would be just a ipod.

What kevin hall fails to remember is that Windows 7 has actually been out for businesses since July. The general concensus is that it is exactly what was promised. Another thing that people fail to realize is that there is a reason why hackers and the like don't target Apple...there isn't anything worth breaking into stored on a Mac...

Even though Macs make just as good of a computer as PC's, Apple's commercials have been getting old. Whenever I see one, it makes me want to get a PC more than a Mac.

I wish they would point out the more useful parts of a Mac, since these are getting old.

Though the ads must be working, because it's not the price that's getting so many people to switch =P

As the owner of a marketing firm, I think the ads still have some punch. Earlier comments stating that the ads are too busy touting the negatives of Windows rather than the positives of Apple may have missed the point. These ads are targeting Windows users to get them to consider switching to Apple. They are gently bringing up issues that Windows users for ages have had problems with and that the Mac either doesn't have or greatly minimizes like viruses, system crashes, difficulty in connecting peripherals, lack of strong support, etc. Through this creative spin approach, they ARE promoting Apple and its products. So, I would say the ads still have some mileage left in them.

Yeah, the commercials sometimes get old, but apple still points out what they have that Microsoft doesn't in some of them. And really, the Windows commercial is all about the Snap feature. That really wouldn't convince me to get a PC at all. Just cause it can make a window snap to the other one? thats what the amazing feature of windows 7 is?

pantstofry you have a point about that. Windows 7 is supposed to to have so many new features, yet they choose to highlight one feature that although might be cool isn't going to move boxes off the shelves.

Alls fair in love and war and comercials. However, Windows 7 will speak for itself. It has an attractive interface. It is faster than it's previous versions, I continually find new enhancements to 7. Windows 7 requires less resources than previous versions and it will run on the same hardware as the last two version, you can't say that about the mac.....remember the PowerPC that ran the version before Leopard! And there is a lot more software, including games for Windows 7.

No offense intended, but considering that every machine from my Quad Core MacPro to the Mac Mini will run the Mac OS and Windows as well, the software argument isn't as valid as it might have been a few years ago. The move to Intel processors not only opened a lot of doors for Mac users, but gave them the best of both worlds. Back to the issue of the ads, MS needs to use their advertising to not only tout the best features of W7 but reassure people they won't experience the same headaches they did with Vista or it won't get the chance to "speak for itself" on a lot of people's computers.

Im sick of these, I don't even know what a mac exactly is. All I know is that Snow Leopard is only slight different then the other one and I heard this from my friends. Ive never used or even seen a Mac and just also know that they had Microsoft.

I have Windows 7 and had it for the past 6 months (RC and Beta Build) Ive always liked it and

Im a PC

when I said-

Ive never used or even seen a Mac and just also know that they had Microsoft.

I meant to say-

Ive never used or even seen a Mac and just also know that they HATE Microsoft.

Funny how we won't even comment on just how bad Apple was before Jobs returned. There was a reason the name MacIntrash came about, after all. It's not as though Apple has been running OSX since the days of Windows 3.1.

if only apple can come up with something affordable

i wouldnt give 2 sh*ts about what they show or say in these ads.

we all know the problems with windows, and that is because windows provides a product we want. more programs run on windows, so we want it. apple should really rethink their add campaign, other than being funny, they have nothing. I have not switched over to apple, and i do not see me doing so in the near future. the ease of use comes from having less and while it may be better made in some aspects, it dos not work with anything other than other apple products.

The commercial is the same as all the others. Mac is about reliability and Windows is about product placement. If they want to make a realistic ad, they'd show how a mac is an expensive meal you can hardly afford to eat and a PC is like all the fast food joints. You will get less than a gourmet meal, but some people don't want a high end product with high end prices.

The point of the commercial is to stick a jolt into your memory that tells you PC and Mac are the two choices, and that Mac is going to be less trouble. It works. That's all. If MS limited their software only to hardware platforms with which they had exclusivity, so that no opposing OS could run on the hardware, it would be an instant lawsuit, and was. Apple sells both the hardware and the software. If there is an incompatibility between them, it would be ridiculous. Most MS problems stem from driver issues, which provide the control interface to Other People's Hardware. Apple customers are the beneficiaries of monopolistic exclusivities for which they would bring suit if practiced by Microsoft.

I AGREE WITH DRU

summary:

windows sucks.

Macs are for people that like to get it up the ass.

2 girls 1 mac!

Anytime a person or company is reduced to basic name calling or mud slinging, it just makes them look very petty. If you compare their market share with th PC, maybe that is the reason they are not spending all that money singing their own praises, instead of finding fault with their competition. It is really starting to look like a trailing politician, and it is getting ugly.

I am a MS fan boy, sorry but Apple only has gimmick and flash. I believe that Apple could one day make the same quality of software that Microsoft does, but for that to happen they would need to cater to more than just a niche group of people. Microsoft best quality is that it works for everyone. Not just a select few people. The tired old I'm a mac I'm a pc commercials remind of the Geico commercials. Seriously, it's almost like the more commercials you have the worse your product actually is.

Considering all the problems with Snow Leopard, one would think Apple wouldn't be touting their reliablity. Every DEFCON brings reports of Apple security holes, including the iPhone being vulnerable to hacks via a simple SMS. Mac's OS isn't invulnerable, it's more like advertising on public access when you could promote yourself at the Super Bowl. As far as design goes, say what you will about Windows at least MS products are consistent in the location and naming of keys features, hence the Windows Standard. Each version of Mac's OS is just different enough to be frustating.
The ads should stop. They are neither clever nor truthful.

They should really concentrate on developing and market their products. Ads have to cleverer and more informative than that.

I stopped watching the Simpsons after about 16 years. I think these commercials have a long future before they start getting tired.

You can't explain how good your OS is in a 30-sec commercial. Microsoft launched 'Windows 7 Party ads' on YouTube to try to convey how great Windows 7 is, and they are the lamest and most embarrassing ads ever. So I think this format is still good, especially since you own 93% of the pc market for machines that cost $1000 and up, it shows you are doing something right. Yes, Apple owns 93% of the high end market. They are not interested in the low end, and happy to leave that segment to the Dell's of the world.

(since 1999, Dell's market value has gone up 24%. Apple has gone up $6000%)

@farriswheel
"The ads should stop. They are neither clever nor truthful."

Every OS will have security issues, the thing is to prevent those issues from being a problem. Windows vastly has problems over OS X.

Apple is the number one computer vendor for customer satisfaction as is pointed out in the ads. And OS X server is more reliable than Windows Server according to the IBM report:
http://tinyurl.com/yjeujmf

(38.5 minutes downtime per year vs. 2.5 hours)

I may be a mac user, but I don't go around worshiping Apple. Apple computers actually do get problems as well. For instance, there is are 2 viruses for macs. Virus 1 is if you download microsoft word by bittorrenting the program and virus number 2 is if you instant message people on skype (read up an article on it like last year I think). Now the other problem is this whole entire Mac vs. PC thing is ridiculous. Both systems can do the same it is just that one is used differently than the other. Macs are for media editing and PC's are used for gaming those are their main uses. And I do agree that now Apple has become all smug on their adds, but that's what it means to have competition. If Microsoft want to make it with Windows 7, then they have to stand up to the competition. Otherwise, all of Microsofts money would just be coming from their Xbox360's and who is ever left to still buy their product. Here is what I do have to say about Apple's new Snow Leopard. From what I heard and read, Snow Leopard has no major updates and is just a waste. But what do I know. It wouldn't really matter because Apple could release a piece of garbage that is useless and still make it sound awesome. It's time for Windows to wash their hands from Vista and get their competition at top notch. That's all I have to say.

@veggiedude: Surveys are not reality. You can call up a million people, ask them a simple question and get a million answers but the average of their answers will more than likely not be anywhere close to reality.

What everyone fails to mention is that if Apple is a threat because "no one" but yuppies owns one, then why does Microsoft specifically target Apple in their lame laptop commercials. If anything got old those commercials did.

I've been using Apple computers since my father brought home an Apple II. I have been using a PC a work for 3 years. I've had more problems with that computer then I have had with all my computers combined.

As a computer (not the OS) Apple takes a very big chunk of the pie from HP, Dell, and other computer companies. And $1300 laptop is pretty cheap compared to a PC laptop of equal speed and performance. BTW you can run Windows 7 on a Mac just as fast or better.

All of you are whining about the ad, but you forget one, simple, fact: THEY'RE TRUE! hahhaahaha

I just finished a consultation with a client on her PCs, VIsta and XP, the interface is so DUMB and has nothing to do with how Humans think, learn, remember and do things.

So you all you sound like the cave man trying to tell me that the Spear is better than the Bow and Arrow, because, well, we've just ALWAYS done it that way.

@Mattias, actually on the BSD thing you are quite wrong. Having the entire nextstep platform fully integrated wih BSD underpinnings is not a minor issue. Cocoa as the rendering framework instead of X is not minor. Please learn about the OS before you open your mouth.

Windows 7 is the finest version of windows I have used so far, and quite frankly it is almost as comfortable to work with as mac os X 10.0. Not awful, has some extra features but can't do compositing as efficiently as mac os does it, hell not even as quickly as compiz pulls it off.

But it still is missing text searchable windows, a well layed out control panel system, or an integrated search system as nice as spotlight. I do like some of the window manipulation commands, but most versions of linux do it better. Still wish I had that on mac though. Instead I have to use the mouse for window manipulation.

Still can't set network device precedence order in windows 7, so that sucks, let's see no universal spell check still, no universal auto-completion. still don't have a quick keyboard switcher or a preinstalled graphing calculator. Developement tools still cost a ton of money to add. Nope still not impressed by windows.

But yes, windows 7 is for sure one of the best versions of windows I have worked with. It's still hopelessly archaic. I love mac OS, and I have had very enjoyable experiences using linux, but I would never boot into windows unless I was playing a game, or using IE6/7.

But if anyone else actually uses enough operating systems heavily enough to have an opinion, speak, otherwise you are comparing experience to imagination.

And yes apple should brag about what it does offer, because if it did it would make people embarrassed to be working on inferior machines. (universal spell check, text based menu searching and activation, system wide search that just plain kicks ass, full integrated alpha channel support at the graphics rendering level, a menu bar that doesn't cause mouse redirects, time machine, and of course full BSD subsystem. Not to mention development tools that will shock and impress you.)

The real problem with an like this though is it would take hours to run all the ways in which mac is a good decade+ past were windows is as an OS, and at least 3 years past any other unix variant. Though some of the linux projects are quickly catching up.

They're still funny commercials. At least everything they say negative about Microsoft is true. Windows commercials suck. They're very unentertaining. Such as the take it home commercials.

I think that Apple should use their commercials to tell me why I should buy a Mac, not why I shouldn't buy a PC. They seem to think it's the same thing, but it's not.

Jumped the shark.

BRING BACK ELLEN FEISS!!

Well what can I say that hasn't been said? I don't really like the commercials though other people I know think they're cute. I guess the real question should be have these ads increased sales any? Are they effective? I also agree with those who say these ads don't tell me why I should by a mac just why I shouldn't buy Windows. For all that why couldn't this be a Linux ad? Also one last point: Does anyone realize that if Mac ever became as big as Windows the viruses would rapidly multiply? They are shielded by their own lackluster performance. Just my two cents.

First: A Microsoft operating system does not a PC make. PCs run Linux and Unix too. That's irritating in those ads. Second: All Apple does in these commercials is point out places where Microsoft sucks. I am not at all going to argue with that - no way in hell am I getting Windows 7 until at least Service Pack 1 has been released, because they are notorious for sucking. That being said, the ONLY positive Mac keeps claiming is that they have the best customer service. Well, that's freakin' fabulous if you don't mind paying a fortune for style over substance, and then having a machine that you really can't upgrade since Mac is proprietary. Oh and there's the small issue of GAMING and APPS - really, who the hell makes games for Mac? Nobody. Software is super limited too. So I'm happy that if my Mac breaks, I'll get a really nice person who might even speak english, but other than that you're just buying a status symbol. I do like John Hodgeman and Justin Long, and the commercials were cute at first but the more Mac did nothing but bash Microsoft without pointing out the fact that it's virtually useless itself, I started to get really annoyed with them. So Mac has a good web browser. Microsoft effectively pwns the gaming industry, and I can build my own rig just the way I like it optimized. That's all I need to know.

I agree with Mike Kearnes. I love Apple, but not thrilled with *any* type of "bashing" advertisement.

I'm a PC builder of 13 years. Apple was justified for making fun of PC... until Windows 7. Win 7 is AMAZING! I've been running the RC version for 3 months. That last commercial making fun of previous OS flops makes Apple look OUT OF TOUCH with reality. .. ranking it with those lame Geico Caveman and Money with Eyes commercials. Will someone please bring back the Taco Bell dog!

As for Apple's ads, yes, they are mudslinging campaigns. They were kind of amusing at first, but they've gotten stale.
Time for Apple to run some positive ads for a change.
I started using computers when we used punch cards to program them. I've used Windows PCs, Macs, Unix, QNX, VMS, Linux (Redhat, Ubuntuu, SUSE, etc.), Amiga, Atari, TRS-80, C64, etc, etc.
I am always amused by these OS flamewars.
Computers are a tool. All of the modern OSs are vastly superior than what came before and very similar. The all work well, are amazingly easy to use and are blazing fast on today's hardware platforms.
It really comes down to a matter of personal preference and usage.
If the area you need to work primarily uses a PC, that's what you should use.
If it's a Mac, use that. If it's a Unix environment, use that.
No OS is perfect, but they are all miles ahead of what came before and truthfully, very similar.
I use a PC because most of the applications I need to use are native to the PC.
If I worked in another industry that favored the Mac, I'd use that.
Tempest in a teapot.

As marketing professional, I find these ads effective and consistent with messaging and brand. While the ads may be gimmicky, they are a lesson in how Mac is consistent in not only their marketing, but in their products. The PC industry has taken note of this, most notably with the "I'm a PC" ad campaign. While in sheer numbers the PCer's are substantial, the fact that Mac is targeted for users who prefer to differentiate themselves as a community based on the Mac brand. At times it has caused Mac to appear to be an elite platform, while those who use it understand that Mac remains what it has always been — reliable, easy to use and fun. Just like the ads.

Simply put.... yes they are getting old. Apple needs to find a new way to sell their products without trying to sling mud. Especially since most of the things they say are not just restricted to PC/Windows. It is mainly an ad campaign to bring the less informed normal every day user to the Mac side. I am sure there are some more positive things they can say about their own OS instead of blinding people to the truth of the matter ....that most of the things they say are true to both PC and Mac.

I was a flat-out diehard Mac user from the late 80s into the early 2000s.

As a graphic designer, I was more than happy to pay the "Apple premium" to get a machine and OS that I knew would work best with my Adobe software, and I knew that the resulting files would be happily accepted by service bureaus and commercial printers. (Back then, those guys wouldn't touch a PC file with a 10 foot pole.)

But once Windows XP came out and I had a chance to work with it in a hardcore production environment (at a major publishing company) it was pretty easy to do a cost/benefit analysis and determine that Macs simply aren't worth the extra money any more.

In my experience, where Macs and PCs are used side-by-side in a design/publishing environment, Macs don't break down any less than PCs and the final output is identical.

For the kind of work that I do, there was a day when Macs were better. You can accept it or not, but it is an absolute fact. However, that day has passed. As far as I'm concerned, the only reason to spend extra to buy Mac is to make a fashion statement - which is fine, it's just not for me.

I made the formal switch to PCs about five years ago, and I've been very satisfied with the decision. I've been able to keep my hardware relatively current for about a third of what it would have cost to purchase Apple hardware.

In those past five years I haven't experienced any of the pitfalls that Windows gets skewered for in those Apple commercials- my PC rarely, if ever, locks up or crashes (because I have plenty of RAM); I never get viruses (because I run good anti-virus software and keep it current); and my PC is easy to use (because XP is a good, stable operating system.)

I just purchased Win 7, but I will continue to run XP for the near future, until I have the time to back up all my files.

Well, I like looking at Justin Long, so I think these ads should stick around. His effortless pose nails Mac's assertion that its computers don't have the problems that have plagued PCs. Of course, I've been using a PC for 10 years at work and had no problems, so go figure.

Maybe, for me, it really *is* all about Justin Long. Besides, he nicely fills the advertising void left by Dell's "Steve."

I generally regard the Apple/PC debate as a non-issue for pretty much everyone except the Apple fanboys. So far as Apple vs. Microsoft goes, there isn't that much difference between the two companies, despite the ads from both sides. Apple's ad campaign was amusing at first, but has worn out its welcome and now I just skip past them most of the time. In my work I have to support both PCs and Macs, so I'm painfully aware that Apple has its share of "issues", despite the ads. I like some aspects of the Mac OS, but aside from the coolness factor of their designs, the hardware has never impressed me.

Apple holds up a mirror to typical PC usage more than they say MS sucks. The reason some people don't like the commercials is because they don't like what they see when they look in a mirror.

I run Linux, so it really doesnt matter.
I have Linux on my "PC"s AND my MAC's
It makes them both better.

I think the ads are proof positive of the notion that (based on their biases) people see what they want to see, not how things are.

One would think that they would divide along "party" line... but not so.

I know Mac users who hated them and PC users who think they're hysterical... but wouldn't think of switching.

Go figure.

The only Apple products I've owned was the Apple IIc back in the day. I currently own several PC products. That being said, I would like an Apple computer. Did we forget the reason Windows 7 is so hyped up is because Vista was such a fail?

I enjoy the commercials. Cracks me up. Although I do agree they should also have commercials showing why you should get an Apple however I think they do this quite well when comparing to PC. Especially the commercial where the customer is looking for a computer that 'doesn't have tons of glitches etc...' and it weeds out the entire PC line.

Apple really needs to get it's act together. For a company that built it self off theft (a tradition they continue honor(not to say MS is innocent of that)) they have no room to act all high and mighty. They are a trend company with limited use in the commercial market (IE: Audio/Video/Image editing) and an extremely limited foot hold in the gaming community. (Anyone that plays WoW knows how much Mac users QQ about what they can't do that PC users have no problem. Plus their faulty hardware record. I have friends that have bought Mac books, and everyone of them would have major overheating issues. Mac also has been slowly changing their hardware into PC architecture.

The success of the Mac OS is based off of PC OSes. Their just ripped off open source changed up the GUI and put their name on it.

What it comes down to is image. People want a Mac so the can be trendy and feel good about them selves. But while you're patting your self on the back guys remember who you have to thank for your trendy image, Microsoft. If Bill gates didn't buy all that stock to bail Mac out from their failure you couldn't be cool with your Mac Book.

BTW: I am not a fan of Mircosoft. I just like using a computer that does what I tell it.

PS: Hey Mac want to play a game? ROFLMAO!

I'd like to point out, I have yet to actually read a "mac/apple fanboy" comment in here... all of the ones defending mac have been informed and well thought out...

I've only seen bashing of macs, congrats MS fanboys, you did just what you were bitching about.

PS- @BorgAlpha: lol sure dawg, let me just switch to my Windows partition LOLOLOLOLOL

PSS- There's also the fact that nearly every apple computer can run BOTH operating systems, sometimes even better than most PC's

I thought they were kinda cute at first, but having worked for Apple tech support, I can tell you I got really annoyed with how "perfect" their system was made to sound. Nothing that happened to a PC EVER happened to a Mac. Much like how Windows also never had much problem with "This product is only available for Mac" (they're out there, but not common), driver errors which required reset of PRAM (which you need a tech to tell you how to do since they took it out of user manuals), and kernal errors that can be just as bad as the blue screen of death. I'm a PC user, though I do think Mac can be a good computer. However, these commercials aren't saying anything about the Mac, they're only saying negative things about the PC. And not really the PC (though that's what they're saying) but Windows, which only runs on a PC. A PC could run the Mac OS if it weren't proprietary software. Sure there are driver errors with a PC sometimes, or sometimes things don't work well together, but that's because you're picking and choosing the parts you want. You don't have it as often if you buy a computer built specifically for that operating system.

I personally like Microsoft's response ads: Real people saying "I'm a PC." The "Windows 7 was my idea" ads are truthful, and they're not bashing on Mac (other than the homage to the 'I'm a Mac' commercials), but talking about Windows or who is a PC user. They're more upbeat and positive. And it's true, a lot of Windows 7 was built with consumer input, through free release of the Open Beta and the Release Candidate. I've used Windows 7 since the Open Beta was first released, and I know I sent in my fair share of comments about it. The result was an incredible operating system. Not perfect by any standards, but more secure, more compatible, and the few things that can be annoying can also save you from problem things like virtumonde. I'll install things in batches, then turn on the "inform me when" feature. I like the idea of being informed if a program I don't know about wants to install something.

And outside of Windows, I enjoy the satisfaction that I built my computer, that I have spare parts lying around that I can use to help others without computers, and that I can install nearly anything I damn well please.

I love Mac. Like I said, I worked for Apple. I was on a Mac all day at work, and I even fixed some Macs for fellow classmates while in training (A+ certified), but I'm tired of the "I'm a Mac" commercials. They're getting boring and are only negative. I like Microsoft's "I'm a PC" commercials better. They show variety, diversity, and are positive. In fact, I don't think many of them even mention Mac, if any of them do at all.

Hey Apple, take a page from Microsoft's book, and show me you're not just some stuck-up 20-something-year-old asshole.

This may be the least techie answer here but I can live with that.

Until I stop being eternally amused by John Hodgman, those commercials will never get old for me.

Apple should keep spending money on making the ads. Hopefully, they'll turn more people towards buying PC just like they turned me. I'm boycotting Apple from now on.

Well, I think the ads are still going strong. People are saying that they just bash Windows and don't say what Apple is good at, but that's not true. The ads usually poke some fun at things that most Windows users complain about and then mention how the Mac does that easier or better. That's what advertising is about; saying how product A does something better than product B. I agree that sometimes the ads are a bit overstated, but it's all done in a light, humorous way. Certainly nothing like the PC buyer ad person bitterly stating "I guess I'm not 'cool enough' to own a Mac." I think they're making good points and they obviously work as Apple's been gaining marketshare in their PC business. And to the guy who said that OS X is a rip of of some Open Source BSD- get a clue. Bottom line is I use both systems, although I run Windows on my Mac at home- just makes sense to use one PC to do both things. So isn't my Mac doing the work of two computers? Worth a little more $$ to me. Bottom line, I think people are awfully worked up over these commercials. A bit more aggressive sounding than I'd expect unless they find these personally insulting for some reason. I just think they're funny (most of the time) and they do make some valid points. Still, I expect they'll run their course during this year. Just from the perspective of doing something new, it's probably about time they are replaced.

Well, I have purchased Snow Leopard and half my software does not work, I have paid hundreds of dollars updating software to get previous purchases working again, the printer drivers don't work, I now cant get my airport to work, so Apple is becoming Windows. It feels like lets get is out before Windows 7 and lets do as Microsoft do and use the initial purchasers as beta testers, when you have to patch in the first week it means you ant tested very well or very long. If you are going to run adverts like these then get your house in order first.

I found this site searching to see if anyone else thinks the mack commercials are getting very old. Companies that have decided the only way they can advance themselves is by slinging mud at the competition just shows how pathetic they are and are actually no competition at all. Mac is a niche market for those that don't care what they spend for their toys. I have been building pc's since the 80's and a quality built pc with a clean windows install is just as stable and a much better computer for much less money. Dell, hp, etc. give pc's a bad name with their bloated, unstable versions of windows. Thats the only problem with windows. If mac ever gains a really competetive market share and software companies make as many options as windows has then things will be very different. Virus, hacking, 3rd party driver issues and mac will be very unprepared. But till then they are a niche company slinging mud at pc's making themselves look pathetic.

@blazedin702

I find it ironic you state PCs as being used by 95% of the world and then allude to this being due to a faulty mac operating system.

"I think its funny how Mac Fanboys bash PC when 95 percent of the world uses a PC. You cannot buy any decent software or game for Mac. I once went to a mac store and tried to copy paste. I asked a rep and i realized it wasnt as easy as PC when he had to ask another rep. lol"

Copied and pasted in just a few seconds, apple c, apple v. Though windows users probably wouldn't find it so easy as they are used to navigating through an endless, unnecessary amount of menus to do just about anything.

95% of the world puts up with a PC due to practicality and affordability, PC was/is the industry standard. Unfortunately the PC is let down by it's useless operating system(s). The only thing PCs have as an advantage is the ease of upgrades. Not really credit to Microsoft, credit to competition who build quality products, which are built for the mainstream computer (larger market). This is not because PCs are better, only that people are ignorant of the advantages of having a mac (awesome operating system, quality, refinement, style, ability to run both windows and mac os). The ability to run windows is only because windows is the mainstream thus allowing more software to be used on the mac, NOT because windows is a better operating system.

Basically the world is ignorant, macs are better, PCs are affordable and more upgradeable. However the majority of people who use PCs don't upgrade them anyway as they are ignorant.

These commercials are inaccurate and annoying. Windows allows you to have much more freedom if you know what you are doing. A MAC limits your every attempt at freedom. Of course true freedom comes with Linux. I can’t take any more of these desperate attempts to give Microsoft a bad name.

Hello there!
Guys, why are you so angry about these ads? Don't watch them if you don't like it. Why would you say something like "it is time for Apple to make positive ads and promote themselves rather than talking about how Windows is bad"? Apple has a lot more than "get a Mac" in it's website already. and these "Get a Mac" ads are there for the Mac users, they were never intended to make users switch from Windows, they are for people like I am, who thinks they are funny. And I really do, I like each and every "Get a Mac" ad... These ads are there for existing customers, who already experienced how wonderful Apple and Mac are and will never want to go back for Windows.
Mac is much better. reliable, stable, fast, safe, beautiful, cool, easy to use, user-friendly, simple... Not everybody can afford a good laptop from Mac, but that ads to Mac's image. it is still seen as a peace of luxury.
I run XP on my imac for a couple of programs, and some games, and even it runs faster than it does on a similar characteristics PC...
so, good job, Jobs.... ;)