PC Guy VS. Mac Guy

[Techguy]

This marketing campaign has become one of the world’s favorites. You can check the link here:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IdygY96u1mM

What do you think of the campaign? The reason this popped in my head, is that as a programmer and geek, this ad campaign comes across to be very offensive and takes advantage of the consumer’s gullibility. Most of the ordinary people out there don’t even know what’s the difference between a Mac and PC and for them to highlight the differences in such a manner, it is plain outrageous!

[Simone]

I thought it was so under the belt to criticize your opponent out in the open like that. It has diminished the importance of establishing yourself for what you are, rather than marketing yourself over the margin of your competitor’s differences. Never thought Apple would resort to such a thing.

[bwayne]

Under the belt? It thought it was quite funny and catchy, and come on… those things are true. It’s not like Apple is making things up. I used to be a PC guy for a long time, up until last year when I purchased my Mac, and my life has changed ever since.

Oh.. especially this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xuzY4VFlkA&feature=related

[Simone]

If Apple is making things up or not, it’s really not the issue. It’s not ethical to resort to such marketing schemes, not to mention it damages your reputation on the long run!

[Jack01]

It’s not ethical? Since when was running a multinational ethical? In business, nothing is wrong or right. What matters is the budget in the end. If McDonalds was to be ethical we’d never have saw the Supersize option on the menu.

[Simone]

This is what I refer to as “Modern Immorality of Business”. I’m old school business. I can’t just ignore global warming, exploit the third world, and pump sugar into my mayo and catsup! One can definitely own a successful business without resorting to the back alley.

[Jack01]

That’s a good topic, Simone. But you and I are on two different ends in this, a company cannot withstand competition nowadays without going to the “back alley”. You will go on the street before you can even say “Ethical”

[Techguy]

Also, I forgot to mention this. They send all sorts of embedded messages in their commercials. You have the Mac Guy who’s all laid-back and “cool” and the nerdy PC guy. Who will appeal to us more? Back to highschool again, the jock or the dweeb from the chess club!

[Jack01]

Techguy, they did embed that in their commercial, but don’t all commercials seek to embed such messages. Copywriters are taught to play on emotions, memories, and dreams. I don’t see why this campaign in particular offended you.

[Techguy]

What pisses me off, is the fact that they use incorrect info in some of the commercials. Like for example when they claim that no viruses or spyware infect a Mac, but viruses infect both. They are misleading the general public taking advantage of their lack of tech knowledge.

[Jack01]

Again, do we really know the technology in Chevy or a Lexus? Upon investigation, these commercials turn out to give the most misleading facts to the consumer. However; it’s not misleading or not, this is marketing. Is it really marketable for Mac Guy to say “Well, technically, PC gets infected all of the times, but my chances are lower”

[bwayne]

Yeah, that’s so true. It’s not that bizarre for the ad agency to spice things up! It’s marketing. Are you telling me that all those corporations around the world aren’t misleading us?
At least Apple is innovative, they always come up with new ideas, and when they lose, they don’t come off as sore losers like the Microsoft people.