That new Mac ad.

[Asher]

You see to keep thinking that this is about winning or something. Apple's a niche commodity. They don't need to win. They just need to reinforce their branding.

Let's reinforce a niche brand? Is that a winning strategy to you?

Or perhaps you'd like to open up the brand to new types of people?

[Jaguar]

Spoiler:

chegitz's post is surprisingly intelligent

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Asher
Is that a winning strategy to you?

And that's your problem. That's what you don't understand. They aren't trying to win. They can't win. They know they can't win. They were defeated long ago and now are just a niche product.

[Asher]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
And that's your problem. That's what you don't understand. They aren't trying to win. They can't win. They know they can't win. They were defeated long ago and now are just a niche product.

You're right, I don't understand that. And I think if that's what any executive thought at a company I owned shares in, I'd get his ass booted out and brought someone in to turn the company around.

[SlowwHand]

[chequita guevara]

There are lots of companies that operate solely in niche markets. They chose not to operate in certain ways because of corporate ethics or because they think they offer a superior product or service. Some companies don't even want a certain clientèle. Consider the declarations of the spokesperson for Crystal. Not all capitalists shoot for the LCD. There was a period when they did, and the result of that was that American beer was the laughing stock of the world.

[Asher]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
There are lots of companies that operate solely in niche markets. They chose not to operate in certain ways because of corporate ethics or because they think they offer a superior product or service. Some companies don't even want a certain clientèle. Consider the declarations of the spokesperson for Crystal. Not all capitalists shoot for the LCD. There was a period when they did, and the result of that was that American beer was the laughing stock of the world.

The problem is if Apple is offering a "superior product" in the same pricerange people spend on PCs (and they do), then they should certainly not be relegated to a niche market.

It makes sense for companies to be in a niche market if it fits them (eg, $15,000 gaming computers), but not if they make products priced in the mainstream. The only reason Apple's in a niche market is ads like this which are offputting to the broader market. There is no other limitation.

Their limitation is ineffective ad campaigns and, if what you're saying is true, fundamental corporate strategy. But I've seen Steve Jobs talk in meetings, I know he doesn't buy this for a second that they're destined for a niche market.

[Tuberski]

The whole point of these ads is name recognition.

Do you really think McDonald's, Budweiser, Coke et al, need to advertise to be succesful?

There are few commercials that make me want to buy something, but there are some, including the Mac and also the damn John Mellencamp "This is our country" Chevy commercials, that make me not want to buy their product.

In my case, advertising can only hurt.

ACK!

[FrostyBoy]

I do a lot of advertising work, and I too know that the marketing/advertising industry is screwed.

Often I am forced to do ads that are just plain stupid, I point this out to the clients, but they don't seem to GET IT.

Anyway, when I saw these ads for the first time, my first reaction was that Mac is desperate to prove the PC a bad choice. But it just doesn't work.

I am MORE inclined to not buy a Mac after watching these ads. I guess if one were not exactly smart on buying computers, they would lean towards the Mac, so the ads work in that sense.

Luckily for Apple, computer-dumbasses are still in heavy supply.

[FrostyBoy]

Interestingly, the Mac is still considered to be the best tool for creating media. At one point in time yes that was true, but not anymore.

So when I go to a printing vendor and walk into the design room, I see they're all using Mac's. I feel sorry for them.

[Nubclear]

I don't particularly mind the Mac or Apple perse. I think that choice and competition are a good thing (though Apples microsoft-esque practices in other areas are concerning). But these commercials are annoying and insult my person and my intelligence. The entire Cult of Mac is bothersome and turns me off to the whole thing.

[snoopy369]

Ahh... just the thing after a hard, stressful day at work.

Reading an Asher pwning

I have to say the most convincing argument i've read in this thread is that the commercial is in its eighth 'episode' or whatever. Any commercial that makes it that far, is clearly a success by whomever's figuring that's doing the actual figuring. If Apple ordered more of these commercials, then clearly Apple thinks they're working, and they're too big a company not to have done the math and the surveys and whatnot. NOTHING could convince me otherwise, quite frankly. No matter how annoying they are, which they quite frankly are. I recognize that I'm not the target for these commercials

[Dis]

Originally posted by Asher

The funny part of this is that's the exact sentiment that the real Mac ads have, but exaggerated to make it obvious for the people among us who don't understand why it's a bad campaign.

And here are the real ads: http://www.apple.com/getamac/

thanks. I was wondering what the hell you guys were talking about. some of us don't watch tv.

[Dis]

hmm, now I'm getting an error message with that link Asher posted. Is that a problem with crappy quicktime or with my crappy windows? Actually one error message was listed as a firefox error.

I hate to think I'll have to use internet explorer to see the rest of these ads.

[Dis]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara

Originally posted by Asher
Is that a winning strategy to you?

And that's your problem. That's what you don't understand. They aren't trying to win. They can't win. They know they can't win. They were defeated long ago and now are just a niche product.

That's a good point, but I'm not getting that impression by the ads. The ads seem to imply PC users should use macs.