Dave Winer gives his review of Apple’s new TV/online ads. He points out that while the ads are clever they aren’t all that accurate. Yes, they are a caricature of the market, but as such they earn a little extra slack.
Dave touches on some of the realities though in his post. I’d add one more. You could quite easily compare the capabilities of Windows’ Tablet PC to the Mac and come up with a counter-punch that’s just as hilarious.
Here’s my attempt:
Mac: (Standing) Hi, I’m a Mac.
Tablet PC: (Walks in) Hi, I’m a Windows Tablet PC.
Tablet PC: (Tablet PC is drawing on his hand and in the air).
Mac: (Looks over). What are you doing?
Tablet PC: I’m drawing. With my pen I can draw just like on paper. It’s really fun. Here. (Shows his drawing.)
Mac: Wow. That’s so cool. I didn’t know you can do that. I just come with a mouse. I can still draw though. (Pulls mouse with a cord out of his pocket, struggles to draw) See, here. (Drawing looks like a bunch of squiggles.)
Tablet PC. (Tries to be positive) Hmmm, nice. Oh, and with the pen, I can take notes too. In class I….
Mac: (interrupts) Yeah, me too. I’ve gotten really fast at typing.
Tablet PC: Yeah, I can type too if I want. But I can write also. Like in Math class I copy down math problems as fast as the teacher writes them or I can draw a graph or highlight things….
Mac: (interrupts) I can draw graphs too. I just need some extra time to do it. (Shows mouse again. A little discouraged.)
Tablet PC: I understand. It depends on what tools you have. It’s not your fault. You can still be proud of who you are.
Mac: I am.
Tablet PC: (Trying to be positive) You know, you can always dual boot to Windows if you feel left out.
OK. I may have missed on the “hilarious” part, but you get the idea. I bet there are better script writers out there. Anyone? What about a comparison of the handwriting recognition between a Tablet PC and a Mac? What about a daughter sharing a drawing she’s done? Or a teenage couple IM’ing each other with cutesy artwork floating back and forth between each other and the Mac left to typing in abbreviations to his friend? Or an inventor Tablet PC sketching out his next ideas? Or two teachers comparing notes?
How about “I’m a Windows PC. I’m used by people with real jobs.”
“Oh yeah well I’m a Mac. I’m made by a guy named Jobs. But I’m used by a bunch of dirty stinking sandal wearing tofu eating tree hugging hippies that hate war.”
It suck when you take a stereotype and run with it, doesn’t it. 🙂
Hmmm. I wonder what stereotype I belong to since I own both Windows PCs _and_ Macs. 🙂
Tablet PC: Hi, you can draw on me.
Piece of Paper: Hi, you can draw on me, too, at higher resolution and then scan me in.
Keyboard: Hi, you can type on me much faster than you can draw on Mr. Tablet PC with handwriting recognition.
Tablet PC: Rats.
Tablet PC (talking to keyboard): I have a keyboard too. I use it a lot. I just twist around like this. Sometimes, though, I can handwrite faster than I can type. Ever tried to type out your math homework? Anyway, I know my freeform style can ruffle people’s feathers. Not everyone appreciates me. You do some amazing ASCII portraitures, for instance. I like how everything lines up in a nice grid, all constructed with a handful of characters. The same characters, over and over. How creative!
Tablet PC (to paper): Where’d you go? I can’t search for you.
PC: Hi, I’m a Media Center PC. I can play video onto your new HDTV that has an Xbox hooked up to it.
Mac: Um, you can put a DVD in my drive and use iLive!
PC: You can purchase me for hundreds of dollars less than a similarly performing Mac. Not to mention you get more flexibility in deciding the components you get.
Mac: Oh, come on, you’re ugly, everyone knows that!
PC: When you go to Fry’s you have dozens of models to choose from — and that’s just in the portable department.
Mac: I’m simpler to buy cause we only have a handful of models.
Cute, I’ll give you that much, but guys… just not funny. I really wanted to laugh here but so far, not so much! There’s lot of ways to poke fun of the new Mac ads at least aim to be AS funny as the original Apple ads. I use and develop for both platforms and also draw on my Mac just about every day (think Wacom & Inkwell) so the joke rings hollow on that count.
Surely we can’t be done yet – let’s hear some more.
Tablet PC: Hi, I’m a tablet PC.
Mac: Wow, no kidding, you’re so rare I’ve never seen one of you before.
TabletPC: Ya, I know, it’s a real problem, we’re all very lonely.
Actually, Randy I’d love to see a Mac with a built-in Wacom digitizer. Until then I make due with an iMac and a USB Wacom digitizer–I haven’t tried the Cintiq yet. One cool thing I’ve done is set up the iMac so it can dual boot with the Tablet PC OS:
http://www.tabletpcblogs.com/blogs/lorenheiny/archive/2006/04/09/8279.aspx
It’s interesting to see how InkWell’s features compare to the Tablet’s when the software is running on the same system.
Joe says:
“TabletPC: Ya, I know, it’s a real problem, we’re all very lonely.”
Tablet PC (continues): Psst, Mac. Actually, I’ll let you in on a little secret. That’s just what we tell the press and analysts. Sometimes, when I’m lonely, like when I’m travelling, I flip my screen. It’s often all I have to do to start a conversation. I’ve meet some really amazing people this way.
MAC: Hey, what are you doing?
PC: Getting some work done for my company.
MAC: Really, what type of work?
PC: Oh, you know…Just finishing my schedule to build the new Surfboards I create using Microsoft Project. Oh ya, that reminds me to check out my Access database to see what models I have in manufacturing.
MAC: Hmm…I can play create music in Garage Band.
PC: That’s nice. There are a ton of programs to do that on the PC; however, the full office suite with Access, Outlook, Project, etc… makes me productive and earns me money.
MAC: Oh, I still live with my Mom, but I am looking for a job.
PC: Well, if you interested you can give me your resume…I own my own Surfboard company. Make sure to include your office productivity skills.
MAC: (((Silence)))
PC: You suck.
Mac: No, you suck.
PC: No, you suck.
Mac: No, you suck.
.
.
.
Announcer: Whining is cross-platform. Buy what you like and get on with it.
.
.
.
Mac: You dropped out of college.
PC: …Your mom goes to college.
.
.
.
I can see it, but only if the tabletPC is portrayed by a drooling….[you might be able to guess where this was going, I deleted this part of the comment. My nieces read my blog and this post goes over the top for me. Loren]
And at the end they should be overrun by linux hippie machines.
Then I’d be funny.
Tablet PCs. I didn’t know anyone used them.
Michiel says: “Tablet PCs. I didn’t know anyone used them.”
Hmmm. kat who comments from time to time on your blog says she uses one:
http://acidzebra.blogspot.com/2006/03/origami.html#114176874381778409
In commenting about your post on UMPCs she says: “I think I will stick to my Palm PDA for now, backed up by the Tablet PC when I need it.”
Who knows there may be others.
Comparing media center pc to a regular mac? uhh whats the point?
Thats two seperate things? wait until the mac media center comes out, ten try comparing.. my mac is connected to a xbox and onto a projektor. .and with front row, you might wanna call tat a media center,,
and tablet pc and a mac? again, two different things.
Can�t anyone make funny jokes about a regular pc and a mac?
Its just pathetic to hear the moaning.. why not compare it to a airplane too?
Hahha
Jerry, a Tablet PC is a “regular PC.” The Tablet PC OS is Windows XP plus some extra stuff, such as ink support. Of course, don’t forget that OS X comes with its own ink capabilities called InkWell. So are the two OSes really that different?
Now yes, Tablet PCs have built-in digitizers and Macs don’t, but if I had my choice I’d like to see digitizers built into most displays (PCs and Macs). Why? Because it would give me one more mode of input to choose from.
God, these ads really p*ssed you PC guys off didn’t they?
The 2 guys in the commercial are a metaphor for 2 different OS’s that run on computer hardware, they are not insulting you, they are insulting the computer you choose to use, get a grip, and try to separate yourself from the computer you use.
Seeing as every time I meet an IT Manager who says things to me regarding which computer I choose to run my department that are far, far worse, and much more untrue than anything said in these commercials, I gues that makes us all even.
I think Dwayne wins.
gagravaar says: “these ads really p*ssed you PC guys off didn’t they?”
Not even close. I +love+ the ads. Just seemed like it would be fun to make some ads that go the other direction. Sure, it may not be original or very well done, but, hey it’s just for fun.
I do think I’ll drop posting as the “Tablet PC” character anymore in this thread. It gets old after awhile. Plus I’m hoping someone else chimes in with a better script.
LOL:Brandno Colton
Tablet PC: Hi, I’m a total market failure.
Mac: I know, we found that out about a decade ago with the Newton.
Regarding the anger from pc users. Actually yes it does kind of make me mad, im’ tired of pc people putting down the mac, and im’ tired of mac people putting down the pc. Everyone has to hate, everyone has to choose sides, proves the computer world, no matter how intellectual, is still just a bunch of jerks insulting eachother for being different.
Why the ad insults me? Because it chooose a “cool guy” to play the mac (not that i think he’s cool) and a bill gates nerd to play the pc. Building on stereotypes that have nothing to do with the true performance power of each machine, it relegates the argument to “you’re cool and i’m not”.
As as far as the tablet pc, i’d love to have one, and i dumped 500 on a wacom tablet for the priveledge of drawing with a pen. I love my pc’s, i find macs useful for specific tasks (though i hate them otherwise). The sad fact is, regardless of what apple says, they are horribly overpriced machines compared to what you can get in a pc. And until they let other vendors start making mac hardware, they’re always going to have the smallest market share.
College professor guy with glasses and a big white beard comes up.
PC: Who are you?
Mac: Linux, my man! How are you doing?
Linux: Not too bad. *Pulls out a stack of CDROMs and starts giving them away to random bystanders*
PC: Hey, those are worth a lot of money! Theres like, a drawing program here, and an office replacement here, and what? Source code? Are you insane?
Linux: It is the future. *Gives the ‘live long and prosper’ sign and leaves*
PC: Hmmm… *tries to slip a disk into his pocket*
Mac: Don’t even think about it.
Nice one James. Made me laugh.
“God, these ads really p*ssed you PC guys off didn’t they?”
Yes, and I honestly could care less. It just annoys me that Apple seems to sell this and thier culture through disinformation about the PC. Notably, in one of these commercials, that I need a Mac to have music movies and etc on my PC. Stuff I have been doing for 10 years on my PC.
Or that I need an iPod to get good digitial music, when I bought a Archos Jukebox 3 years before there was such a thing as a iPod, and I can cut mp3s over to it like a drive without any software interference.
I like Macs, but their advetiseing annoys me. I really hated the jeff Goldblum ones. Profusely corded. Please. Cause cords are so hard to understand.
I think Pc should start a capmaign: “PC, whats so difficult idiot?”
James wins. Brandno Colton doesn’t know what he’s talking about. OK, here’s mine:
PC: Hi I’m a PC. If you know what you’re doing, and buy extra software and/or hardware, I can be pretty secure.
Mac: Hi I’m a Mac. You don’t have to know what you’re doing or buy anything. I’m secure out of the box.
Linux: Hi I’m Linux. I’m secure too, but as soon as you start using me for what I was intended for, look out. You had better know what you’re doing.
PC: Should I consider getting a warning label for myself?
Mac: Oh absolutely.
Linux: Dude.
Mac: I’m all about artistic expression.
PC: You mean artists with a lot of money.
Mac: I’m a steal if you consider the iLife suite, you can totally express yourself out of the box.
PC: You mean as long as it it’s expressed in a proprietary DRM format that can only be played on your cuter, sexier little iPod sister.
Mac: No way, I’m totally open-minded as long as you think exactly like I do.
PC: Yeah… so anyway, can I have your sister’s number, she’s hot.
Y’know, I was really just ridin’ the whole “Who cares? They’re ADs, for gossakes. Chill vibe.” Until this one comment:
Nicholas Parker:
“It just annoys me that Apple seems to sell this and their culture through disinformation about the PC.” (Spelling corrected)
Welcome to what life has been like for Mac users for the past 14 years, enjoy the experience. Except that, instead of being harmless, silly TV ads, it was IT people spewing BS.
“Sure, we’d let them have Macs, if you didn’t have to buy a different monitor.” (BS: You needed a $10 adapter to use the same monitors)
“Sure we’d let you use a Mac if you wanted to; IF there they could be compatible with our network – which they can’t be.” (BS: There were 3rd party stacks that worked just fine)
So now, “Boo-hoo, it’s so unfair that Apple is misrepresenting how PC’s are Virus-ridden nightmares”?
Wow. Karma. Is. A. Pain. Ain’t. It.
But seriously. They’re just ads. It’s not like your network admin has told you can’t use your machine at work anymore based on misinformation. Yet.
Oh, and as far as the Ads themselves. I thought they were kinda lame.
But it is nice to see Apple trying to sell more Macs, rather than just focussing on the iPod.
Not that I think I could have improved on them, but it is nice to see they guy from “The Daily Show” getting more work. (He’s the “PC”).
“Comparing media center pc to a regular mac? uhh whats the point?”
The point is that PCs had media center functionality for years, and that Mac doesn’t have any decent functionality still. Maybe in five years they will have someting similar. Maybe you will also have live TV, recording, scheduling, movies on demand, context Internet sites coordinated with TV, all being driven in HD over wireless, to multiple TVs in the house. Maybe. But I doubt it. 🙂
PC: Hi, I am a Democrat.
Linux: Hi, I am a Republican.
MAC: I am your BENEVOLENT DICTATOR.
I don’t know why I feel so self-important as to post here. I use Macs. Macs are good at my thing, which is recording, processing, and editing music. I have no doubt that PCs are also good at my thing. However, my thing requires a machine that understands my thing. That means no slow drives, no slow busses, no slow processors, and no codependent software that has to ask me if it is okay that it can’t handle a problem. It’s not okay. I know I can get all that on a custom-made PC, but the price point comparison is absurd between a standard (Ford in any color you want, as long as it’s black…) Mac and a custom PC. If you want to compare oranges to oranges, a Mac is competitively priced based on the standard hardware it offers. Macs have less available software, but that’s because the bad stuff has been filtered out. Microsoft offers Office for Mac, so people with actual jobs CAN use Macs. It’s not as though other developers have ignored Macs, either, concerning professional software. It’s true. There ARE other developers. Bill Gates bailed out Apple when … [perhaps they were MS’ only competitor]… Apple was down [and MSFT was maybe in an antitrust inv. or nearing such..] and… that’s like picking up your boxing opponent up when it appears boxing will go out of style if you don’t. So, Microsoft is the greatest developer of software in the free (or any known) world. However, that has never meant, does not, and shall not mean that their software is the best software. I will not claim that Apple’s software is the best, but it is my opinion that it is always (for some reason) better than Microsoft’s. The advertising has tended to be better, as well. But has anyone noticed in the last 10 years how Microsoft’s advertising has made you ask, “Did they get their hands on Apple’s Ad People?”
I have never liked macs. I feel as though they are dumbed down… now, i dont personally go around to anyone on an iBook and shout in their face “learn to use a real computer!”, but i do believe that some of what apple has done is a bit… selfish? You cannot upgrade your mac, and im almost positive that 80%+ of all mac users have no idea how to perform most of the detrimental processes in recovering computer hardware/software failure. sure, when a mac works, it works, but its not like apple makes harddrives that never fail… also i see what seems like the lack of support for programming languages (sans internet technologies) .. feel free to set me straight.
oh, and also… the mac has a large number of holes.
http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2001/11/va_glossary.html#macexe
I use a tabby too… duo core 2 baby! i work in an all mac enviroment and it’s really loney out here with the single person with a tablet…