Apple and negative ads

I've got to hand it to them, Apple sure can make some nice products. The iPhone, iTouch, iShuffle, iPod, the list goes on. What doesn't belong in this list, however is the mac product line. Its not the only product line that Apple aggressively markets to the average american on TV, but its the only one that they do so with pretentious commercials which only feature savage attacks on their competition.

I don't know about other computer users, but this advertising campaign completely turns me off to the mac, and I will probably never buy one. Since this would be my entrance into Apple's product line, I will probably never use or buy an apple product, aside from the Macintosh Plus I had when i was a kid. I was already pretty off to the idea of a mac to begin with, due to the whole"gaming" issue, upgrades, and lack of real customization - I can easily get this from a PC build.

Keep in mind, I think that the rest of Apple's TV advertising is well done, and tasteful. The irony I find in in the mac/pc advertising battle is that at least from an advertising perspective, Microsoft has taken the high road and produces advertising that actually features their product, or at least what someone can do with it, and never mentions their competitor. Mac's entire "angle" here is basically to demonize the PC in pretty much every way possible, and in the process alienate a large sector of their possible market. I see a lot of parallels here with politicians, and particularly some recent ones, who capitalize on the idea that the alternative is the devil, while they peddle bullshit which smells good only by comparison.

Fans of mac would undoubtedly point out that mac is doing just fine in sales, and while that is true, they could be doing a lot better if it weren't for this relatively hostile ad campaign. Mac has accomplished brilliantly in all other advertising venues and products, by in large because of their portrayal of a serene product experience, which may or may not hug babies or cure cancer, and then actually delivering on at least the user experience!

Of course, I am essentially immune to mac advertising anyway, simply because I do not fit nor desire to fit the image portrayed for their users - hip, progressive urbanites with buddy holly eyeglass frames and latest-fashion abercrombie styles. I don't wear tight-fitting, solid color turtlenecks or hang out in coffee joints.

My spendthrift side also tends to avoid apple products, as their rapid cornering of the market on personal devices has forced their competitors to lower prices, and I'm taking advantage of that to save some green.