Actor says Apple's 'Get a Mac' ads could be at an end
Actor Justin Long said Apple's iconic, long-running "Get a Mac" commercials starring himself and John Hodgman may be over, with Apple ready to "move on" from the successful TV campaign.
In an interview with The Onion's A.V. Club, Long, who has appeared in movies such as Drag Me to Hell and Live Free or Die Hard, said he heard from Hodgman that the commercials may be over.
"You know, I think they might be done," he said. "In fact, I heard from John, I think they're going to move on. I can't say definitively, which is sad, because not only am I going to miss doing them, but also working with John. I've become very close with him, and he?s one of my dearest, greatest friends."
He continued: "It was so much fun to go do that job, because there?s not a lot to it for me. A lot of it is just keeping myself entertained between takes, and there's no one I'd rather do it with than John."
The latest commercials came last October, released to counter the launch of Microsoft's Windows 7. For years, Long has played the role of "Mac" in the commercials, the straight man to Hodgman's bumbling "PC" character. The successful campaign has portrayed Windows PCs as machines that are prone to issues that frustrate consumers., and lack the simplicity and ease of use of the Mac.
The commercials debuted in May 2006 with six TV spots that attacked Windows for being susceptible to viruses and system crashes. It was recognized as the advertising campaign of the decade by Adweek in December.
Years after the commercials debuted, Microsoft attempted to reclaim the catchphrase from Mac commercials, with Windows users proclaiming "I'm a PC." Since the launch of Windows 7, the tagline has been tweaked to become "I'm a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea."
In an interview with The Onion's A.V. Club, Long, who has appeared in movies such as Drag Me to Hell and Live Free or Die Hard, said he heard from Hodgman that the commercials may be over.
"You know, I think they might be done," he said. "In fact, I heard from John, I think they're going to move on. I can't say definitively, which is sad, because not only am I going to miss doing them, but also working with John. I've become very close with him, and he?s one of my dearest, greatest friends."
He continued: "It was so much fun to go do that job, because there?s not a lot to it for me. A lot of it is just keeping myself entertained between takes, and there's no one I'd rather do it with than John."
The latest commercials came last October, released to counter the launch of Microsoft's Windows 7. For years, Long has played the role of "Mac" in the commercials, the straight man to Hodgman's bumbling "PC" character. The successful campaign has portrayed Windows PCs as machines that are prone to issues that frustrate consumers., and lack the simplicity and ease of use of the Mac.
The commercials debuted in May 2006 with six TV spots that attacked Windows for being susceptible to viruses and system crashes. It was recognized as the advertising campaign of the decade by Adweek in December.
Years after the commercials debuted, Microsoft attempted to reclaim the catchphrase from Mac commercials, with Windows users proclaiming "I'm a PC." Since the launch of Windows 7, the tagline has been tweaked to become "I'm a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea."
Comments
Apple should stick to marketing its usability and longevity instead of bashing its competition.
I say Copy your iphone and ipad Ads. Just Show a person turning on the imac or laptop or what ever and using it then at the end flash the Name of the product .
Keep enemies closer.
But I can understand that it might be time to move on. After all, maybe the time has come to sell Apple on its own merits instead of being "not as clunky as a PC". Windows 7 getting a better press than Vista also makes it more difficult to be effective with the "not Windows" argument.
But it is an hard act to follow. After all, find something that is just as easy to connect to as an ordinary (prospective) customer. "Think different" for instance, only alieniates your major target audience. "Get a Mac" made them see Apple as 'more "likable" than Windows', now they need to let people feel that a Mac would be a 'normal' part of their lives without constantly referring to Windows.
priceless:
'You are coming to a sad realization, Cancel or Allow'
..... allow
I am glad they are ending them . Some of the commercials actually blatantly lied(like the one stating only apple had webcams on its products).
Apple should stick to marketing its usability and longevity instead of bashing its competition.
I say Copy your iphone and ipad Ads. Just Show a person turning on the imac or laptop or what ever and using it then at the end flash the Name of the product .
Which episode did Apple claim that?
I am glad they are ending them . Some of the commercials actually blatantly lied(like the one stating only apple had webcams on its products).
Apple should stick to marketing its usability and longevity instead of bashing its competition.
I say Copy your iphone and ipad Ads. Just Show a person turning on the imac or laptop or what ever and using it then at the end flash the Name of the product .
Yes, the new iPad ad is great. Last night I replayed it a few times as I saw Mail had a featured I'd missed realizing existed. I jumped on the iPad and sure enough .... So it is educational too
I don't agree the ads ever lied as much as had fun with the truth most times. I will miss them and think they will enter the halls of fame along with "1984". Apple is a creative force indeed!
Well they were superb. I'll miss them.
Agreed. I've always got a good chuckle out of them. Getting to watch a new one was like adding another item to a collection of baseball cards.
Hugely successful, rip-roaringly funny, long-lasting (perhaps the longest series in Apple history?), but it's time to move on......
I guess no one does a smear campaign that twists truths better than apple... actually AT&T might take that one...
just shows how much of a success Windows 7 is. Now Apple has no grounds for an attack because Windows 7 is simpler, safer and very easy to use. even easier to use than MacOSX if you ask me. It's gonna be interesting to see what Apple does now.
I use both (I assume you do too) and I respectfully disagree with you on the OS comments. However, the change in strategy if probably due to the level of success Apple now enjoy in general and beating up on the competition may now start to be seen as bullying.
I guess no one does a smear campaign that twists truths better than apple... actually AT&T might take that one...
Get real, and get a sense of humor.
I guess no one does a smear campaign that twists truths better than apple... actually AT&T might take that one...
Just curious, I truthfully don't know, do Apple users hang out in the forums that support your view point and make stupid and hateful comments all the time? I am fascinated that you feel it is worth the time.
Agreed. I've always got a good chuckle out of them. Getting to watch a new one was like adding another item to a collection of baseball cards.
Yep, they are classics. I have many but intend to get the complete set and save them for posterity.
Yep, they are classics. I have many but intend to get the complete set and save them for posterity.
Ding Ding Ding.
Looks like an excellent idea for an app. Somebody is going to make some serious vacation money there.
"Think different" for instance, only alienates your major target audience. "Get a Mac" made them see Apple as 'more "likable" than Windows', now they need to let people feel that a Mac would be a 'normal' part of their lives without constantly referring to Windows.
I think the "think different" ads would be more so effective today than they were 20 years ago. I think it should be "live different" that would be cool...
Just curious, I truthfully don't know, do Apple users hang out in the forums that support your view point and make stupid and hateful comments all the time? I am fascinated that you feel it is worth the time.
Head on over to PC World and view the comments on any article mentioning the iPad to see what a real fanboy is (Windows Fanboys love to live in denial.)
Whatever, stop trolling Apple sites
... hint that Steve and M$ and back in hand again.
Keep enemies closer.
That is a very interesting observation.
The other possibility is that Apple is less interested in the Mac now that they are a mobile device company. They never had the runaway success with computers that they had with their other CE products. Maybe their advertising dollars are better spent with their more popular products.