mormegil mormegil

Apples New Ad Campaign? Bad Move?

Apples New Ad Campaign? Bad Move?

As someone who makes a living doing Graphic Design, on PC’s. I have always had a bit of angst toward the *Mac People* out there who think Macs are the only way to do anything creative.
However, I am a big fan of the tenacity of Steve Jobs. I Admire the fact that he is hell bent on making what he sees as the best computer he can make. And of late, at least since OS-X, or should I say NeXTstep reborn, I think that they have been making great systems. I would not go so far as to say the best, but very impressive. I have to give great praise to the creativity of design, and say it takes balls to just change standards whenever they get out dated.
That said, I have to gripes.

I am buying a new MAC G4 next month, not to replace my PC, just to go along with it. I like the BSD base of OSX and figure I can kill two birds with one stone and improve my knowledge base while I am at it. I think Mac and PC, can get along just fine, and that each has its strengths. This is costing me way more then A equivalent PC but I have been saving for a year, and I am going to do it anyway.

Now comes Apples New Ad campaign, which is amid at PC users. It almost lost the sale to This PC User when I first saw it. The Why I see it is This campaign will not attract any more PC users then before and will alienate the More Tech Savvy PC Users. (That they have been attracting for the last year with OS-X) The New adds seem to me to say, replace that crappy PC with a cool MAC. This insults anyone who likes there PC, I being one, and then try to sell the Mac on the on its Aesthetic appeal. No Facts are given. Tech Savvy PC Users what to know what makes the system better, not that it is “Not Windows”.

And my biggest gripe is that in all of that adds I have seen so far they make it a Black and White issue, They say quite using your PC throw it away and use a MAC. In my experience your average person doesn’t want to through away all they have learned and start over. That approach doesn’t seem to be a selling point. I use both, and soon will own both.

My question is:
As a largely PC community of Designers, Users, and Artist, do the new Apple ads piss you off or make you think of buying a Mac?

And Secondly, how may of you use both PC’s and Macs? And what do you think of the new Ads?
17,512 views 74 replies
Reply #51 Top
yeah, i'm almost tired of the aqua theme on my osx machine. i'm about ready to start using some of the other themes out there.
Reply #52 Top
I'm not especially enthusiastic about the default multi-colored Aqua, but the Graphite variant is quite pleasing to me and I've not really had any urge to change it in the last 15 months or so...OTOH, I wish there was still an option to make it look a little more like NeXTSTEP.

As far as graphics apps go, I use the Corel Graphics 10 Suite and Painter 7. Eventually I think I'm going to purchase TIFFany.

I've heard that Quark is a bit of a mess, code-wise. I imagine they've had a bit of trouble turning it into a Carbon app (one that runs under both OS9 and X).
Reply #53 Top
jt, try these on for size..

http://xthemination.maccustomise.com/

http://themes.themox.net/
Reply #54 Top
That Themox site is pretty cool.. now here's a newbie question I never thought I'd here myself ask..

"What program do I need to use those themes on my Imac?"

Reply #55 Top
one of the most popular ways to do it is to go here http://www.enteract.com/~doc/charonsoft/index.html
and get metamorphx 3.1

metamorphx is basically a theme switcher. the themes are actually independent of any program, being a single file that gets replaced deep within the system. the big difference between osx themes and xp themes being that there is no encryption, and theme files can be readily [and legally] switched without the need for any sort of 'crack.'

it can be done manually as well, but the theme progs do the dirty work of finding the right file and switching it out just the right way. you have to be logged in as root to do it yourself, and wacky hijinx can easily ensue

what they don't do is offer abilities above and beyond those available in the os, the way an actual application like windowblinds can.
Reply #56 Top
What's really sad is the existence of an XP theme for OS X.

You can find it on this site:
http://macmotiva.rocks.it/
Reply #57 Top
Hehehe! Yeah, but at least there's only one, as opposed to the many Aqua skins that were made for Windowblinds.
Reply #58 Top
Well Juni very nicely called this mac place and had them hold one of their two 800mhz superdrive Imacs. He surprised me with this info and we headed out a few hours later after some crucial housekeeping was done. After a 30 minute trip, we were a few minutes away when the guy called and said "Oops, we don't have any, but we can order one!" We said no dice and went to a place that doesn't lie about what's in stock just to get a commission.

That guy plainly deserved to loose that sale. Juni had called the day before and checked as well.

So now I'm at Wincusto on a Mac... which I find somehow funny. I think I'll load that Xp theme on the mac and use the Aqua look on the Pc
Reply #59 Top
Well that certainly didn't work. That metamorphix program halfway works. And now that I deleted it, the theme I tested is still halfway there. GRRR!
Reply #60 Top
I haven't yet messed with OS X themes as they actually replace system files. They "should" have had an option to restore Aqua, though, I would think. ;-/
Reply #61 Top
I really don't like the MAC ads. PCs do have a weakness in that it's too easy for software which you download to diddle, twiddle, and fiddle with the Registry (and other things) without your being aware. We've run Win NT for years in an environment where software uploading is permitted but closely supervised, and our admin can't remember the last time one of our PCs crashed. I have used and liked Macs - I think I'm just allergic to negative advertising.
Reply #62 Top
plainsong: things like that might happen if it's an especially old theme, or if there's something wrong with the theme. rather than metamorphx, try duality. it has a theme checker built into it to make sure the themes are ok. also, in the readme it lists the filetypes which are compatible with it. also, their homepage has an aquarestore app if you need it to get back from the xp theme.
Reply #63 Top
I feel far more in control and at home with my PC than I ever could with a Mac. I can tweak my PC till the cows come home, I'm not locked down into what a manufacturer thinks is best for me. I don't feel free to "think different" with a Mac. These latest ads sound like they're in the same vein as those dumb AOL commercials... "I get so excited when an instant message pops up!"

Simpler is not necessarily better.

Reply #64 Top
Welll after years if usiung both PC and Macs at work, but only ever having a PC at home (more through having bits and pieces of PC hardware which were cheaper to upgrade), Poppy's Dad is donating a Mac to us!

Unfortunately it's in rather yucky circumstances as he runs a branch of a Japanese printing cpomany which he is having to clos4 down, but it means he can do whatever he wants with the macs. So he's donatin gus one, not sure what yet as he's waiting to see whats left but it will be cool to play with a mac at home ratjher than having to wait at work...

You know, I only ever found OS9 crashing very rarely - we have 8 Beige G3's here of which I can only recall one machine ever crashing in nearly 3 years. Though that machine did crash about 3 times... Don;t talk to me qbout the 12 PC's ion that room though.... talking of which it's time to go and do some housekeepiong on them I think....
Reply #68 Top
Personally, I think the Beige G3's are great systems. They're still very usable to this day and easily upgradable.
Reply #69 Top
to each his/her own. We are about to through them out at work.
Reply #70 Top
Throw what out? Beige G3's????

Reply #71 Top
I have used both PC's and Apple's. I used to love the Mac's (even an Apple certified technician). However after waiting forever for Copeland (Vaporware, and the disappointed of System 7.5.x I finally switched over to a PC. System 7.5.x was the biggest piece of junk. Crashed all the time. System 8.0 was better but still not great.

That said, I would love to be able to buy a new Mac to run OS X. I am glad that they finally got their act together and put together an operating system that is finally stable.
Reply #72 Top
yep, beige G3's , to to blaim the systems, I blame OS 9.
Reply #73 Top
Hell, even if someone didn't want a working Beige G3, I wouldn't toss it. I'd sell it!

They still go for $200-450 or so on eBay, last time I noticed.
Reply #74 Top
An intersting article:
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-275986.html

It's a little old (November 2001) but still interesting IMO.