Mac vs PC ad

Kevin Allen

Bro. Keeley

English 150

17 July 2008

Mac vs. PC

In the recent ads put out by Apple Computers, they attempt to convert PC users to join the ranks of the Mac. In these ads, Apple has the person representing a PC running Windows dressed up in a suit and tie. He is portrayed as a older male who is work-a-holic that is always ridden with some problem that plagues its computer, due to the flaws in windows. The Mac computer is portrayed as a younger male who is clothed in relaxing attire. Through the skits that are portrayed in each ad, Mac successfully shows the viewer how a Mac is better then a PC.

In one of the ads, it shows the Mac dressed in relaxed apparel, as usual. The PC comes into the screen from the right wearing his suit and tie, but unlike the other ads, he is wearing an inflated suit that portrays him as being exceptionally bloated. He then explains that this is because of all the trial software that windows puts onto a computers hard drive and how it takes up a large amount of hard drive space. He explains that the trial software is unnecessary, but still is put on new computers. This unnecessary software slows down the computer, which is also evident in how the PC has to walk very slowly across the room. When the PC reaches his spot and is about to begin he tells the Mac that he forgot something and then proceeds, slowly, to leave again.

The ads appeal greatly to the viewer’s logic. When the ad is shown, people who are watching see this younger male who is in shape, waiting for the PC to come. The “fatness” of the PC is over exaturated to show how the unneeded software tremendously slows down the performance speed of a computer. It makes the viewer pity the unfortunate PC in how the burden affects it, when instead the computer could be like the Mac, where everything is pre-installed. This play on one of Windows drawbacks effectively shows why the viewer should get a Mac instead of a PC.

The creators also present the Mac as much more modern and carefree as compared to the PC. The main obvious way that they do it is in the way both of them dress: the Mac in casual clothes and the PC being dressed up. Today, our society is a fast paced, on the go, and very informal. With the Mac being represented as a young, fresh, relaxingly dressed individual, it appeals to the viewer and they want to associate themselves with the Mac. No one wants to have to dress up all the time and worry about work. This is another successful score for the Mac in the Mac vs. PC scrimmage.

For the past two years, Apple has been airing ads to show of their computers. In each add they compare one aspect of the Mac to that of the PC. By using dress appeal and visual appeals, Apple successfully shows how the Mac is better. They do this though, without actually coming out and saying “Mac is better then a PC”. That is why the ads a so effective.