We all have seen and remember the various versions of the Mac vs. PC ads. The ones that have the semi-overweight, nerdy, thirty-something year old "PC guy" and the likeable Jake Long as the "Mac guy"? Why are these ads so memorable? The combination of humor, distinct characters, and famous actors like Jake Long help us to recall these ads.
Getting people to remember advertisements is the first step in an effective advertisement campaign and these ads do a very good job of it (at least in my opinion). Also the humorous situations portrayed in the Mac vs. PC ads make people like the ads and, in turn, like the product.
The fact that people like and associate, with the Mac guy is a useful advertisement technique, as people extend the positive associations with the Mac guy to the actual Mac product.
Most of the commercials also have various inside jokes or jabs at PC's that highlight their "flaws"; such as one where the PC guy has to constantly pause to buffer.
The repeated use of the same characters and actors in Mac's ads helps to build viewers' attachment to the "Mac guy" and reinforce the positive stereotypes about Macs and the negative stereotypes about PCs.
-Chris Leslie
I think the topic you chose is very interesting and is something most people can relate to very well. I also think that you make a good point about how the ads are specifically designed to make people want to buy their computers and linking that concept to what we have learned in class. I also find it fascinating how the specific aspects of an ad, like jokes and images, can affect people emotionally and convince them to buy a product.
I agree with how you said the advertisers main goal is getting people to remember their product. This I feel is present in any ad because once the advertiser gets their product stuck in the viewers head they will be more likely to remember the ad itself when they see the product in a store. Than if the viewer thought the add was funny, exciting or had some good feeling to it, they will be more likely to want to buy the product.
Seeing that these commercials don't really exist on television anymore, its nice to go back and revisit a commercial that so directly correlates with some of the stuff we have learned. Obviously there is some bias in these (which is to be expected in an ad) but the good humor and youthful character of the Mac really speaks to the up and coming people in the economy. It makes the mac out as the fun loving type, and really does an extraordinary job of putting down the opponent softly with smart advertising. Great post.
I love this example! It really helps put advertising and emotional connections into perspective. Advertising does try to target specific audiences, in hopes that that audience is the majority and the consumers. It's amazing to think that the advertising industry has found this emotional loop-hole to draw in customers through similarity. Not everyone may agree with the ad, but the producers are trying to focus on the newest generations that will give them the most profit. Many ad companies play on emotions like Axe body spray and even McDonalds. It's all up to us as consumers to decide if we will fed into the emotional context, or stick to previous guns.
Advertisements like this one definitely stick in my head! The way that companies know how to play on our emotions and even target specific groups of people is uncanny! I know that for me, humor is the most effective way to capture my attention in a commercial. I laugh so hard every time one of the commercials for car insurance with Allstate and "Mayhem" comes on! I know that personally, I am definitely most likely to buy things that I know about or have heard about, whether it is from a commercial or an acquaintance. I don't think I have ever bought something from a brand that I had never heard of, making brands with commercials that get into your head very smart in gaining customers like me!