Gizmodo
Radar interviews John Hodgman, you know, the PC Guy from the Apple ads. And reading it makes me feel just stupid. You know he works for the Daily Show, but did you know he's a full fledged NY Times Magazine editor and writer, and was a reporter for NPR's This American Life? Justin Long, the Mac Guy, is best known for working with Lindsay Lohan in Herbie Fully Loaded, Vince Vaughn in Dodgeball, and his cameo on That 70's Show. Well then.
I guess PC users are really smarter than Mac users. (flame on)
Actually, he's a Mac guy, so I guess its the other way around. (blazing inferno on)
John's Mac-love, as chronicled in an interview in The Phoenix...
I bought the very first Mac, or convinced my father to buy it, in 1984. I used it through high school and college; it was the first computer I used outside of college, then I went though a brief period of exile during my corporate years as a professional literary agent, where I was forced to use a PC . . .Mac has always gotten the design and the interface down pat. They just know it. PC's efforts to emulate this, and its constant failing, and its self-satisfied arrogance about it being the most used platform in the world, all of that made it very easy to craft a character who, while he is a boob, and often concerned about how he comes off, at his core really feels bad for the Mac. Is really so delusional to believe he's much cooler than the Mac. The whole reason they're standing in that white room is because he's trying to help the Mac out.
John Hodgman Interview [Radar]
John Hodgman Interview [The Phoenix via Digg]
Comments
Don't forget Accepted!
The Mac guys is a B type computer user!
Hodgman has a book out now in paperback called The Areas of My Expertise. It's one of the funniest things I've read this year. If you like really smart, witty humor, you should check it out. His site is www.areasofmyexpertise.com Youc an get a sample of it there.
I use both platforms, so I'm a bit of an agnostic (macgnostic?), but from the outset I thought those ads undercut the intended message because Hodgeman was just so much more sympathetic and appealing as a spokesperson.
It's "John Hodgman". No "e" in Hodgman.
He wrote a review to his own book on amazon. Funny guy, good book. Go pick it up. http://www.amazon.com/Areas-My-Expertise-John-Hodgman/dp/0...
his book is amazing the 700 hobo names are really creative.as well as his artical on the mall of america
Funny, I saw another of their ads last night during the Daily Show...just after Hodogojomannyman and I thought, "Hmmm. Shouldn't he have become a DualBoot by now?"
I agree, it's hard not to really like Mr. Hodoggyman...he makes a poor representation of my PC experience. I've thought for a while that the roles should have been reversed.
and, check this too:
http://www.areasofmyexpertise.com/index2.html
Justin Long was in Ed as well. Leave the poor kid alone.
Search NPR.org for the interview with him during All Things Considered. I posted it in the comments here before. It's funny as hell, and hell is very very funny.
We should all just revert to using an abacus again.
Lorne - agnostic? or computer-related ambidextrous-ness? Either way I use them both too.
Final Thought: The Hodge is a funny guy.
Why is this news?
Like em or not, everybody is talking about these ads, and everybody knows what those everybodys are talking about!
Like em or not, everybody is talking about these ads. And everyone else knows what they are talking about!
Come on! At least Justin helped save the universe in Galaxy Quest.
I have used both PC and Mac's since I was in the Graphic Design business and used each for different reasons. The Mac is good for Graphics and thats about it while the PC crosses many different platforms. What confused me though since I'm also a gamer was since the Mac is so good with Graphics then why are most games made for the PC?
That NPR interview was freaking hilarious. I could not stop laughing during the whole thing. Yes, definitely look it up on NPR.org if you missed it. He's got a book out and I think I'll pick it up.
Wasn't the mac guy in Jeepers Creepers, too? That was a fun movie...
He was in "Waiting..." as well. That's what I knew him from, at least.
If you like these ads, here's a fun list of spoof counter-ads:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=9AA8D924F5DB6F29
Best,
Benjamin
Since when are all b-list actors unintelligent? And since when are NYT Magazine editors smart? (though in this case it might be that way).
WTF? What does a paid endorsement have to do with smarts? Or better computer platforms?
Apparently the Mac is so popular people clone the advertising?
I have used OSX since the day it came out (and every Mac OS version before that), and every flavor of Windows since 3.0. I hate to break anyone's balls, but the two operating systems are really not very different. It is sort of like getting into an argument of Ford versus Chevy.
Justin Long is more than a B List Actor, almost everyone I know in college recognizes the name, the face, and remembers something that he is in, hell my own my would recognize his face. Ether way, what kind of article is this, did you not have anything else to do today or what? When I have nothing beter to do, I play a game or call someone, not write dumb articles.
Ford versus Chevy? Only if the Ford (mac) is a GT, and the Chevy (pc) is a freakin Aveo.
You know, I took the plunge and got a MacBook Pro - thinking I could use it for Windows apps and for OSX and the "Mac" experience. I've never owned a Mac, and figured this was my opportunity.
Well, it arrived at my door yesterday (it's a week 34 build), and wouldn't boot up. It turned on, but the screen never showed any signs of life. It's sitting at the Apple store now, waiting to be repaired. Needs a new Logic board.
My first experience with a Mac = not good. Not good at all.
Being an I-wish-I-was-a Mac user and a I-really-am-a Windows user, I took the plunge and got a MacBook Pro, thinking I could have the best of both worlds on one really sweet laptop.
Well, I got it in the mail yesterday (a week 34 build, 15 inch, 2.0 ghz, glossy screen). My heart was pounding. I had a silly grin on my face. I couldn't wait. I hit the shiny silver power button - nothing. I tried all the trouble-shooting - nothing. I took it to the apple store - nothing.
So, now it sits at the apple store, waiting for a new Logic board. I really want to love it, but so far my first ever experience with a Mac = not good. Not good at all. :(
Oh snap!! Duo-post. Sorry bout that.
those ads are quite fun, but they lie a lot.
Macs DO freeze, macs DO get viruses, macs DO need to be rebooted from time to time.
about being ready to work out of the box, hell, a pc is too, its just we are all customization addicts.
The actors? they are both great, im a harcore pc user, and i love the *ucking ads.
Come now, Erzengel. Since when did cults tell you the truth? Shut up and drink your koolaid.
I appreciate the marketing and creativity of the ads, but I agree with Erzengel - they do lie a lot. Very misleading to consumers.
I caught one ep of The Daily Show where John H. was explaining to John. S. about Net Neutrality and John S. kept trying to get John H. to say that he was a PC.
WinduSucks... lol you call me cultist with a nick like that!!!! lol
Thanks for the koolaid, i was thisthy.
My first computer was a PC. As a designer i work in both platforms, and something i can tell you for sure, macs are pretty and shiny, and clients get very impressed when they come and find you working in you new G5, but they dont make me a better designer, and when it comes to 3D stuff, they totally suck. macs are just shiny and pretty overpriced machines for me. At home, all my entertainment and workflow runs on generic PC engine.
Of course, thats just my opinion, based on my experience, everyone is free to like anything. And i repeat, those ads are great, funny as hell, but are a bunch of lies.
host of the daily show's first name is "Jon" btw. Might not seem like a big difference, but john was the guy in the new testament and jon is short for jonathan, and him being jewish, i'm sure you can guess which spelling he'd use.
But truth doesn't sell Macs.
When your products, services, and even hardware are basically the same, and your competitor has 95% of the market and significantly cheaper products, you can't really rely on a side-by-side comparison to gain market share.
"We're cuter!" Just doesn't justify the expense and headache of being in such a vast minority for most users (hence 2.6% market share Apple). So you have to make things up.
I am afraid that these adds will spawn some PC lovers to hammer Apple with some serious viruses, since they are currently wide open. It makes me laught that they are proud of the fact that they don't have anti-virus protection..... just wait..... It will be a bad day for Apple, when all of their users machines go down at the same time.
Yikes
I was a long time Windows user that only used macs in elementary school. I loved PCs and praised them but over time I saw less and less development while Macs got more and more. Eventually I got fed up with the constant maintenance. So I switched and I'm quite happy with the decision. In my 2+ years running Mac OS X I have spent less time on my computer but have been much more productive.
I do think the adverts are far from perfect however and are misleading to an extent; though I think one virus for OS X is not nearly as bad as the multitude found on Windows one in which killed my last PC even with a anti-virus, anti-spyware combo.
To me the ads actually neglect good information like how macs last longer than PC's. The average PC last 1-2 years while Macs last 5-6. For example I have a friend that bought a XP machine when they first came out and now it can barely run XP even with maxed out ram and 2 gigs worth of updates. While on the other-hand Macs from 1998 can still run a current version of OS X comfortably.
Anyway I like Macs for my needs. If you want to do work, surf the web, or do the video/graphics lot Macs are the best. If you want to play games and never touch the internet Windows is perfectly fine and stable but five minutes on a TI line without virus protection and your Windows machine is a paperweight. After all Windows should be called Doors for all of the ones open in the OS. I should mention that Vista might hamper gamers since it will be lowering current Open GL support to version 1.0. Also because of current Open GL development at Apple Gaming might be getting better soon. As of now it's decent. We've got WOW!
I guess the part that someone missed is that the PC guy is supposed to appear more formally educated, even though portrayed as a bit of a doofus. (Remarkably similary to many CPAs, in my experience.) He's not necessarily portrayed as smarter, but with a more formal education.
Am I the only one who gets the "you don't have to be a suit/brain-surgeon/college-grad to use a Mac, but if you've used a PC, you've probably felt that requirement." - Tim
Oh Please! I'm writing this on a windows machine that happens (i guess miraculously) to be running fine and w/o any viruses since I got it. Windows offers the most flexibility for your dollar because there is a far greater selection of hardware and software available (period).
The real issue I have with Apple is their draconian policies applied to the end user of their devices. For example, you cannot change your iPod battery yourself by buying one from another vendor. My wife's iPod's battery is wearing out and it turns out she has to pay 100 bucks to get them to replace it... that's 1/3 the price we paid for the iPod NEW!
(NOTE: I love the UI on the macs and on the iPod... long live students of Donald Norman).
Yeah, they should get these filthy, lying ads off the air.
Now if you'll excuse me, I've taken today's dose of Enzyte, the non-prescription supplement for natural male enhancement, covered myself head to toe in Axe deodorant body spray and I'm off to hit the town.
Mr. Long is about to go from B-List to A-List when he stars in Die Hard 4 (Live Free or Die Hard).
Well, Mr. Long is about to go "upgraded" from a B-List actor to an A-List actor when he stars in Die Hard 4 ("Live Free or Die Hard" ... they shoulda stuck with "Die Hard 4.0" which I like so much better for a title).
The author makes an erroneous assumption that the pc guy is smarter because of his chosen career. This is a clear cut ad hominem attack against Justin ie, you are just an actor in some dumb movies therefore you must not be very smart.
The guy went to a top 15 liberal arts college. I should know, I was there when he was. Not to toot my own horn, but you have to be somewhat intelligent to even get in in the first place.
I personally hate these ads. Sometimes they just out right lie!
The ads are amusing. This article is lame. Who cares what tool someone uses to get a job done? Meh.
If you dig the commericials everyone should check out this little spoof of it: http://tv.truenuff.com/mac/
I find the linux guy to be pretty funny.
Obviously the commercial gives you no information on which to base a decision, no features, benefits or comparative analysis...which is the problem with most ads these days...
I hardly want to be like either of those dudes anyway.It's an anoying commercial...but the MAC guy was pretty good in that movie "WAITING"
John Hodgman is actually on tour promoting his book at the moment!
http://areasofmyexpertise.com/visitations.html
John Hodgman is actually on tour right now promoting The Areas of My Expertise!
http://areasofmyexpertise.com/visitations.html
I've just set up a nice clean and well structured Apple forum - www.reapple.net - and am making changes according to any member suggestions and polls and putting plenty of time into improving the site.
I would love some of you guys to come and talk about this and other Apple related topics to build up the community - whether you're an apple lover or hater!!!
cheers
t
I ran into justin Long at a bar in LA, a few monthes ago. I was a little star struck and took the opportunity to talk to his brother and him for a few minutes and catch a photo with him from my camerphone. I told him that I loved him in the Mac adds and that I had a modest Podcast and ould love to have him on as a guest via phone. He said "sure!....What is a podcast?"
Macs are nice for day to day stuff like surfing the web, looking at photos and putting music on an ipod. Outside of movie editing thats what they do. Why do you people keep saying Macs are good for graphics? Maybe if if was drawing a stupid sunflower but is there any Mac that can compete with a Nvidia 7900 series card(good card/good price)? T