What advertising gimmick will Apple use to sell the G5?

[quote]Originally posted by cdhostage:
<strong>Topic: What advertising gimmick will Apple use to sell the G5? </strong><hr></blockquote>Calling it a G5.

"Today the NASA computing power finally comes to your desk near you. Introducing the new PowerMac G5 from Apple"

Do you like it? :D

I just hope they release them soon. My sister wanted an iPod for Christmas until I informed her that it wouldn't work with our family Beige G3. She told my dad and he said we might just have to get a new computer...

*crosses fingers*

[quote]Originally posted by SDW2001:
<strong>

"You Mac--it owns your bitch ass."

--I"M SOLD!</strong><hr></blockquote>

:)

As long as the words "gigaflop" and "myth" aren't used on a regular basis, I don't care what the gimmick will be. I tend to agree that at this point, using the moniker "G5" will be all the gimmick Apple needs to sell a boat-load of them. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />

Here we go.

Introducing the PowerMac G5, all for the low low price of YOUR SOUL......buhahahahahahahhahahahaha

Here's how Apple should start to aggressively market themselves and their products.

First of all, they should get rid of spinning computers and white virgin backgrounds. That's old hat. It's nice in a perfect world, but it's kind of blah for those who don't give a damn about Apple. You need to get people's attention.

The way to get people's attention is to be "In your face about Apple." Have some rock music from a contemporary rock band with the moniker, "How fast is the Apple PowerMac G5?" And have some really insane and trippy fast video -- whether its abstract or sped up video -- it doesn't matter. Come in with stats and the power points. "The new PowerMac G5 is twice as fast as the 2Ghz Pentium 4." Then you have to pump up where to get the product. I would suspect that direct marketing la Dell would work here. "Go to <a href="http://www.apple.com" target="_blank">www.apple.com</a> and get your hands on the planets fastest computer."

And there also has to be a strategy to debunk some misnomers about their product. They need show the common compatibility the files have with Mac. A good situational spot would emphasize this.

Joe: "Hey Bob, looking for a new computer?"

Bob: "Yeah. Check this out. I'm thinking one of these!"

Joe: "A PowerMac G5...Apple? I thought Apple was dead."

Bob: "Oh, no way, dude! This thing has a G5 processor. Even the low-end model is twice as fast as that 2GHz Pentium 4."

Joe: "Yeah, that's great...but it's a Mac...there's hardly any software to run on it, and the files and stuff aren't compatible with anything else."

Bob: "No, the Mac is quite compatible with everything else. And there are tons of software titles for the Mac...probably just as many as for your Windows machine over there!"

Joe: "Really?"

Bob: "Yeah, look? This running Quake III, and over here, Microsoft Office X for OS X. Now, tell me something! Doesn't Office on the Mac look better than it does on the PC?"

Joe: "Geez, yeah you're right....Wow, look at how sharp those icons are."

Bob: "That's the Power of OS X. Apple's new operating system."

Joe: "So you think a Mac is better?"

Bob: "Without a doubt, dude!"

Voice Over: "The Apple PowerMac G5...the best damn computer on the planet!"

Whatever the case may be ...a different attempt to market their products is needed.

"Apple's new powermac G5, this time it's scalable!"

:p

Apple should hire Dave Hagan...he obviously gets it.

The current style of Apple's marketing/advertising only gives us current owners/users the warm fuzzies. The average PC or non-user doesn't get ANYTHING from them. They're simply preaching to the choir.

I like everything Dave said above.

Yes, you're totally right.

There are WAY too many people walking around out there with entirely the wrong idea about Apple and Macs swimming through their heads.

Hey, they may NOT be for everyone, but how are they going to know if Apple doesn't do a better job or touting their stuff?

At the very least, the lame and inaccurate myths about the Mac could be tackled and halfway debunked.

Does Apple realize how many people out there AREN'T buying Macs because of the whole "well, my mom's boss' son's girlfriend said Macs don't have software..." or how many people only see the curvy, colored plastic of the iMacs and iBooks and automatically assume - wrongly - that they're somehow not "real" computers.

These are real and valid concerns/issues, and in almost three years, I've seen Apple do NOTHING to change or confront this stuff.

It's as if vague commercials with spinning products on a white background, that idiot Goldblum acting all spazzy and an awful set of recent ads with a brat on an airplane and a geek getting WAY too excited about his iPod is actually going any good or making any headway.

Hell, we, the Apple faithful and loyal supporters, think their marketing and ads are shit. What do you think the average PC user or complete novice/newbie must think?

:rolleyes:

Insane. I've had better ideas for Apple's marketing while clipping my fingernails than they've gotten in three years from Chiat/Day.

Something's gotta give, otherwise that whole "we're gonna increase our marketshare with OS X, these new stores and cool-ass hardware!" bullcrap is just a silly pipedream and a wasted goal to shoot for.

[quote]Originally posted by pscates:
<strong>And, oh yeah:

WHY IN THE HELL is Apple not producing and selling Apple-branded items, via their website and (especially) their retail stores?</strong><hr></blockquote>
It is a tad remiss, especially because you can get this kind of merchandise from the store at Cupertino.

I like the part about "come get some" by TigerWoods99, and I'll accept anything so long as Jeff Goldblum doesn't say it. If that guy says one more word in an Apple commercial....well....there's gonna be trouble. That's all I'm saying.

I always see Apple ads in TIME. The last one has about 3 iPod ads. One in the front one on the back page and I think one inside there somewhere.

[ 11-23-2001: Message edited by: TigerWoods99 ]</p>

[quote] I like everything Dave said above. <hr></blockquote>

Okay, who is the guy using pscates' old member name??

Um, Dave's ideas are about as engaging as that annoying adolescent 'spokes-dude' fronting for Dell these days (nothin' personal, Dave). Is that really what you want from Apple?

And as for merchandising, I for one have always been kind of glad that Apple is so interested protecting its brand name. It gives the brand a little dignity in this "Harry Potter-Handsoap(tm)" and "N'Sync-Nightlite(tm)" world.

And okay, so your are the real pscates...what has you so angry since these boards went down?

[quote]Originally posted by Michael Grey:
<strong>Um, Dave's ideas are about as engaging as that annoying adolescent 'spokes-dude' fronting for Dell these days (nothin' personal, Dave). Is that really what you want from Apple?
</strong><hr></blockquote>No offense taken, but that is what seems to be working. Dell is the only other computer maker actually doing well in these tough times. Imagine if Apple tried! <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />

Oh, okay...I remember you! Thanks! I was trying so hard to remember back to the old AI and Michael Gray just didn't ring any bells at all. I was wondering who you were.

I don't think advertising and good taste cancel each other out. I don't ever think Apple would embark on a campaign of local car dealer quality.

But just a tighter, more focused and higher-in-frequency effort might be called for.

It just seems odd that a company (and I've said this half a gazillion times over the past year or two) with such amazing products, both hardware AND software, seems to be so unconcerned with getting the word out.

I'd like to see Apple produce some commercials NOT geared toward us, the already "indoctrinated".

How many people who are not Mac users know about AirPort and how cool it could be, especially in a multi-Mac household?

And OS X? For this to be the biggest news and "next generation operating system", they sure don't seem to be moving fast to trumpet it to the masses.

I only get upset and frustrated because Apple states goals like "increasing marketshare" with these new stores.

But honestly, if people don't KNOW about these new stores...

All these grand openings lately...the only people standing in line and showing up for the big day are Mac users and fans.

Some guy with a Compaq isn't going to wake up at 4am to go stand in line. He probably won't even go there period if he doesn't even know one exists!

Don't get me wrong: I too like a classy, less-is-more, understated approach to marketing and advertising. And in Apple's case, the products could (and should) speak for themselves. But Apple HAS to do a little on THEIR end to ensure that the average Joe out there is indeed aware of what they have to offer.

Sitting outside the Glendale Apple store a few months ago, waiting on a buddy to finish a big transaction, SO many people walked by, glanced over and just kept on walking: young, old, male, female, couples, families, black, white, Asian, Latino, etc.

Honestly, I saw maybe two or three people look over, stop in their tracks and head over, just to see what it was. One of them didn't even finish and make it inside the store. It was as if they said "Macs? Nahhhh...what good are they to me?" and just kept on walking.

The other? They went in and seemed halfway impressed by the stuff (although, I'm sure before it was over the price tags deflated some of that newfound interest...).

I don't know. I'm not a marketing genius. And by all appearances, neither is Apple.

:p

Regarding my other post about Apple-branded merchandise, Apple's stance here is almost unforgiveable. As Belle said, they're already doing this in Cupertino, at the headquarters store.

So does that mean only people from Cupertino are cool enough or worthy to get this stuff?

To me, this is a total no-brainer. If Apple is doing it at their company store, what possible reason could they have for not doing it at their very own retail stores? Do they not realize people would not love to show the world their allegiance and loyalty to their computing platform of choice?

And don't forget the extra revenue. Sure, it takes a bunch of T-shirts and coffee mugs to equal a dual processor G4 and a Cinema Display, but is that reason enough NOT to do it?

No.

Every little bit helps...and the free advertising and exposure probably couldn't be measured in dollars.

Look at it like this: all these loyal, borderline fanatical Apple fans/users who show up for these grand openings and who frequent these stores on a semi-regular basis. That's got to easily equal THOUSANDS of walking billboards throughout the country.

The four times I've been to Glendale, I would've been more than happy to drop $25-100 EACH TIME for a cool shirt, hat, mousepad, mug, etc. and I know I'm not the only one.

Hell, I could even imagine that on slow days, sales of stuff like this might make up for a computer not being sold. It would almost be a guaranteed cash cow!

And I just don't know why they don't do it.

And I'm not talking about that rainbow logo overpriced bullcrap at redlightrunner.com. I'm talking Jobs-era, current aquified iGoodies!

:D

Apple needs to realize they have a following and a user base like no other computer/tech company. I don't think there's this huge clamor for people to buy Compaq baseball hats or Gateway or Microsoft T-shirts or keychains.

But Apple? It's a whole different ballgame. I don't have (nor do I want) any Sony, JVC, Aiwa, Iomega or Gibson clothing or trinkets, even though I own and love their stuff.

But if I could buy a cool Apple T-shirt or ballcap or keychain or whatever, man I'd wear it and use them every chance I got.

That white little logo decal on the back of my car just isn't enough anymore!

:D

[quote]Originally posted by Belle:
<strong>How about a movie tie-in? The Nokia deal on The Matrix sold millions of the 7100 series around the world, even though it was the most awful, buggy phone.

Apple should get Jonathan Ive to knock up a few concept machines, sticking a huge Apple logo on each, then place them in Matrix 2, and get Keanu to do a few TV ads.</strong><hr></blockquote>

and I suppose the less said about 'Mission Impossible' the better eh! (Powerbook tie in)
<a href="http://www.cupertino.de/pages/filme/mov_11/mi.html" target="_blank">http://www.cupertino.de/data/movie/movie_picts/11_8.jpg</a>

[ 11-24-2001: Message edited by: Mediaman ]</p>

Actually, during the past six months or so, I'm seeing Macs EVERYWHERE on TV!

Sitcoms, dramas, infommercials, documentaries, E!, VH-1, MTV, etc.

That new show with Keifer Sutherland on Fox had a TON of them in it, logo displayed nicely and all. As did an episode I saw last week of "Absolutely Fabulous": Cube, Blue Dalmation iMac, Studio Displays, etc.

It's because they look so cool, I guess. If I worked as a set decorator or production designer and had to outfit a set with a computer(s) and it was up to me as to what kind, well...

Why wouldn't I?

Square beige box vs. shapely translucent statement?

Hmmm...

couple of things.

first, apple is going to get a break here with their upcoming G5. Intel's new chip is having issues scaling up to high Mhz's, it's not like the crappy P4 with the excess pipelines. Of course, it's actually a good chip, so maybe no more Photoshop tests.

However, Intel will likely be spending some big money making people realize that Mhz aren't everything, and undo all the previous work they've done to make everything think Mhz are everything.

second, apple really should be pushing the fact that OSX is a stable, Unix based OS. This isn't some gradeschool computer running a gradeschool OS. this is the real deal. at the same time, it's still easy to use. go figure. Apple finally has the best of both world's, they should promote that.

as for the G5, the chip isn't the issue. Apple made it big back when they were the cheapest destop publishing setup out there. they need to find something like that again and work as far as possible. it could be DVD authoring, it could be CD authoring, music creating etc.

also, people are finally getting a bit scared of the all the personal information/privacy invasion issues. promote the fact that you don't have to sign up for this passport crap, or fill out a billion registration forms and serial keys to use the MacOS.

also, work on the virus/security side of things. macs are way more secure that pc's. use it.

just a few ideas.

-alcimedes

[quote]Originally posted by jeffyboy:
<strong>My ad idea-

A guy walks into an office setting carrying a Tibook. Several people in a friendly, kidding way say things that point out he's the office's only Mac guy.

After he settles in we see shots of him just blowing the day doing things that people assume Macs can't do, especially involving PC users in the office. Off the top of my head, I see him writing a love letter to his girlfriend in Word, instant messaging with someone in the office who he can see, killing his next door neighbor in an online game (Diablo II or whatever), using the office printer for some stupid purpose-just anything people assume Macs have compatability issues with.

Then, at the end of the day, his blowhard boss comes up and tells him he's the only guy he trusts to get anything done because everyone else "Just goofs around with each other on their computers."

It's not perfect, but I think Apple needs an ad just devoted to dispelling the "Compatability Myth."

Jeff</strong><hr></blockquote>

Very much and true heartedly agree. I for one, wish Apple would have ads that dispell the "Macs are for graphics" myth and show that the average Joe can use a Mac for everything that his PC neighbors can do.

[quote]Heh, maybe so, but the film did reasonably well at the box office, the TV ads were all over the place, the PowerBook featured in all the trailers, and despite the rest of the movie, those sleek black computers looked great.<hr></blockquote>

And due to production and product problems it was impossible to find a Powerbook when the movie came out. Gil Amelio's book covers this disaster quite well.

The TiBook commercial would be great!!!! Please, Apple, please!!!!
And of course mo' product placement on the screen and at the movies. But not the way I saw it some days ago in a tv-movie. a young guy worked on a pismo, but with a fake windows like OS. (Grrrrr....!!!)
BTW Bring back the dogcow!!! Mouff!!! And Apple stores in Europe!!!

Some of you should cut Apple a little slack in the marketing department. Could they kick harder? Sure (I'm still waiting for the OS X blitz), but have you checked the competition? The XP commercials are just plain bad, and the the talking cow? Dell's stuff leaves a bit of an impression if only because the surfer dude's so annoying...

My point: For a company that's lagging in the hardware race and is just getting back into the OS game, there hasn't been that much to go for the throat about. You'll see more toasted bunnys and pentium snails when Apple can back it up with a somewhat straight face.