OakDragon's Journal: I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC

When I first saw the "I'm a Mac... and I'm a PC" ads (produced by Apple), they got under my skin a little. At the time, I figured that I was the only one, being a curmedgeon-in-training. So I was a little surprised to see so many negative blog entries about those commercials.

The ads aren't exactly back-firing on Apple. I have no idea what the internal data looks like, but there is no outrage among the critics. People just find the ads a little off target, and perhaps a little lame. I think the main reason is that the PC guy is so likeable. People who think of themselves as geeks and nerds actually identify more with him, even if they dress more like the Mac guy.

What could Apple have done better? This is just my opinion - and they probably market-tested the commercials several different ways - but I think they should have made the PC guy a little bit older, a little bit louder, and a little more full of himself. I think this would have reinforced the idea they were trying to convey: PCs are all business, and little else. A PC will tell you what to do, not the other way around.

What do you think?