So, according to Radar Online the "Mac guy", aka Justin Long, is not returning for the next batch of Mac ads. Why? Well if you ask Slate, it's because he's a smug little twit.
Perhaps for striking people as a "smug little twit," in the words of Seth Stevenson, ad critic for Slate. Long, he adds, is "just the sort of unshaven, hoodie-wearing, hands-in-pockets hipster we've always imagined when picturing a Mac enthusiast.... It's like Apple is parodying its own image while also cementing it." Of the polymathic Hodgman, who has drawn acclaim for his work on The Daily Show and NPR's This American Life as well as his book, The Areas of My Expertise, Stevenson writes, "Even as he plays the chump in these Apple spots, his humor and likability are evident."
As much as I like to laugh at the PC guy played by John Hodgman - that Mac guy still wins. I never found him smug or annoying in the least. But then again, the only hardware I run is either a mac or something I put together which has a nice fast Athlon in it. Full disclosure, our server now has xeons which is Intel, but this still doesn't mean I'm using anything from Microsoft, ever. How's that for a smug mac user? If I could grow a beard I'd be the smug *nix user you love to hate.
Here's a little trip down memory lane of Mac vs PC commercials for you in the commercial archive, inside are links to the ads so far in reverse chronological order. Which one is your favorite?
Apple Mac - Holiday I'm a mac animation - (2007) :30 (USA)
Apple - Mac vs PC - Now What (2007) 0:30 (USA)
Apple - Mac vs PC - Misprint (2007) 0:30 (USA)
Apple - Mac & PC - Vista Security (2007) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Sabotage (2007) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Surgery (2007) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Tech Support (2007) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Sales Pitch (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Meant For Work (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Gift Exchange (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Counselor (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Better Results (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Self Pity (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Accident (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Trust Mac (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Angel / Devil (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Out of the Box (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - PC / Mac - Work vs. Home (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - Mac vs PC - Sales Pitch (2006) 0:30 (USA)
Apple - Mac vs PC - Meant for Work (2006) 0:30 (USA)
Apple - Mac vs PC - Gift Exchange (2006) 0:30 (USA)
Apple - Mac and PC - WSJ (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - Mac and PC - Virus (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - Mac and PC - Restarting (2006) :30 (USA)
Apple - Mac and PC - Network (2006) :30 (USA)
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According to an update in the article you're referring to, Long is going to feature in a few more Apple ads that are going to be released soon.
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PermalinkIt said that when I read the article too. By "next batch" I meant "The ones not shot yet". Seems it would be a good time to retire the campaign concept alltogether when they lost of half of what made the concept though.
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PermalinkHey! I make most of my money from Microsoft products. ;->
Now that Justin has starred with Bruce Willis ("Live Free or Die Hard"), and is shagging Drew Barrymore, I don't think that he's worried about being pushed out of the Mac ads. (I remember him when he played a high school student [Warren] on "Ed").
:-)
He's also the voice of Alvin in the movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks".
According to IMDb, he had 3 movies in post-production, 2 filming, and one more in pre-production.
Once again, he's not hurting.
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PermalinkJesus christ. How much do I hate really small dates in posts? oh let me see here.. A LOT. I only just spotted that the article I link to is posted - wait for it - By Jeff Bercovici 11/08/06. WHAT!?? It came up in fresh google searches for ad news. Grrr.
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