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I'm not really sure I see the point of Apple spending money on promoting Safari for Windows. How would they make their investment back? They may get revenue from the Google search bar, but it can't be enough to make it worth an ad campaign. And I don't think Safari is convincing a bunch of Windows sufferers to switch to the Mac side. It should, but it doesn't.

May 08, 09 - 05:12 pm Comment from: Fred Mertz

@Tony

So, then why is Google advertising Chrome?

For the same reasons Apple should be advertising Safari.

WTF?

A.R.

May 08, 09 - 05:17 pm Comment from: Islandgirl

I've often thought Apple could do ads for many more of its products and devices.

How many more Mac minis could be sold if people saw how nice the mini looks next to the new LED display and how it's a compact but powerful, "green" computer that doesn't consume much power. Ditto for the MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Usually, it's the iMac that's featured in Apple ads and while I realize that's an iconic device, there are others to feature.

Besides that, what about an ad that shows a Mac running Windows and talking about its capabilities, including gaming under Boot Camp? Or an ad showing Macs can run MS Office and work in a business environment?
I know some of those things were touched on in the early Get A Mac ads, but still, it would be nice to promote those strengths in a more direct manner.

I have a friend who told me last year she thought about buying a Mac laptop but "needed to run Office" to be compatible with a Windows office. She was totally surprised when I told her Microsoft Office was originally made for the Mac.

As far as I know, every time someone does a google (or yahoo, or whatever) search from the box in the upper-right, or if they right-click something and "Search in Google," the browser maker gets some of the search engine's ad money.

This markets the google "franchise"/image - I'm not surprised at all that they're doing this.
Sent from Safari from my iPhone

I love Chrome when I have to use Windows. Unfortunately it's better than Safari on Windows, which was my previous choice.

Love it so much I am waiting for Mac version.

I was talking to a sales guy in my local Apple Store the other day about Apple's ads (I think it was a sales guy, I honestly can't keep up with all the different colored shirts they have now). Anyway, he said that Apple wants its stores and word of mouth to be their main advertising machines. It make sense to me. Nothing beats really seeing and holding a MacBook (oh how I wish I could get one of the new MacBooks...)

May 08, 09 - 05:30 pm Comment from: Sir Real B. Czar

Sooo, Google is saying that their Chrome is polished enough to put out?

May 08, 09 - 05:31 pm Comment from: clinicaltechmaster

Strange ad ... I don't get it.

I think Apple's using the right approach, for the most part - they got a lot of attention for the iPhone before they put out any TV ads. The internet changes a lot of how people learn about what products are available, particularly technology products, so traditional TV advertising isn't as important as it once was.

This ad is made for what Japanese consumers enjoy--cutesy, robotic toys. It would get no attention in the American market because it tells you nothing about what the Chrome browser can do that other browsers cannot.

What's so hard to understand?

"Google chrome: Takes away all the bloat and crap. A lean mean browsing machine. Just the essentials."

Brilliant.

Though the soundtrack could use some work.

Maybe they will once it comes out of beta.

HTML 5 will be very big for Safari and Apple - they could show just what you can do, and name drop the Acid Test scores too.

linking Safari on phone to safari on windows - might be not their style. they could link to safari on a mac, and say available for windows too...

May 08, 09 - 06:09 pm Comment from: Jersey_Trader

People will have to already know what it is because the ad doesn't tell you anything about it. People may think it is a game not a browser option.

Is this the same group that did the Microsoft ads?

May 08, 09 - 06:13 pm Comment from: Cubert

So Google is advertising a browser that looks like a Fisher-Price toy with a Winblows frame?

AppleTV, the Mac mini, iLife, iWork, they are ALL inexplicable big secrets that Apple seems determined to neglect in perpetuity. Now we'll get the usual Apple apologists whining "Apple's turning a big profit in a bad economy, so they must be doing everything right!" Bullshit. If there was effective advertising covering ALL of its product lines Apple's sales and market share would increase dramatically. It's money just lying on the table.

May 08, 09 - 06:32 pm Comment from: Road Warrior

Islandgirl, there are a lot of product placement ads on TV and that is great advertising.

JonnyMac is right, Apple wants it to be word of mouth, the ideas of power of the people, empowerment. There are probably a lot of reasons for it, one being that Jobs historically have a great deal of respect for those within the marketing/advertising field.

I believe it is also about values or the "think different idea". Take the "you find it you buy it." promo from Windoze. It is all about the hardware... how much gig of RAM, how big is your hard drive, which is ironic for a company that doesn't make a single desk or laptop PC. That is for the windows people.

For me Macs have been for those who wish elegance and excellence when they are creative with a computer. The tool is to be used as opposed to be maintained.

Windows guy: "Hey I spent the weekend installing a RAM upgrade, a new sound card and tinkering with the system."

Mac guy: "Hey I spent the weekend writing another chapter for my novel on my Mac."

To that end, Apple wants to make money. Sure market share is nice, but not essential. Actually a low market share has an advantage. When I worked for one company I was consistently been promoted for internal hirings. I certainly attributed the MacOS to this. I was able to outcompete others because I was able to put out projects faster and with greater accuracy than the others using the MacOS instead of Windows.

During the process I was laughed at by Window users, but the end result I wanted wasn't social acceptance but a better paying job, and the ability to produce excellence.

So I see having only a small % of people on Macs to be an advantage as it helps me out compete others at the workplace. Along the way, well I helped a few people convert to Macs.

One though I remember bought a Mac and after a few years went back to a PC. He wanted to use the computer as a social device, and play games. That is the value of the PC.

So it's good to have both, but you don't want the majority of the population to be leaders. You need the nuts and bolts as well.

Im with Cubert on this one its not clear how that is going to pry the average viewer away from Explorer for a superior technical and user experience. However the next ad based, I hear, on an etch o sketch could make all the difference in that respect.

So Google Chrome works like a box of blocks? The ad does nothing.

Apple doesn't need to advertise Safari for Windows. People think that if you do a TV ad, you get a flood of business. Not true.

Look at the ad for GE and how it's providing better power solutions by doing something with electrical transmission lines. What a complete waste of money. The consumer has no choice, option, or input on what technology his/her local electric provider uses. A perfect example of someone saying, "Let's do a TV spot!" and getting married to the decision before realizing it was pointless.

May 08, 09 - 07:19 pm Comment from: jjjj

I like Google chrome at work. Not bad. But is this Google's first ever advertisement? I don't think they've spent more than 10c advertising, anything.

Bizlaw,

You have no earthly idea what image advertising is, so please don't waste our time with your "analysis."

http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingglossary/g/imageaddef.htm
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/image-advertising.html

I agree with MDN: Apple has more than enough cash to properly educate the masses about the company's neglected products.

After being supportive of Apple to a default, I've now switched from Safari to Firefox.

Safari 4 is terrible in my opinion, especially the tabs (yea I know about the hack)

Also Apple is just not updating the security issues fast enough.

I surf for pR0ns and need a robust browser that will keep my little Mac safe from the sharks.

I kid you not, a couple of sites have attempted the Safari RSS feed exploit. Luckily I set the default reader to ClamXAV, boy was I surprised.

That made me decide to switch to Firefox because the open source community updates their software much, much, MUCH faster.

Surprised no one's pointed out the Breakout/Steve Jobs connection yet.

The Google 3 color logo..... hate it, looks too much like Micro$hit stuff...

May 08, 09 - 07:49 pm Comment from: LateRegistrant

A Chrome ad without any chrome? Heavens to Betsy.

As my farther used to say, "Well, shit."

May 09, 09 - 04:04 am Comment from: almux

@Islandgirl
Hum, sorry, but the Mac mini looks ugly with its plastic top. It's the worse looking product of all Apple brended ones and Apple should do something about it before making any add showing a Mac mini...

May 09, 09 - 07:07 am Comment from: MacRaven

@almux
As someone with a design degree, I don't think the Mac mini looks ugly at all. It's quite the minimalist shape to appreciate. And Apple's has been all about using the pure, clean look of white for quite awhile now.

However, that said, I think a metal casings always come off more "professional" and high end looking—a look more in line for an upscale product.

Using the example of the MacBook, I think the design case change (white plastic to aluminum) was made as much for goal of changing the public perception of the lower end MacBook as much as it was for recyclability. The white or even black plastic just doesn't cut it for a professional look in a business meeting. Not all professionals need the computing power of the MacBookPro, (and small businesses couldn't afford the Pro) but they didn't want to walk into a client meeting with a school-ish, low end plastic look for their image.

I thought that was one of Apple's smarter moves, making the MacBook look more serious. And though the mini isn't ugly, the same aura might apply to it as the MacBook, people would take it more seriously in an aluminum skin, even a skin of the same shape it has now.

Apple had to produce the white plastic MacBook because the serious metal ones were not cutting it with young women and children.

So choice is a good thing, however I wish they would apply that same choice to matte and glossy screens.

I don't even use my glossy MacBook, it hurts my eyes and gives me headaches.

@ shape

Then I'll give you $50 for it. Seems like such a waste in your hands.

Apple will do no advertising making anything to do with Windows positive. While an ad with Hodgman's PC running Safari could be funny, PC is a lovable loser and Apple isn't about to change that perception.

It's all about the Switch.

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