Flat Out Computing
A Comparison between Surface and iPad Ads
Edison vs. Tesla. Colt vs. Wesson. Sarnoff v.s Farnsworth. Throughout modern history, rivalry and the race for dominance have plagued the ever-accelerating world of technology. In the early 1900s bicycle shop owners Orville and Wilber Wright battled with Glenn Curtiss, a motorcycle engineer, in pioneering powered flight. Later, in the middle of the same century, the United States and the Soviet Union stood nose-to-nose as they wrestled to prove each other’s superiority in outer space exploration. This century brings a new challenge for technology makers to fight about: Information, and particularly, the way in which consumers consume it. Computer giants, Microsoft and Apple have been at each other’s throats since the 1980s, and to this day the two companies still can’t get along like mature adults, but they continue to compete by inventing better and faster ways for people around the world to work, learn and play. As we will see, their competitive advertising says volumes about the personalities of the companies and the audiences for which they strive, and we’ll excavate this by comparing two very different ads for two very similar products, the Microsoft Surface Tablet and the Apple iPad. When it comes down to pure, objective logic, I found the dry security of the Microsoft ad most effective as a sales piece, compared to the vague and emotional iPad spot, because it has the most complete and abundant product
The “American Dream” has changed form dramatically since the term was first coined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams. By definition, it refers to the goal of the American people to pursue their own individual dreams with independence. However, considering the increased amounts of advertising in recent years due to the advancement of technology, are Americans actually making their own, uninfluenced decisions about the products they are purchasing? Kalle Lasn, the founder of the anticorporate AdBusters Media Foundation, would likely disagree. As the founder of this organization, the Estonian author’s goal is to inform average consumers about the hidden grime in advertising that they may not be aware of, such as discrimination and logical fallacies.
In today’s competitive market, companies rely on unique advertising slogans to market their product. Company slogans and trademarks have increased in popularity over the years. However, it sometimes becomes a challenging task to determine who has the right to a certain phrase. Such is the case evident in the exchange of letters between Mr. Herbert of Coca-Cola company and Mr. Seaver of Grove Press. Apparently, both companies utilize the slogan, “It’s the Real Thing,” to advertise their products causing a conflict regarding who has the rights to that slogan. Although Mr. Herbert of Coca-Cola delivered a professional and respectful sound and cordial argument using historical data, ethos, and logos to describe his points concerning the dual use of the slogan, Mr. Seaver thoroughly refuted his letter piece by piece in an ironic, sarcastic, and clever
This paper will examine a particular Apple ad that appeared on television in 1984. The Macintosh was and still is very popular computer that provides a simplistic feel of creativeness and freedom. Freedom is a key concept because the ad expresses the need to have a sense of freedom to do what we want with no restrictions. Apple is well-known all over the world for the sex appeal to its products, like the iPhone, iPad, and the Macintosh series. These products present a color of either silver, slate, or gold that is very appealing to our eyes. And with such unique colors, Apple manages to make the colors of their products to fit in with its surroundings. Although Apple still has to compete against
The commercial is of two leading men, one acting as a Mac (an Apple product) and another man acting as a PC (a Microsoft product). Microsoft is the leading competitor in computers against Apple. The two men, Mac, and PC are trying to sell themselves to a potential buyer, Megan. Megan lists all her desires and needs in a computer with “no viruses, no headaches, and a fast processor”. Behind the leading man acting as a PC, there are about ten men also acting as a PC. As Megan listed her desires, more PCs left until there were none, allowing Mac to “rise above the crowds and bask alone in the glory” as Megan chose to buy a Mac (Solomon 167). This continues to show the versatility of Apple computers and how Mac eliminates the competition by satisfying all the potential buyer’s requirements. This is also a slight form of bandwagon as Megan decides to choose a Mac instead of a PC. At first glance, the commercial appeals to egalitarianism as PC and Mac act as a form of camaraderie and equal playing ground to get Megan, the buyer. When in reality, Mac is dishonest as he becomes competitively elitist and decides to “rise above the crowd and bask alone in the glory” by “winning” Megan as a potential customer (Solomon 167). The paradox of the American Dream that everyone is given an equal opportunity to rise to success, however, there are suspicions that people. Solomon analysis of Woody Guthrie’s anthem “This land is your land and this land is my land” is applicable to Apple (167). Apple “increases the “my” which would be his customers, at the expense of the “your”, PC’s customers. Apple’s dishonesty allows PC to make a fool of himself thus losing the competition and giving up customer while Mac just easily gains from PCs
“Introducing the lasted, newly improved widget… anyone whose anyone has one… it is a must have!” These words sound familiar? This is due in part, because advertising today has taken such extreme measures to persuade the American public; materialism has become the most prominent and universal mentality. The need to have the newest and best has become an instilled characteristic of the average citizen. How, you may wonder, has the advertising industry become such a powerful entity? The answer is that propaganda has always played a vital role in society; this is not a new concept. Throughout history propaganda/advertising has been to entice, elude, and manipulate people.
The average United States Citizen views about 5000 advertisements a day (Johnson). Advertising is everywhere. Billboards on the way to work, ads on the internet, and paper products such as magazines or newspapers display a sale or a promotion of a good or service. Usually, the ad will give a brand or company name, and uses the product’s merits to draw the consumer closer. This has grown exponentially as advertisements in media in 1970 were estimated to be 500 a day, a ten percent increase in the last 48 years. (Johnson). This is due to the rise of technology, as the computer has become a household gadget within the new millenium. These advertisements are meant to give a synopsis of the product or service’s purpose, quality, and efficiency. If a consumer views 5000 advertisements in a single day and assuming the commercials do not repeat, 5000 goods or services are introduced. With more options to choose from in such little time, the consumer has a harder time differentiating the quality and perhaps necessity of the product. The marketers rely on the quick, impulsive decision making of consumers. With the misleading nature of many infomercials or radio broadcasts, the people of American society are bombarded with constant propaganda, thus making seemingly harmless promotions more potent to filling industries’ pockets and lessening the common population’s
In today’s society there are a plethora of ideas about advertisement. What would it take to meet societies want’s with the increase in advertising of new technology? In regards to four articles: “What’s Changed” by , Jane Hammerslough, “Urban Warfare” by, Kate MacArthur & Hilary Chura, “The Age of Reason” by, Kenneth Hein, “The Buzz on Buzz” by, Renee Dye. These four authors describe the many different angles that can be approached by advertisement. They have also shown some great aspects of the new uprising development of advertising technology in modern American society.
In a world of technology, many people wonder if we are no longer smarter than the technology we built. Many of these questions stem from the fact, that the applications we use tend to become infested with advertisements. Are these advertisements geared towards our usage of the device? Or are they controlled by random acts of technology? It seems as though people believe advertisements come from the device recognizing our activities. There are many problems that stem from these questions. Firstly, I believe my identity is something no one truly knows but myself, let alone a piece of machinery. In succession, there are also different ways that advertisements see me. However, there may also be some similarities betwixt the two.
In this documentary, PBS uncovers the evolution of marketing. Marketing has moved from targeting large groups, to targeting individuals and smaller segments. With so many messages being transmitted through the media, the line between what is being absorbed and what is not has become blurred. Getting through the clutter is difficult. Every thing is done to break through the clutter. Therefore, marketers need to market to only those who really want to hear the message, and to get those people that hear that message, to have an emotional response to it.
Over the last few decades, American culture has been forever changed by the huge amount of advertisement the people are subjected to. Advertising has become such an integral part of society, many people will choose whether or not they want to buy a product based only on their familiarity with it rather than the product’s price or effectiveness. Do to that fact, companies must provide the very best and most convincing advertisements as possible. Those companies have, in fact, done
Have you ever thought about the differences and similarities in iPad and Surface? Here’s why you should. They are the two best in what they do, but they are very different in many ways and also very similar in many ways. I have a Surface, and also I have used an iPad many times. I love both of them. Your decision depends on what you want to use it for. For example, Surface is good for college and office work because it has Windows 8 and also has Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Excel, and other programs. IPad is good for kids and people who like to take photos, listen to music, and do lots of fun activities with it. They both are nice, and you can keep them next to you, and they are nice and small but not too small. This essay will compare and contrast Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and IPad Air.
On December 31st of 1983 an eccentric commercial was introduced, challenging other companies and awaking people all over the country. It has been more than 30 years and people are still talking about Apple’s first Macintosh commercial. Companies use commercials to show the audience that their products are worth buying like Apple did in its first Macintosh commercial. By using themes from George Orwell’s 1984, Apple was able to speak volumes about its product without showing or describing it. Apple visualizes its self as the hero that will save the world and people believed it. Most of us now own an Apple brand. This advertisement is an effective ad because it contains a valuable message that was provided to the viewer by using contrasting visuals and it is about awakening the people and breaking the chains of similarity and loving to be different. Yet, it is ironic because Apple has become one of the most controlling companies in our society.
In modern society, electronics are used on a daily basis. Virtually everyone has a smartphone that they carry with them at all times, and most individuals have a personal computer for home use. In this electronic age, it is primarily two companies that are competing over the market share in order to be recognized as the best performing tech company: Apple Incorporated and Microsoft Corporation. Most individuals, when asked, have strong preferences towards either Apple or Microsoft products
Apple has always been something of a trendsetter in the tech space. Its product history since Steve Jobs’s return in 1997 gives us a solid list of examples to choose from, from its very first iPod, to Apple’s PowerBook (and later MacBook) lines, to the iPhone and the iPad. Apple’s history is dominated by products that existed before Apple had a crack at them - but it was Apple who simplified them, made them appealing on a much wider scale, and ultimately made them objects of desire for the masses.
“Advertising is far from impotent or harmless; it is not a mere mirror image. Its power is real, and on the brink of a great increase. Not the power to brainwash overnight, but the power to create subtle and