Mac vs PC
“A Mac is as good as it looks,” and “More fun. Less Baggage.” Are two very simply put sentences but also say volumes about the products they represent at the same time. These days advertisements are quick and to the point to keep up with our fast moving and low attention-spanned society. In usually around ten to thirty words an advertiser will try to catch it’s readers attention and get their point across while at the same time reaching the intended demographic their product is intended for. These two products, and MacBook and a Dell Inspiron Mini 9, are similar in that they are both laptops, but vastly different in the way they are portrayed. The purpose of both these ads are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Mac has a reputation for making the best computers around. Many people know that Macs are significantly more pricy then their Dell counterpoints, therefor they don’t list the price of the product. They just tell you why it’s better computer. “Strong, beautiful materials, comes with the latest technology, powerful processors, advanced graphics, fast memory,” and so on. On the other hand, the purpose of the Dell ad is to show customers that their computers are greatly cheaper, but they are still fast, work well, and have comparable components. The purpose of their ad is to show you the outstandingly low price and a list of the specifications to let you know even though it’s cheap, it’s still good. Flowers 2
Audience and demographics are huge parts of creating an ad. Who the advertiser is trying to reach will have a large effect of what items and pictures are placed in the ad along with the text that is used to reach it’s reader. MacBook is well known for making the best products in the business, so their target market is people with more money to spend and those looking for the best and highest end products. There is no need for them to list the price of their laptop, because anyone buying one is aware they run upwards of a thousand dollars. Instead, they focus on why it’s a better laptop. “It has features you won’t find on a PC. From the outside in, a Mac is designed to be a better computer.” This text, paired along with the elegant and sleek look of the MacBook in the middle of the ad, show the reader that if you want the best, you should buy a Mac.
Now the Dell is aimed at your working class, on the go person. These people can’t afford to spend a thousand dollars on a computer but still want some thing that works well, so next to the low price of $349 in bold, they list some of the major specifications. This says even though it’s a low price, you can still have quality. The coffee to the right of the computer is a great visual to show working people and students on the go that this laptop is perfect for them, and at only 2.3 pounds, it’s lightweight enough to throw in your satchel or backpack while you’re running around town.
Both ads are well made and get their points across nicely. The MacBook screams exquisiteness, sophistication, and style, while the Dell says, I’ll give you performance and modesty for a fair and reasonable price. I personally have owned a PC and a Mac and find Mac to be far superior. Overall they seem to have better operating systems and virus protection and are extremely user friendly. I went through two Dells in two years, and now my family and me have had Macs for four years with virtually no problems. So is a Mac
Flowers 3 worth the extra money? I would argue so. But with competitive prices and such a massive control over the market, I’m sure PCs will always have their place in the computer world.