Retro Tech Tuesday: Sinclair ZX Spectrum

For this week's Retro Tech we go "across the pond" for a look at was, at the time, "Britain's Best Selling Computer:" The Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

While not quite the same as Apple's 1984 ad, there's something about the mechanical feel of this ad, and the lack of narration, that makes it compelling. Maybe one of our UK viewers can add some color as to what it was like to actually use the ZX Spectrum. In the meantime, you can learn more about Sinclair here.

Retro Tech Tuesday: Commodore 64 for the Baby!!!

Sure, the Commodore 64 was once the, dare I say it, Mac of its time. But just who should get a Commodore 64? That was the question in this ad. If they'd only stayed around a little longer, maybe they would've added a wireless keyboard for fetuses:

Retro Tech Tuesday: Hey Ladies!

The geeks might be rising again, but if this ad is any indication, the geeks used to rule back in the day as well. Oddly, I can't find any confirmation that was the case. I can tell you that this is exactly what happens when the guys of TDL walk into a Starbucks wit a MacBook Pro. The exact. Same. Thing.

Image: TechEBlog

Is It Time To Say Goodbye to 'Mac and PC' ?

Over the weekend a new Mac and PC ad was released, (see below.) and I have to say, it might be time for these two buddies to move on.

The ads have been clever in gently poking fun at the PC, while showing the virtues and accolades of the Mac. You've go to wonder though, is it simply preaching to the choir at this point. If you were a PC user, and you'd seen these ads for over three years, would you suddenly wake up, ready to by a Mac, or would you feel badgered and belittled by this point?

Just to be clear, I personally enjoy the ads, even if they've lost their LOL appeal through the years. They've still found a sweet spot in which to highlight the Mac, while downplaying the PC points, and have done it with class not seen in the Microsoft Seinfeld ads, the short-lived "I'm a pc" campaign, or the "Laptop Hunters" spots running now.

I always felt the switcher ads were under-used, and maybe in retrospect, came a little earlier than they should've. Maybe it's time to see real-world people switching and talking about the experience again. Or maybe it's time to go in a whole new direction.

Given the popularity of the iPhone/iPod, and the Apple ecosystem overall, maybe it's time for something like the "Think Different" campaign: now that so many more people own an Apple product, perhaps it's time to get them to realize they'll love the same things about their Mac that they love about the iPhone or iPod. Let's see an Apple brand, feel good, kind of campaign. Hedge the bets and keep the "Get a Mac" ads around for awhile to answer whatever ridiculousness the next Microsoft spot holds.

Should've Hired Newman

Well that didn't take long. According to a post over at Valleywag, Microsoft is pulling the plug on those awful Seinfeld/Gates commercials. You'd have thought old, rich and out of touch white dudes, pitching a company everyone hates was a can't miss.