A compilation of Apple's 'I'm a Mac, I'm a PC' ad campaign from 2006 onward.
Why Hacker News points people here: Cited as an example of pointed comparative advertising and for how Apple's claims, such as virus-free and fewer pop-ups, have aged.
“Apple's "I'm a PC" ads are one recent example of pointed negative advertising targeting a specific competitor”HN comment, 2013
Apple's Mac vs PC ads as an example of its marketing.
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Fair enough - I agree that Microsoft has been shifting it's messaging quite a bit - but I think a lot of that has to do with Apple being a functional organization (singular vision directed on downwards) and Microsoft is a Divisional Organization (multiple business lines). Where the single vision is communicated (Windows Everywhere) - it's not always appropriate -(Consumers care about experience, not product lines) Here is the last few years of Apple Ads. o this video (PC Ad) o link (iPod Ad) o link (Genius Ad) They have been hitting their stride recently: o link (iPhone Camera) o link (iPhone Facetime) o link (iPhone Music) Interesting, one of the supposedly "Worst reviewed" ads really spoke to me o link (Designed in California) I hope we see more like the last one. That's the sort of thing that I think a company should aspire to.
Cites it_deliriumNov 2013
“Apple's "I'm a PC" ads are one recent example of pointed negative advertising targeting a specific competitor”
Example of pointed negative advertising against a competitor.
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It didn't use a silly name for their competitor, but Apple's "I'm a PC" ads are one recent example of pointed negative advertising targeting a specific competitor (and using kind of silly stereotyping of "PC users" to do so): this video
Cites ittimmgOct 2025
“There was one that was about all the annoying security pop-ups Windows (used to?) have.”
Ad mocking Windows security pop-ups, now ironic for Mac.
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I wonder if anyone else here is old enough to remember the "I'm a Mac", "And I'm a PC" ads. There was one that was about all the annoying security pop-ups Windows (used to?) have. (FWIW, it starts here: this video .) Lately I've gotten so many of these popups on Mac that it both annoys and amuses the hell out of me. "Die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain", I guess. But, man, Apple hardware still rocks. Can't deny that.
Cites itlatexrOct 2025
Timestamped start of the ad about security pop-ups.
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> I wonder if anyone else here is old enough to remember the "I'm a Mac", "And I'm a PC" ads. Those ads ran from 2006 to 2009. That’s between 16 and 19 years ago. How young do you imagine the typical HN commenter is? > There was one that was about all the annoying security pop-ups Windows (used to?) have. Those have been relentlessly mocked on the Mac for years. I remember a point where several articles were written making that exact comparison. People have been calling it “macOS Vista” since before Apple Silicon was a thing. > WIW, it starts here: this video A bit better quality: link
CriticalbaldfatJun 2017
“The very first I'm Mac I'm PC was 100% about how they are virus free OS.”
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> Apple's perceived superiority on the security front Still one of the biggest lies that Apple ever told. The very first I'm Mac I'm PC was 100% about how they are virus free OS. this video
JokepjmlpJun 2020
“Sounds like a PC to me.”
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> It's not a PC gaming store, it's emphatically a Windows gaming Sounds like a PC to me. this video
