A survey conducted by TechnoMetrica Market Intelligence shows a big jump in consumer interest in Macintosh computers, particularly the desktop models. According to the survey, Apple tied with Hewlett-Packard for the No. 2 brand overall among likely PC buyers in the next six months. Although Dell has started to lose ground, it maintained its No. 1 position with 41% down from 48% in May and 55% in April.

Among those saying it's likely they'll buy a new desktop PC in the next six months, 16% said Apple was the No. 2 preferred brand - the highest number for the company since TechnoMetrica started the survey more than two years ago. Apple's rising popularity has been attributed partly  to the so-called Halo Effect from its iPod music players. "The Apple brand -- thanks to the iPod -- has gotten far more exposure among average consumers, who are thus more likely to consider other Apple products," said the market research agency. Positive word of mouth has also boosted Apple's Macs as well.

PodTropolis, the site that hosts bittorrents for iPod formatted-material in four categories -- TV Shows, Music, Movies and Music Videos, is in danger of bidding us farewell forever. Apparently, the site has been having problems paying up their server bills. In a statement seen in their site:

"Our host has put us on notice. We have been unable to pay it due to the fact that we lost an advertiser and donations have become practically non-existant. If you want to see Podtropolis keep rolling please donate via the sidebar, otherwise we have no choice but to close our doors."

It may be a dog-eat-dog world but I personally find the site very useful and convenient to use. Also, the guys over at PodTropolis would like to clarify that this is not a money-making scheme. They would appreciate cash donations but that would only offer a short-term remedy. What they really need are advertising solutions and dedicated PHP Programmers. So it is up to you if you want to help them out in any possible way that you can, they will surely appreciate this.

   

We have featured the latest Apple ad - the one with the cute and nerdy guy. Apple is widely known as an innovative company who never seems to run out of good ideas, be it for products or for ads. That is why it isn't so surprising that a website was made to comemmorate all those great Mac ads of yesteryear.

Remember those "Where is Newton?" Mac Ads, or that ad where NBA great Kareem Abdul Jabbar was in a coach flight with his PowerBook? Maybe you aren't familiar with that deaf, Oscar-winning actress from "Children of a Lesser God", Marlee Matlin, and her Mac commercial? The other half of the Eurythmics duo, Dave Stewart, also had his share of Mac commercials.

Personally, I find this site (hosted by the Penn State Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, thanks heaps guys) very amusing because I could still remember actually having watched some of these ads. It's as if I'm 9 years old again and I'm watching TV with my Dad while he's getting his everyday dose of CNN or BBC. So go ahead and watch them; it's nice to look back and be nostalgic at times.

Another Mac vs. PC commercial has hit the web. I can't get enough of these (but that could be because that guy from "Waiting" is in them) and this one is just as funny as the last few. Many PC users seem to think these adds are going too far, as reported earlier. The previous videos, which focused on networking and being able to run Windows on a Mac, were hilarious and accurate for the most part. This one has the 'Mac guy' and the 'PC guy' in their boxes, getting ready to start working. Good stuff. Check it out below.

On the right, a hip, rebellious-looking young man in jeans and a T-shirt announces, "Hello, I'm a Mac," while on the left, buttoned-down older man next to him, clad in nerdish-looking glasses and a bad-fitting suit with an ugly tie says, "And I'm a PC..."

This is followed by a discussion on the many advantages of the Apple computer over the PC. Both come to the conclusion that Macs are "better" than PC's.

Being one who winds up using both platforms for different purposes,  I find this particular ad offensive on a number of levels - mainly the stereotype of "stodgy middle-aged men." It is quite apparent that the target demographic is the young urban hipster - which is ironic, since in today's America, a vast majority of the 20-30 age group are struggling for mere economic survival, and are probably not thinking about the purchase of a new Mac - which tend to be far more expensive than a comparable PC - anytime soon.

In any event, every "young hipster" is (barring illness or accident) going to wind up being middle aged at some point. In fact, with a falling birthrate, the U.S. - like Canada - is rapidly going "gray." Within the next fifteen years, persons aged 50 and older will make up a majority of the U.S. population. Apple (and other corporations) would do well not to alienate this particular demographic, who are wielding increasing amounts of economic and political power.

This said, it's actually not bad, as far as the "art" of advertising goes. It doesn't necessarily make me want to rush out and buy a Mac, however. But - perhaps it will do it for you. Check out the ad for yourself at the Apple Website.