Re:I don't care for these commercials (Score 1)

I think Slate got it right when it comes to these ads.

Slate got it wrong.

They're kinda funny, but really mean-spirited. They're "Haha...you suck!!"

Why do some people think that it's always about them?

The ads portray two machines talking to each other. It's supposed to be how a PC and a Mac's conversation would go if they were people. The "PC guy" is actually not a guy who uses a PC, instead, think about it as a guy representing a PC.

They also contain alot of stuff that's plain wrong. For instance, Windows runs fine out of the box

I'd say that most of us (if not all) who found it funny recognized the truth in those ads.

Hardware-wise: Try comparing a new PC desktop with an iMac. You'd have at least 2 big boxes for a PC and (depending on the vendor) a separate set of smaller boxes for the mouse and keyboard. iMac comes in one neat box with a handle. (that's not my picture, btw, just found it)

Software-wise: I run an IT shop and the rule of thumb has always been - do not use Windows out of the box.

First thing you do is install anti-virus software, if the PC comes with a bundled AV software then you just download the latest AV patches. It's a guarantee that between the time your PC was packaged in a factory and it was delivered to you, at least one AV patch would have already been released.

Then you remove all those ad-ons from AOL and several other OEM partners. You really don't want those bundled 3rd party OEMs in your desktop, the less "unknown software" you have in your Windows box the less likely you're going to get malware.

Then you download patches for Windows. Then you reboot. If you're lucky, you only have to this download-reboot dance step only once. Average for my staff is 3: download patch-reboot, download patch-reboot, download patch-reboot.

And... if you use MS Office. You'd have to do that download patch thing again.

hmmm... did I forget something?

Oh yeah, In the office, we'd still need to load those drivers for the printers too. At home, I still haven't found the "correct" driver for the USB modem that we use for my son's PC - it still hangs!

Boy, just writing it all down makes me feel tired. Sure, I also run Software Update on a Mac but Apple packages their updates in a lot less intrusive, and less tiring, manner.

As a aside my wife's new MacBook just worked with her HP Laserjet 2550 in the office whereas the rest of her officemates (running Windows) are having a difficult time configuring their machines (and downloading drivers) to make it work with the printer. Surprised me too.