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Lenovo Ad Spoofs (Blasts) MacBook Air

Lenovo Ad Spoofs (Blasts) MacBook Air

by , 2:15 PM EDT, May 2nd, 2008

The Apple MacBook Air TV ad, with the computer being pulled out of an inter-office mailing envelope, is famous. So famous, that Lenovo has spoofed the very same ad to promote its Thinkpad X300 notebook computer. The ad's angle is that it'll take a boatload of wires and devices to equal all the stuff that's built into the Lenovo Thinkpad.

The only problem with Lenovo's idea is that users are loving their MacBook Air and dispensing with all the extra ... stuff. Even so, the Lenovo ad makes its point with some sharp humor.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:vasic Posts: 279 Joined: 09 Aug 2005
Subject: Amusing, to be sure

Most likely, thousands of Windows YouTube viewers (as of this writing, upwards of 800) will love this ad and try rubbing it in vigorously. As we all know, it won't change the fact that the Air remains wildly popular, and there is a good reason. As Mr. Martellaro said, people are dispensing with all the extra (sh... cr...) ...stuff.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: I Have Macs - I Thought this was Funny

I like macs and own a couple plus 3 iPods and I thought the video was kind of funny. Why do some Mac owners get so defensive about this stuff? We poke fun at Windows... let them have their fun too.

Close Name:algr Posts: 296 Joined: 07 Aug 2003
Subject: Except that the Air isn't Apple's only laptop.

This would be a good argument if the Macbook Air was Apple's only laptop, but of course it isn't and and never will be. The Lenovo looks bigger then a regular MacBook.

Apple users can choose to build all that stuff in, keep it separate, or leave it behind. PCs must take it whether they want it or not.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: One thing the Stinkpad doesn't have ...

... is Mac OS X.

Close Name:davebarnes Posts: 130 Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Subject: Will help sell AirBooks

Diehard Windows users will see the ad and say: "See, I told you so" and then [maybe] buy a Lenovo. They would never buy an AirBook anyway.
Diehard Mac users will [maybe] buy an AirBook.
Fence sitters will be intrigued by the small "envelope" of the AirBook and consider buying it.
Apple wins.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Very amusing and clever, but...

Very amusing and clever, but the fugly Thinkpad costs almost double the price of the MacBook Air.

The ThinkPad X300 is the usual dorky sticker-covered. black plastic laptop full of Microsoft goodness, "starting at" $3,225.00 with only 1 GB RAM. (Add $70 to double it. Lenovo's website says installed software: none.

The MacBook Air "starts at" $1,799 with 2 GB RAM and the usual complement of useful Apple software. (Add $100 for a DVD writer.)

Give me an Air, a DVD writer and an ethernet adapter and I'm good to go, for $1927, or $1368 less than the Thinkpad.

Remember when the usual gang of "analysts" and "experts" were complaining that the Air was too expenive?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Very amusing and clever, but...

Very amusing and clever, but the fugly Thinkpad costs almost double the price of the MacBook Air.

The ThinkPad X300 is the usual dorky sticker-covered. black plastic laptop full of Microsoft goodness, "starting at" $3,225.00 with only 1 GB RAM. (Add $70 to double it. Lenovo's website says installed software: none.

The MacBook Air "starts at" $1,799 with 2 GB RAM and the usual complement of useful Apple software. (Add $100 for a DVD writer.)

Give me an Air a DVD writer and an ethernet adapter and I'm good to go, for $1927, or $1368 less than the Thinkpad.

Remember whe the usual gang of "analysts" and "experts" were complaining that the Air was too expenive?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: How about speed?

Check out cnets review and scroll down to the bar charts...

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/lenovo-thinkpad-x300/4505-3121_7-32864938.html

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Great ad!

They ruin it at the end when they show the Windows desktop.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Funny ad

I think it is a funny ad despite being a Mac user.

But I also think it is funny that people who claim that portability is a major factor in their notebook purchase decision would also focus on the need for multiple USB ports. I would like to see what's in their carry-on bag (except when I am behind them at a TSA checkpoint).

For those who need all the connectivity at home, plug all your devices into a powered USB hub and plug that single cable into your notebook.

Close Name:Bosco Posts: 1002 Joined: 03 Jun 2002
Subject: Clever Ad

Some of you sound like you just watched your Mom getting gang raped! By illegal aliens no less! This was a funny ad.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Superdrives don't work in hubs

"For those who need all the connectivity at home, plug all your devices into a powered USB hub and plug that single cable into your notebook."

Except the Apple external superdrive does not work in a hub... it must be plugged directly into the port on the Macbook Air.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: SuperDrive

Quote
Guest wrote:
Except the Apple external superdrive does not work in a hub... it must be plugged directly into the port on the Macbook Air.


So buy a third-party CD/DVD burner to plug into the USB hub.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Cost twice as much...

Slower CPU... Only comes with expensive SSD... Only has 1 gig on memory... Shorter runtime, unless you leave the DVD burner and buy the extra battery pack. Ugly... ONLY runs Windows...

Macbook Air wins again..

Funny ad, but misleading..

Close Name:eugenio Posts: 9 Joined: 07 Aug 2007
Subject: try hard... try harder!!

which one is ugly? There's a reason why they are not placed side by side with the screen open. UGH!

Honestly, I have a Mac Book Pro and the only thing I plug into its side other than the power adapter is the receiver for my multi button mouse which I need for ArchiCAD. And since its a Nano receiver, I leave it in continuously. occasionally I'll plug an external drive in but its not necessary when transferring most files as its connected to an iMac on a wireless network which is good enough for files up to a few hundred Mb. Who ever needs so many peripherals when travelling does not need to travel light or is simply working wrong!

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Funny...yet...

I thought the ad was funny but it isn't effective for me at least. I'm getting a MacBook Air even though I already own a MacBook Pro. What I find is that in many situations, I hate carrying around my heavy MacBook Pro and sometimes almost feel like chucking it out the window. In many situations when that happens, I'm in the library working, checking out tons of books and carrying them back to my office.

The MacBook Pro has its uses, such as when I go do field research and need more of a powerhorse with me than the MacBook Air can offer. However, the MacBook Air seems ideal for me when I want to work on an article or publication while at the library or somewhere else and don't need to lug around a built-in DVD drive and other heavy accessory that I don't need to be with me. For my purposes. the MacBook Air is good.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: What did they gain?

I watched the clip twice and I can't for the life of me figure out what they were plugging into the hub outside of the cd drive. A hub with at least 3 things plugged into it that I can't recognize. One of them looked to be a usb port extender of the like I often see on older desktops so that you can plug a thumb drive in without having to reach around the back of the machine.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Thinkpad a bit tight in the envelope

I like the ad - although it seemed rather ponderous - I think it sells the Thinkpad fairly well but it only just fits in the envelope - it appears to be sticking out the end before it is removed??

I am not being defensive about the Airbook - I prefer Apple's other laptops, but I think this ad should have been a little more polished.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: umm, no

I'm looking for something with a real keyboard, not TV remote buttons, so the CrapBook is out. MacBookPro is too expensive. These Lenovo things look pretty good Linux machines. Soooo.... I win, right?

Close Name:iBill Posts: 642 Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Subject: re:ummm, no

Actually no, you lose.

Sorry for your loss.

Close Name:burrito Posts: 177 Joined: 07 Aug 2005
Subject:

there's a guitar i own, the fender "tom delonge" signature stratocaster.. what i've always loved about this guitar is that there is only a single pickup, and a single control knob.. no other switches.. you just plug it in, and play music on it.

my point is, the air is not designed for power users.. it's designed for people who just want the bare essentials. it may not be the most strongly-conceived apple product of its day, but this goes to show that IBM just doesn't get the approach.

opinion: this ad almost dwindles into self-parody, once they actually open the thinkpad.. it almost calls the meizu phone to mind..

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Thank You, the Air is a targeted product. The MB and MB Pro is for those who need everything...

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Thank You, the Air is a targeted product. The MB and MB Pro are for those who need everything...

Close Name:Guest
Subject:

Quote
burrito wrote:
there's a guitar i own, the fender "tom delonge" signature stratocaster.. what i've always loved about this guitar is that there is only a single pickup, and a single control knob.. no other switches.. you just plug it in, and play music on it.

my point is, the air is not designed for power users.. it's designed for people who just want the bare essentials. it may not be the most strongly-conceived apple product of its day, but this goes to show that IBM just doesn't get the approach.

opinion: this ad almost dwindles into self-parody, once they actually open the thinkpad.. it almost calls the meizu phone to mind..



ummm.....IBM has nothing to do with anything in this ad....
I think most of the Mac fans here are really missing the point of the ad. yes the think pad is a little thicker (wow like a whole 3 or 4mm) but for the same price, with the same performance and the same battery life, you get everything in one unit with no need to plug any extras in.

Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 3149 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject:

Actually it is a bit more expensive. You have no choice but to get the 64GB SSD. If you remove the DVD burner and bump up the RAM to 2GB, the price is $3175 on their site. And the processor is slower.

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