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August 16, 2008

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Ten commercials for ten years of the iMac

Posted Aug. 16, ’08, 11:59 AM PT by Scott McNulty
Category | Apple » Advertising

flowerimac.jpgAs Dan pointed out yesterday the most lovable of all Apple computers, the iMac, turns ten years old today. I can remember getting my first blueberry iMac: I loved the computer, I loved the operating system (OS 8.6), but I hated that silly hockey puck mouse (who’s with me?).

I thought it would be a fitting tribute to share my ten favorite iMac commercials with you, in honor of the computer that started Apple’s rebound. Without the iMac there would be no iPhone, iPod, or Apple TV.

Read on to see the ten commercials I like best, and leave a comment telling me I am way off base.

Here they are, in no particular order:

Colors

This is the one that started it all, and could they have picked a better song?

3 Steps

Am I the only one that misses Jeff Goldblum in Apple commercials? I really enjoy his intonations in these iMac commercials (which is why a number of them are on my top ten list). This commercial really drives home the simplicity angle, even though I think the third step is turning on the iMac [It’s even better when he’s drunk -DM].

Un-PC

A little PC-bashing never hurt anyone.

Simplicity Shootout

This one isn’t technically a commercial, but it features a kid, a dog, and some goodnatured PC-ribbing so it can’t be all bad. I think all iMacs should come with a border collie named Brodie.

Pizza

Skip pizzas and get a computer? Brilliant!

Ruby

Once again, great song choice.

Turbo Charged

This one is on the list not so much for the commercial itself, but for the product in the commercial. The graphite iMac was a ‘special edition’ iMac aimed at power users.

iMac and iTunes (Flower Power style)

Some of you reading this might not remember the Flower Power iMac or the Blue Dalmatian iMac—if so, we envy you—but they were honest to goodness Apple products. I don’t think we’ll be seeing a Flower Power Intel iMac any time soon.

iMac in the window

This one might be my favorite iMac commercial ever. Whimsical, well done, and cute… just like an iMac.

Intel iMacs

Certainly the least whimsical of the bunch, but I do like the looks of the new Intel iMacs, so this deserves a mention.

Which ones did I miss?


6 Comments

Dan C. said:

I was always very partial to this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NScX8-8Z1z0

August 16, 2008 5:03 PM
Sai said:

Did anyone notice that in the Simplicity Shootout video, Johann managed to launch and display a page in IE in seconds...on dialup?!

August 16, 2008 7:22 PM
Curtis said:

My favourite was always "Traffic". Not a word was uttered but the ad spoke volumes about the difference between iMac and all the rest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz0F5cLlazk

August 17, 2008 10:03 AM
nyc_macluvr Author Profile Page said:

I absolutely adore using all of my Apple products immensly. I can remember the days of putting a pc together just like the 'Un PC' ad.
It is so mundane putting all those equipments together whereas an iMac is just straight out of the box.
I wouldn't think about going back to using a PC again, would you?

August 17, 2008 12:05 PM
Carlito said:

You forgot the "Rip it, mix it, Burn it" commercial featuring many stars such as lil kim, iggy pop and mister barry white!

August 18, 2008 4:27 AM
val said:

This one is the best animation

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=aVvFFQ7sRYs

August 20, 2008 12:20 PM

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