back-track to 1984’s mac

It’s been 25 years to the day since Apple aired its revered Macintosh commercial. Now hailed as the best Super Bowl ad ever, without it – if we’re to believe Macintosh’ then-marketing manager Mike Murray, we may not have been soaking in Apple delight today.

Alluding to George Orwell’s 1984, it proved a masterly teaser to Jobs’ (also masterly) personal introduction of the Macintosh two days later. For one, the ad became a free publicity stunt when it was shown in full on several of the major news networks. But, according to Murray, its real success was striking a specific chord with the audience. Have a look at both ad and presentation, and a short explanation of how and why.

In this CNBC interview, Murray explains how the board deemed the commercial too radical and initially didn’t want to air it. But with the Super Bowl slot already paid for, and no suitable replacement commercial, they reluctantly agreed to have it shown.

Why it struck such a chord? Murray: ‘What that commercial did was it picked up on a particular vibe of a large segment of American society. Young people, innovators, creative people, people who don’t want to feel like they’re just stuck in the masses. And we felt that way, but I think we also perhaps underestimated what a strong vibe that is.’

And now for Jobs on stage, introducing the world’s first graphical user interface, mouse operated personal computer:

Thanks to Zee and his The Next Web post Today Marks the 25th Anniversary of Apple’s 1984 Ad. What Are Your Memories?
(photo Bastelstunde: Mac by dersVen)