If enough people start using bugmenot, these bastards just might stop requiring us to give them our life history to access a bit of information.
Not really true. If enough people start using it, more registration required sites will start using BugMeNot to police their registration database for false accounts, probably automatically. One site I visit appears to already be doing this.
Actually, if you watch the last few minutes of the film again you might notice the scene where Number 5 comes up with a cooler name for himself - Johnny5. Then, tosses the van's driver seat out the door, says "yooo!" in a John Wayne voice (with his arm out the window) and drives off to Montana.
By far, one of my favorite lines in the movie is when No.5 is taking the coffee stain Roshak test and Newton discovers the truth:
Newton Crosby: "Holy shit!" No. 5: "No shit. Where see shit?"
I'm not saying one is better than the other (I really have no idea about the H10), but you totally forgot about the interface/usability of each product -- important because if it's unusable, any hardware advantages one has over the other doesn't really mean squat.
Since I can remember drinking my first cup... but then again, my coffee of choice is a light roast with vanilla creamer in it, which is really more like a desert than cofee:)
If they see it I'm sure they will, but it's on the lower half of a left-reading page filled with super small text. Nothing says to me "skip over all this stuff" more.
While you are correct that effective marketing indeed has specific, limited objectives (and measureable results) -- this ad is definitely not one designed to prompt users sick of IE to check out the web site.
I say this without seeing a creative brief for the ad, but it's purpose appears to simply be to announce the 1.0 release of Firefox, which it does well. The ad is nicely done in that respect.
However, if it is intended to prompt users sick of IE to check out the site/new browser, it is poorly executed for a number of reasons not limited to:
The main graphic element is a logo, which although cool, does nothing to convey the message of the ad, payoff the headline or draw the reader into the message
The headline is vauge and not enticing
It's unclear that the ad is about a web browser until you've read the headline, waded through testimonials and finally make it to the body copy - by that time, the reader has already turned the page
The body copy is nice but 'open source' and 'from the Mozilla Foundation' most likely mean very little to the target audience and are only stumbling blocks to the important part of the message
The body copy fails to payoff the headline completely - and in fact can be confusing: it's 1.0 but 10 million users already know about it?
The important human insights are buried in the message instead of being used to connect with the reader and 'hit home'
To address some of your points:
Version numbers mean little to most people unless your target audience is current users and your purpose is to let them know a new version exists. But even then you need to carefully qualify that it's in fact a new version or they may the message. As someone already mentioned, with potential new users, you run the risk of people thinking 1.0 < 6.0 = less mature = not as good.
"Free" is a huge catch-phrase that gets results. The trick is to pay it off appropriately. In advertising world, we (usually) look forward to when we can legitimately include the word 'free':)
Testimonials are only effective depending on the message, medium and target audience and only when used correctly. In this case they are very appropriate, but executionally are lacking.
Like I said though -- to announce Firefox 1.0 the ad is great (and much nicer better than what I feared it would be). And as I said a previous post though, now we need to see followup ads that do meet the objective you outlined.
"Why can't they realize that the website owners themselves don't really want it. It just multiplies the number of domains you have to register in order to prevent confusion and squatters."
But that's *exactly* the point. I'm sure they do realize it, but when you've found a pot of gold, it's hard to walk away without digging in.
The boxes were on open display in the store. There were 15 or more games on the boxes. They sold them.
That's all we know.
What we don't know is if the original hard-copy of each game was included with each sold box or if each original was destroyed as it was copied.
If either of those were the case, I'd have to say that there's nothing wrong with what they were doing. In the end, the buyer had their own single, legitimate copy of each game.
"They were burning games onto the hard drive and equipping the hard drive with copying software so that the average consumer could just go ahead and copy the software themselves," she [Chunnie Wright] said.
Assuming they were making sure each box had it's own individual copy of the game, this statement is nonsensical (even if you ignore the 'burning games onto the hard drive' idiocy). Providing a means to make a fair-use backup copy of purchased software is not a crime...
... although at the rate things are going, it will be before too long.
The real issue here is probably the bullshit that is the DMCA, and hopefully this will grow into being a case that tests the validity of it. Though, if I were a betting man, I'd wager that the store employees did not make an effort to ensure they were within the law and don't stand a chance:/
Sorry, but I laugh because it was exactly the same back when the first multi-node chat BBS systems started to show up.
It wasn't long before traditional single-node bulletin boards saw a decrease in traffic and us sysops were pissing and moaning about all the uneducated types showing up to our social events who had no clue of the significance of "ATQ0V1X4" let alone the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.
I'm a Mac die-hard (and a Windows die hard at the same time, go figure) and I wouldn't flame you at all - your answer is the exact answer I give everyone that asks me "Should I get a Mac or PC?"
I believe he was referring to the fact that you can use cut/copy and paste in Windows with files to move and copy the actual files around - which to me is silly, but to each his own:)
For the record, not all CompUSAs suffer this limitation. My local chain has a good sized Mac section right at the front of the store with a lot more than just RAM upgrades available. And keep in mind that a lot of off-the-shelf PC stuff (like internal HDs and peripherals) will work fine with the Mac and OS X.
Actually, Quicktime definitely does do fullscreen. What doesn't is the free version of Apple's Quicktime player - though for $25 US you get fullscreen and a lot more handy features.
There are many free alternatives though -- such as, but not limited to MPlayer and VideoLAN which are two very fine players.
As far as missing applications, I've had yet to be unable to find alternatives to what I use in the PC world, so without further specific examples, you won't get much help. In fact, even if there is a program only available for PC, VirtualPC or Remote Desktop Connection Client solves that problem completely for me.
I've always used Win and Mac OS (since Win3.1 and OS 7 anyway) and the only major annoyance on the OS X side is when I keep hitting CONTROL+C to copy on my Mac after working on the Windows box for prolonged periods of time.
I won't even bother to list all my annoyances with Windows:)... IMO, it just feels like a clumsy OS in comparison.
Actually, it may do good to have it out there now - drumming up interest and excitement with those people not yet running Panther or even those without a Mac. It might spur them into actually purchasing a Mac and/or Tiger when it does arrive.
Why would I donate when I think the idea isn't the appropriate?
By all means, I agree - an "airy fairy plan" would not be the right path either. In a perfect world, an advertising agency would donate a strategic marketing plan and creative execution that would have results that could be measured if so desired.
I anxiously await to see what they have up their sleeves next, because I'm waiting with my donation in hand:)
A full page ad containing "Congrats on reaching version 1!" followed by a list of obscure names of geeks who donated will unfortunately have little or no impact with typical home users who are inexperienced or couldn't care less.
How many of these individuals can even tell you what version of the AOL InterWeb they are using now? Ask my mom which browser she uses and she'll say "MSN."
Personally, I'd rather see that money spent on an advertising campaign that communicates WHY people should use the browser in lieu of IE in very non-technical terms. Granted, 250g's won't get you much high-profile advertising, but it could still be used effectively.
Hopefully, this one ad isn't all the Spread Firefox group has planned.
I gotta admit, as a long-time Mac user, fan and shareholder, I'm a little disappointed.
Let me get this straight. I use iTunes to sync my photos with my iPod and if I used iPhoto to organize my library, iTunes has to import them before I can sync?
This makes absolutely NO sense, Steve! What are you thinking. iPhoto should be the software that I use to sync photos to my iPod, not iTunes. Sure, it's two different apps and iPhoto isn't available for Windows (yet), but whos to say that everyone is going to do both music and photos anyway?
I'm almost worried this is a sign of the end of good, clean, simple design and good usability. Hopefully I'm wrong and once I try out the software it will make more sense.
I appreciate the effort, for sure. It's good to see someone actually doing something to increase awareness to the masses.
However -- if alternative, standards-compliant web browsers are ever going to be taken seriously by typical home users who couldn't care less, the community should be doing more than a full page ad containing "Congrats on reaching version 1!" followed by a list of obscure names of geeks who donated.
How many of these individuals can even tell you what version of the AOL InterWeb they are using now?
It would most likely be more beneficial to spend the money on a targeted, well-rounded, cross-media, strategic advertising campaign that communicates WHY the software should be taken seriously and the consequences of not doing so in non-technical terms.
Advertising on a nationally syndicated computer help radio show like Kim Komando's would be a good start.
Hopefully this one ad won't be the last thing the Spread Firefox group will do. I look forward to what comes next.
Slashdot Mirror
Actually, if you watch the last few minutes of the film again you might notice the scene where Number 5 comes up with a cooler name for himself - Johnny5. Then, tosses the van's driver seat out the door, says "yooo!" in a John Wayne voice (with his arm out the window) and drives off to Montana.
By far, one of my favorite lines in the movie is when No.5 is taking the coffee stain Roshak test and Newton discovers the truth:NOW who's the true loser
I'm not saying one is better than the other (I really have no idea about the H10), but you totally forgot about the interface/usability of each product -- important because if it's unusable, any hardware advantages one has over the other doesn't really mean squat.
Since I can remember drinking my first cup... but then again, my coffee of choice is a light roast with vanilla creamer in it, which is really more like a desert than cofee
Actually, "Johnny5 is alive!" is from the first Short Circuit -- which was a much better film than the second IMO :)
"Ooo Stephanie! You changed color. Nice software!"
lol
If they see it I'm sure they will, but it's on the lower half of a left-reading page filled with super small text. Nothing says to me "skip over all this stuff" more.
While you are correct that effective marketing indeed has specific, limited objectives (and measureable results) -- this ad is definitely not one designed to prompt users sick of IE to check out the web site.
I say this without seeing a creative brief for the ad, but it's purpose appears to simply be to announce the 1.0 release of Firefox, which it does well. The ad is nicely done in that respect.
However, if it is intended to prompt users sick of IE to check out the site/new browser, it is poorly executed for a number of reasons not limited to:
To address some of your points:
Version numbers mean little to most people unless your target audience is current users and your purpose is to let them know a new version exists. But even then you need to carefully qualify that it's in fact a new version or they may the message. As someone already mentioned, with potential new users, you run the risk of people thinking 1.0 < 6.0 = less mature = not as good.
"Free" is a huge catch-phrase that gets results. The trick is to pay it off appropriately. In advertising world, we (usually) look forward to when we can legitimately include the word 'free'
Testimonials are only effective depending on the message, medium and target audience and only when used correctly. In this case they are very appropriate, but executionally are lacking.
Like I said though -- to announce Firefox 1.0 the ad is great (and much nicer better than what I feared it would be). And as I said a previous post though, now we need to see followup ads that do meet the objective you outlined.
But that's *exactly* the point. I'm sure they do realize it, but when you've found a pot of gold, it's hard to walk away without digging in.
I know, I was just being flippant :)
But you're right - I'd wager a good number of students would be too lazy for anything that requires an effort let alone robotics and programming.
Wait. Let me get this straight:That just doesn't add up. I mean, when's the last time you saw a tv show about battling programmers?
And in the meantime, my Apple Developer Dashboard Widget Contest news submission from November 8th is still pending approval
Good thing you can submit your entry up until January 5th.
The boxes were on open display in the store. There were 15 or more games on the boxes. They sold them.
That's all we know.
What we don't know is if the original hard-copy of each game was included with each sold box or if each original was destroyed as it was copied.
If either of those were the case, I'd have to say that there's nothing wrong with what they were doing. In the end, the buyer had their own single, legitimate copy of each game.
Assuming they were making sure each box had it's own individual copy of the game, this statement is nonsensical (even if you ignore the 'burning games onto the hard drive' idiocy). Providing a means to make a fair-use backup copy of purchased software is not a crime
... although at the rate things are going, it will be before too long.
The real issue here is probably the bullshit that is the DMCA, and hopefully this will grow into being a case that tests the validity of it. Though, if I were a betting man, I'd wager that the store employees did not make an effort to ensure they were within the law and don't stand a chance
When I was young
lol
Sorry, but I laugh because it was exactly the same back when the first multi-node chat BBS systems started to show up.
It wasn't long before traditional single-node bulletin boards saw a decrease in traffic and us sysops were pissing and moaning about all the uneducated types showing up to our social events who had no clue of the significance of "ATQ0V1X4" let alone the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow.
Times change, and they'll always do so.
I'm a Mac die-hard (and a Windows die hard at the same time, go figure) and I wouldn't flame you at all - your answer is the exact answer I give everyone that asks me "Should I get a Mac or PC?"
Bravo!
I believe he was referring to the fact that you can use cut/copy and paste in Windows with files to move and copy the actual files around - which to me is silly, but to each his own
For the record, not all CompUSAs suffer this limitation. My local chain has a good sized Mac section right at the front of the store with a lot more than just RAM upgrades available. And keep in mind that a lot of off-the-shelf PC stuff (like internal HDs and peripherals) will work fine with the Mac and OS X.
Actually, Quicktime definitely does do fullscreen. What doesn't is the free version of Apple's Quicktime player - though for $25 US you get fullscreen and a lot more handy features.
There are many free alternatives though -- such as, but not limited to MPlayer and VideoLAN which are two very fine players.
As far as missing applications, I've had yet to be unable to find alternatives to what I use in the PC world, so without further specific examples, you won't get much help. In fact, even if there is a program only available for PC, VirtualPC or Remote Desktop Connection Client solves that problem completely for me.
I've always used Win and Mac OS (since Win3.1 and OS 7 anyway) and the only major annoyance on the OS X side is when I keep hitting CONTROL+C to copy on my Mac after working on the Windows box for prolonged periods of time.
I won't even bother to list all my annoyances with Windows
Actually, it may do good to have it out there now - drumming up interest and excitement with those people not yet running Panther or even those without a Mac. It might spur them into actually purchasing a Mac and/or Tiger when it does arrive.
<tin foil hat>Lobbyists and corporation campaign contributions.</tin foil hat>
No, it's actually:
Conservatives & Liberals: F*cking the country today so our children can fix it tomorrow.
Why would I donate when I think the idea isn't the appropriate?
By all means, I agree - an "airy fairy plan" would not be the right path either. In a perfect world, an advertising agency would donate a strategic marketing plan and creative execution that would have results that could be measured if so desired.
I anxiously await to see what they have up their sleeves next, because I'm waiting with my donation in hand
A full page ad containing "Congrats on reaching version 1!" followed by a list of obscure names of geeks who donated will unfortunately have little or no impact with typical home users who are inexperienced or couldn't care less.
How many of these individuals can even tell you what version of the AOL InterWeb they are using now? Ask my mom which browser she uses and she'll say "MSN."
Personally, I'd rather see that money spent on an advertising campaign that communicates WHY people should use the browser in lieu of IE in very non-technical terms. Granted, 250g's won't get you much high-profile advertising, but it could still be used effectively.
Hopefully, this one ad isn't all the Spread Firefox group has planned.
I gotta admit, as a long-time Mac user, fan and shareholder, I'm a little disappointed.
Let me get this straight. I use iTunes to sync my photos with my iPod and if I used iPhoto to organize my library, iTunes has to import them before I can sync?
This makes absolutely NO sense, Steve! What are you thinking. iPhoto should be the software that I use to sync photos to my iPod, not iTunes. Sure, it's two different apps and iPhoto isn't available for Windows (yet), but whos to say that everyone is going to do both music and photos anyway?
I'm almost worried this is a sign of the end of good, clean, simple design and good usability. Hopefully I'm wrong and once I try out the software it will make more sense.
I appreciate the effort, for sure. It's good to see someone actually doing something to increase awareness to the masses.
However -- if alternative, standards-compliant web browsers are ever going to be taken seriously by typical home users who couldn't care less, the community should be doing more than a full page ad containing "Congrats on reaching version 1!" followed by a list of obscure names of geeks who donated.
How many of these individuals can even tell you what version of the AOL InterWeb they are using now?
It would most likely be more beneficial to spend the money on a targeted, well-rounded, cross-media, strategic advertising campaign that communicates WHY the software should be taken seriously and the consequences of not doing so in non-technical terms.
Advertising on a nationally syndicated computer help radio show like Kim Komando's would be a good start.
Hopefully this one ad won't be the last thing the Spread Firefox group will do. I look forward to what comes next.