Andy Ihnatko on Verizon Droid "iDon't" ads: baloney (mostly)
Posted Nov 5th 2009 10:00AM by Steven Sande
Most American television viewers have been treated recently to endless reruns of Verizon's "iDon't" advertisements. These ads attack the iPhone, playing music that's similar to that played in iPhone ads while displaying a series of messages stating such brilliant and cutting phrases as "iDon't have a real keyboard," "iDon't run simultaneous apps," and so on.Mac fan and Chicago Sun-Times writer Andy Ihnatko was apparently as fed up with the ads as most of us here at TUAW, so he took Verizon to task in a Wednesday column. In the column, he takes on Verizon's claims and for the most part finds them lacking or at least overblown.In describing the faults of the ad campaign, Ihnatko says "Its claims about the limitations of the iPhone are baloney (Mostly.)"
Andy has been testing the new Motorola Droid phone for an upcoming review, and he does like the phone -- a lot. But his take on the ad campaign is right on the mark: "Verizon's 'iDon't' is a terrible commercial. It provokes experienced iPhone users like me to get all Tyra Banks on the phone and the Android 2.0 OS. That can't possibly be good for business."
Don't mess with us iPhone fans, Verizon...
[via Chicago Sun-Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
EGOvoruhk said 10:10AM on 11-05-2009
They're about as much "baloney" as the Mac vs PC ads
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GrammarStar said 10:36AM on 11-05-2009
Agreed; Why is it that its OK for Apple to bash everyone else, and everone kinda just takes it, walks it off. But as soon as someone opening (in the Ad world) bashes on Apple, all the Apple fans are up in arms. You don't see articles on the "untruths" of the Mac vs PC adds, no windows user has a News Paper Article explaining that 98% of windows related problems are caused by 3rd party apps and not the OS (a problem caused by having so many developers making apps for the system).
The droid add is as true and untrue as the Mac vs PC ads; situational truth. This guy needs to take a chill pill and/or get a life.
woeo said 10:20AM on 11-05-2009
Yeah....MS never promised Windows would work. Windows doesn't have any issues with viruses. OS X isn't easier to use than Vista or more stable than XP. And Mac's don't come with free great productive software to help people do things they want to do with their computers.
ScuubyT said 11:02AM on 11-05-2009
Yeah, it's marketing...of course it's overblown.
alansky said 12:52PM on 11-05-2009
@EGOvoruhk:
In your opinion, maybe. Personally, I think the "Get a Mac" ads are right on the mark. Windows is crap, period.
Seth said 1:51PM on 11-05-2009
I guess I just read a different article, but he didn't disprove the claims as much as he just dismissed them.
As an iPhone developer, these claims all ring true with me and I feel Apple had this coming.
I am actually rooting for the Droid to create competition. I am actually looking forward to selling my apps with no 30% (!) royalty, 'approval' delays, having Apple own my relationship with my customers, and inserting itself into conflicts between my company and third parties.
Yes, Apple cannot point fingers at anyone for questionable advertising - their Mac vs PC ads have pushed many more limits.
Besides insisting that Windows breaks down and gets infected with virii almost daily, doesn't work with digital cameras (!?) etc, I have never appreciated Jobs making Bill Gates look like a bumbling idiot for years.
Bill Gates is the world's largest philanthropist and has deserved his place in computer history, and he's done about 10X more than Jobs in terms of making computers affordable to the masses.
Meanwhile, Jobs is one of the richest men in the world and has not used his public image to support any cause for a quarter-century (well, except maybe organ donation ) - he even admitted once that he wasn't a philanthropist and hoped 'that side of him would come out one day'.
So, Jobs is making a better computer right now big deal - he could learn a lot from the personal character of Gates and has no business dressing him down systematically year after year.
JT said 4:22PM on 11-05-2009
"woeo said 10:20AM on 11-05-2009
Yeah....MS never promised Windows would work. Windows doesn't have any issues with viruses. OS X isn't easier to use than Vista or more stable than XP. And Mac's don't come with free great productive software to help people do things they want to do with their computers."
Hey Troll, go f yourself. Windows seems to work fine for the tons of people that can use it and have no desire or need to switch. Some of us have both and still prefer windows. Maybe it's the software selection? Or is that only a valid arguement when discussing Apple's app store? I thought so.
Congrats on comparing OS X to what are now older versions of windows. Way to leave windows 7 out cause you know your argument would come off as retarded at that point. About as retarded as you sound when you attempt to infer that Mac's don't have to worry about viruses yet there are some out there and even Apple recommends you get a anti-virus program. Macs come with in house software, congrats. So sorry that some of us prefer not to be beholden to one company for both software AND hardware.
Martin said 10:11AM on 11-05-2009
And exactly what does it mean for one to get "all Tyra Banks" on something?
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Sanskrit said 10:20AM on 11-05-2009
It's the battlecry of the hipster, the very same type of "iTard" stereotype that makes everyone hate Apple fanboys. Personally, I'm getting a Droid, but because I prefer a solid keyboard and I'm already on Verizon, not because I have an issue with the iPhone. But it's comments like "getting all Tyra Banks" that makes me roll my eyes at continued idiocy by iTards (and, for the record, I've seen a few DroidHeads pop up as well, so there's always going to be fanboy stupidity somewhere).
aardivark said 11:16AM on 11-05-2009
I vaguely remember Tyra Banks being hauled into court for getting into un uncontrolled rage and beaning somebody (personal assistant? secretary?) with her cell phone.
BEN! said 11:31AM on 11-05-2009
I think he meant Naomi Campbell.
JKT said 3:20PM on 11-05-2009
Go ahead and get a Droid believing you're getting a "solid keyboard". Andy has a history of accurate reviews so when he says the keyboard is not good you are taking a significant risk disbelieving him. But of course, you're going to do what you are going to do, no matter what. Good luck with that.
Ney said 10:18AM on 11-05-2009
True to my experience!!!
Music playing and cup/copy/paste does not count as running multiple apps.
About 5 times when I was talking to a friend the phone call in the background another person and disconnected me. Drop calls... My girl friend had to go back to version. And many other problems. All the 5 i-phone I had... all gave hardware problems included the one I am using right now. I think the Droid is an ungly phone and still slow. If takes more then 1/2 to open any application... too long!
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J Dogg said 10:18AM on 11-05-2009
I'm an iPhone owner and AT&T hater and actually don't mind the commercials. I've actually been pushing friends who have Verizon to get the Droid and to avoid (the noid) the iPhone and AT&T. I think the iPhone is a great everything-but-a-phone and either AT&T or Apple is allowing the phone to act that way. Either way, I'm frustrated that I paid as much as I did for a 3G and, in Green Bay WI there is both no 3G service as well as poor phone reception. I drop calls at least once a day. I'm hoping for AT&T'a exclusivity to end by the time my contract is up next summer because I am through with AT&T.
As for Apple, I find it surprising that in order to customize your iPhone at all you have to jailbreak it. I'd love different alert sounds (the "Mail, Motherf*@ker!" sound would be awesome as would others. We're just as similar as all those PCs in the 1984 commercial with our standard home screens and dock appearance. That's sething they should really work on.
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JustJoe said 10:36AM on 11-05-2009
i am so tired of at&t hating, GET OVER IT. everyone will see that once iphone find their ways to other carriers the problems will be the same or worse.
techgb said 11:11AM on 11-05-2009
AT&T will turn on 3G in Green Bay next week, Nov 11th.
J Dogg said 2:29PM on 11-05-2009
Will they also turn on the "No Call Fail" button? My dad can't even make or receive phone calls from his hospital which is in the middle of Green Bay. I get Call Fails driving across the 172 bridge and down highway 41.
I am glad to hear that AT&T 3G has finally made it to Green Bay. Waiting for simple things like Google Maps to load while getting directions was ridiculously slow after leaving Milwaukee and their 3G service.
J Dogg said 6:07PM on 11-05-2009
I was previously with Verizon for about 3 years and, other than the horrible phones and locked down features, the service was decent. I then moved on to Helio but left after they went out of business and got my iPhone. I'm sure that all the cellular providers are all terrible but the iPhone is the most I've ever paid for a phone and for service and I guess I expected more, like, that it would actually work most of the time.
Kai Cherry said 10:18AM on 11-05-2009
Erm. That was a *horrible* rebuttal article. His basic take was "these claims are all true but I don't care"...c'mon :)
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varun said 10:20AM on 11-05-2009
Awww... so we get a free pass on the Mac vs. PC ads, but Verizon doesn't on the iDroid ads? (Hell, if it sparks a backlash, then Verizon's been successful in attracting attention.)
Grow up, Steven, grow up.
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