Sunday, April 1, 2012

When computers were sexy: Hilarious vintage ads from the early days of the PC

By Daily Mail Reporter

Companies such as Apple have made their name by marketing their products not just as technological tools but as glamorous and fun toys.
But this marketing technique is nothing new, as these vintage adverts from the early days of PCs show.
They portray computers as fun, easy to use - and even sexy, with the help of a few eager-looking models.
Other quirks of the now-outdated ads include the attempt to initiate consumers in the strange world of 'electronic mail', and an appearance from the young Bill Gates.
'Maybe even sexy': This glamorous 1971 advert is trying to sell a modem, of all things
'Maybe even sexy': This glamorous 1971 advert is trying to sell a modem, of all things

Girl power: Technico Inc also used sex appeal to sell their 'microcomputer' in 1978
Girl power: Technico Inc also used sex appeal to sell their 'microcomputer' in 1978
Sex sells: Film character Elvira was recruited to depict a desktop as a chainsaw tearing apart the old ways of doing things in this bizarre 1991 advert
Sex sells: Film character Elvira was recruited to depict a desktop as a chainsaw tearing apart the old ways of doing things in this bizarre 1991 advert

What indeed? Three decades on, scenes like this are a thing of the past as email has become ubiquitous
What indeed? Three decades on, scenes like this are a thing of the past as email has become ubiquitous

Hot shot: Bill Gates teamed up with Radio Shack in 1985 to promote computers carrying Microsoft Windows
Hot shot: Bill Gates teamed up with Radio Shack in 1985 to promote computers carrying Microsoft Windows

Star power: Sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov was another well-known spokesman for Radio Shack in the 1980s
Star power: Sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov was another well-known spokesman for Radio Shack in the 1980s


Handy? In 1976, this chunky briefcase was the equivalent of the modern laptop, complete with tiny screen
Handy? In 1976, this chunky briefcase was the equivalent of the modern laptop, complete with tiny screen

Groundbreaking: This advert for Microsoft Excel predicts that the programme will still be useful in five years... and it was 25 years ago
Groundbreaking: This advert for Microsoft Excel predicts that the programme will still be useful in five years... and it was 25 years ago

Giant? This RAM card from 1977 was fast for its time, but had 30,000 times less power than the latest iPhone
Giant? This RAM card from 1977 was fast for its time, but had 30,000 times less power than the latest iPhone

Mail order memory: System Industries charged an annual salary for enough storage space to hold half a film
Mail order memory: System Industries charged an annual salary for enough storage space to hold half a movie


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2123460/When-computers-sexy-Hilarious-vintage-ads-early-days-PC.html#ixzz1qoSzAGIp

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