Old Apple commercials from the 1980s have been resurfacing on YouTube channel EveryAppleAds over the past few days, offering an extensive look at vintage Apple advertising that is normally overshadowed by Apple's famous Super Bowl commercial "1984".

The commercials, which feature both the Macintosh and the Apple II, introduce and promote the general concept of the PC and its usefulness to every day life. The first ad presents the Macintosh computer as a communication tool, while the second promotes the Apple II as a learning tool.


Coincidentally, the ads happen to be resurfacing close to the release of Steve Jobs movie "JOBS", which takes place in the 80s and tells the story behind the creation of both the Macintosh and the Apple II. The movie, which is currently in the promotional stages, is set to be released in theaters on August 16.

Additional vintage Apple ads can be found on the EveryAppleAds YouTube channel.

Top Rated Comments

trekkie604 Avatar
162 months ago
They should bring back this campaign ;)

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThisIsMike Avatar
162 months ago
That second commercial is actually really clever... loved that ending. :)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michaelgtrusa Avatar
162 months ago
You have to hand the crown to apple, they rule.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrMotownMac Avatar
162 months ago
My Favorite Apple Video...

In 1998, when I first started dating the woman who is now my wife, I let her talk me into buying a Dell when my 5 year old Mac needed to be replaced. Of course, this was RIGHT BEFORE the iMac came out. So, I ordered my Dell with Windows 98 installed on it, and it was a piece of crap right from the start. None of my old peripherals worked properly, even after I spent money buying Adaptec PCI cards with the appropriate connectors. When I'd call tech support, I'd get the runaround, with Dell telling me it was a Windows problem, Microsoft telling me it was an Adaptec problem, and Adaptec telling me the problem was with my old HP scanner (which worked fine with my old Mac just one week earlier). Also, the bootup time was obscene, the default organization of files and folders didn't make any sense, and it just wasn't fun to use. And I won't even start about the viruses and system crashes....

So, after only 3 months of owning it, the iMac had been announced and I saw this video while browsing the internet one night:

iMac G3 promo video - Simplicity Shootout iMac vs. PC (1998) (http://youtu.be/_spF8pHs-Fc)

So, I showed this to my then girlfriend, and as we both laughed (and almost cried), we agreed that I had made a horrible mistake. This video captures, in a nutshell, exactly why the Mac is superior to the PC. Simplicity. We ended up finding someone to pay me slightly more than 50% of what I paid for the Dell, and I promptly got rid of it and bought an iMac. That Dell was the only PC I had ever owned since my parents bought our family's first computer -- an IBM PC (one of the originals...with two floppy drives and no hard drive) back in 1984...coincidentally the same year the original Macintosh was released. Every other computer I've had, from 1987 until present, has been a Mac.

And as I type this post on my 13 inch MacBook Air (Oct. 2010 release), I contemplate when I'm going to get my NEW MacBook Air! That 12 hour battery life with the faster processor and 512 GB SSD sure is tempting! Not to mention that my AppleCare Warranty will be expiring in late October, AND that my 6-year-old daughter is just learning to type and use computers at school (unfortunately, they're DELL PCs -- YUCK!). So, I need to train her properly in the ways of Apple before she gets lured to the dark side. But, if one of us is getting a "new" computer, it might as well be the one who's paying for it, right? Especially, since my 3-year-old MacBook Air is in perfect condition!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deannnnn Avatar
162 months ago
These ads were made three years before I was born.

And I'm not a little kid, I'm 23 years old. I grew up with my parents and grandparents constantly telling me what life was like without computers and cell phones and the internet. What are we going to tell our kids we grew up without? I can't wait to find out.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GermanyChris Avatar
162 months ago
Good thread, thanks!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
iphone fold 3d print

Have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy

Tuesday December 23, 2025 1:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone that's set to come out in September 2026, and rumors suggest that it will have a display that's around 5.4 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. Exact measurements vary based on rumors, but one 3D designer has created a mockup based on what we've heard so far. On MakerWorld, a user named Subsy has uploaded a 1:1 iPhone Fold replica (via Macworld), ...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...