Apple warned over 'misleading' Power Mac speed claim
Published: 11 Jun 2004 16:35 BST
Apple has been told by the Advertising Standards Agency that its boast that the Power Mac G5 is the world's fastest personal computer is in breach of advertising legislation.
The ASA, after taking expert advice and running a series of tests comparing the Mac with the Dell Dimension 8300 and the Dell Precision 650, said the claim made in magazine adverts was misleading because the G5 wasn't "the fastest processor in all circumstances for all applications".
The ASA added that it "also understood that the G5 machine tested was still under development and the tests seemed to be configured in a way that might have given the Power Mac G5 an unfair advantage".
The ASA has asked Apple not to repeat the claim.
Two other complaints made about the ads -- namely that the PC is "the first with a 64-bit processor" and that the systems built around the G5 "can shatter the four-gigabyte memory ceiling that limits every other PC on earth" -- were not upheld.
The complaint about the 64-bit processor was rejected on the grounds that while computers had the processor they were "workstations" and not desktop PCs for home computing. The complaint over the 4GB 'ceiling' was rejected as the ASA found the G5 was the only PC that could access more than 4GB without the need for extra hardware.
Full Talkback thread
43 comments
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Gotta love it when what SHOULD have been a big sma... Steve Tsuida -
I believe it's a the Advertising Standards Authori... Terry Bain -
I think that that Apples G5 clime on the 64 bit pr... Anonymous -
There seems to be a preoccupation with telling App... Anonymous -
'bout time! Anonymous -
Maybe the reason some people have a preoccupation... Brian Bulthuis -
You gotta wonder just how much flak this will caus... Kurt "I don't do Windows" -
Apple is still around? I thought they disappeared... Ben Kunz -
Car analogies again. Guess that what Mac users ar... Anonymous -
Found it funny that folks get all bent out of shap... windows ho-hum whatever -
If the Mac runs Windows better than half the PCs i... Anonymous -
Not 4GB, any 32-bit can address that much address... Anonymous -
Mac's suck anyway, who cares. Lance Collett -
>Apple is still around? I thought they disappeared... Anonymous -
>Mac's suck anyway, who cares.
All computers suck.... Anonymous -
When Microsoft released the Vista Beta, there... iMac600 -
I have to admit, I don't understand this case at a... Thomas Morrisey -
FREE - Windows XP 64-Bit Edition. For 360 days. ht... Russ Williams -
It's very funny to me how people will fight over w... Phill Kenoyer -
Mac Users = Small Man Complex
They are always tryi... Anonymous -
Hmmm...its been a year now since the introduction... Anonymous -
Reminds me of the little brat in the school-yard
"... ebenezer scrooge -
*shrug*
Mac and Linux still exist for one reason:... Tom -
I like macs because the GUI is so colorful and the... Anonymous -
Mac G5 = $1995+, Dell Dimension 8300 = $995+ See... Anonymous -
where did windows get its idea from?... oh ya - ap... pc's r 4 squares -
Dell= betta; sure,thats why they are such class le... James Hunt -
I don't know about Dell in the states but here in... Mike Donovan -
First off, any AMD Athlon 64 CPU can access OVER 4... Anonymous -
sherlock? chooser? its a telling clue to talk of g... Owen Smith -
This 'rejection was based on the PREVIOUS systems.... Anonymous -
there's no doubt that the AMD 64 is better value... Mike Donovan -
rofl g5 fast!!! no really im on the floor here,plz... thanos -
If you think those two "wins" are reason to cheer,... Jonny Wishbone -
> where did windows get its idea from?... oh ya -... Jonny WIshbone -
> I like macs because the GUI is so colorful and t... Jonny Wishbone -
Why do people think this is a winnable argument an... Ben Silverstein -
First of all I want to say that I'm a computer eng... Anonymous -
I use a Mac and a PC in everyday use, I find the M... Pete Smythe -
For many years now I have designed, developed, eng... John Doe -
Athlon 64 processor???? Thats in the home computi... Anonymous -
Well all said and done, Steve coundn't buy this ki... No Body -
To the teacher i think you may be a teacher who do... Anonymous






