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> even at peak IBM it was an office name, not a household name I'm curious to see data on this. My guess is that in the early to mid 80s, IBM had to have been
by trimbo 5y ago
> even at peak IBM it was an office name, not a household name
I'm curious to see data on this. My guess is that in the early to mid 80s, IBM had to have been the top consumer technology brand. At least in knowledge of the brand, even if they didn't own one. Their Charlie Chaplin ads were everywhere, then they spent an enormous amount of money marketing PCjr[1].
[1] - "As part of $32.5 million in advertising for the computer during 1984, it began what the company described as the most extensive marketing campaign in IBM history, in which 98% of Americans would see at least 30 PCjr advertisements in the last four months of the year". (From Wikipedia)
- indymike 5y agoIBM was synonymous with high tech in the 1970s and 1980s. From the Styx song Mr. Roboto, "...my blood is boiling, my brain IBM". They were a huge deal.
- mixmastamyk 5y agoInformation Society, the band also had a few IBM references in their geeky repertoire.
- deckard1 5y agomy impression of the mid '90s was that IBM also spent a boatload on OS/2 Warp marketing as well. But by that time everyone was on Windows and wanted Windows95. The ads for Warp were everywhere, in print and on TV. IBM seemed to be reliving the same mistakes they made with the PS/2 and micro channel arch.
- agumonkey 5y agoI can't picture IBM being consumer.. they were too deep and too big. They didn't speak mainstream .. Jobs had some stuff to sell (aesthetics, art, culture) .. IBM had 'enterprise grade'.
- mixmastamyk 5y agoYes, they tried but it fell flat. Hindsight and all that.