1980s IBM PC Ad Compilation with Charlie Chaplin / Recopilatorio de Anuncios del IBM PC con Chaplin

[@zycoxlp6465]

Lmao this is 200 times better than modern ads

[@ManOfLore1]

You mean they're not nearly as obnoxious and irritating? XD

[@kd4pba]

This was part of a period where advertising exposure was more limited than what we have today. No internet ads. TV, Radio and print were about it. That said they went for quality. They were creative in messaging and exposure.

[@anthonyc.trimarchi1769]

The commercials made references to "Modern Times" (1936) which was one of Chaplin's later films. I believe it shows that if Chaplin's "little fellow" character was a real figure he would had to evolve with the modern times of technology (information age) to make any type of progress in life. Mind you this was by 1980's standards, but it was also IBM's way of saying almost anyone could own and use a personal computer and it would make their life simpler if they did, especially small business owners or managers. Chaplin's original character in "Modern Times" wouldn't or didn't want to embrace modern times. Just as Chaplin himself wouldn't embrace sound pictures opting to try to hold onto making silent films while the rest of the film industry had nine years earlier moved onto talking pictures. In both "Modern Times" and in real life Chaplin was left behind to live in the past as the world move forward to focus on the future. The 1980's version of Chaplin's "little fellow" is showing he has not only embraced the times and technology it has to offer, but even incorporated it into his life and business, and thus "the little fellow" is moving forward and ahead in life (or at least is not being left behind). That's my take on although anyone can see it from a different perspective.

[@studioeffects]

Well put Anthony!

[@haroldfarthington7492]

This is always going to be one of the best KZbin comments I’ve ever read.

[@yacobs2172]

This commercial contains things that I like, making this computer ad with a Charlie Chaplin impersonator star look very impressive

[@KW-gb9cd]

8:26 "Charlie" gave the heart sign, years before everyone else did!

[@enterthepc8147]

These ads are incredible! Great homage to the master Charlie Chaplin although the comedy is solid and execution flawless, I don't think the Tramp would be saavy at using a computer although he was a small business owner, of sorts, in The Great Dictator as a Barbershop owner.

[@mrbrent62]

I worked at Computerland in 1985. We had a full sized Charlie Chaplain cutout. One of the guys who worked there was convinced it was a female playing the roll.

[@rogerredford4010]

"CHAPLIN IMITATOR BILLY SCUDDER HELPS IBM EASE CONSUMERS' FEAR OF COMPUTERS"

[@evilwillhunting]

IBM beat Apple and Commodore in the home PC market by focusing on business, letting education and entertainment stay in the background. Most households werent ready to drop over a thousand dollars on a games machine in 1983.

[@1xWertzui]

IBM itself never beat Commodore and Apple in the homes. They did beat IBM. It was the independent PC clone makers that overwhelmed everybody a decade later. IBM eventually got out of the PC business.

[@klausstock8020]

Well. Most household weren't ready to drop over a thousand dollars for a business machine in 1983 either. Now, it's funny that in 1983, IBM did introduce a game machine, the IBM PCjr (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PCjr). It was deliberately crippled so it could be used for games and education, but not cut into the market segment for the more expensive business machines (initially even being sold with a rubber chiclet keyboard, like the one in the ZX Spectrum or, possibly, your current TV remote). And it did cost more tan $1000 when launched, but IBM later on lowered the price to $900 and replaced the rubber keyboards with real ones. The PCjr was also incompatible with important business software (the "killer app" at that time was Lotus 1-2-3); however, in 1984, a special version of Lotus 1-2-3 would appear which could run on the PCjr. It still did not sell well, any by early 1985 IBM abandoned the home market completely until 1990. Now for the facts: IBM sold 418,000 PCs and PC-XTs in 1983. Commodore sold 1,300,000 C64 in the same year. Yes, a C64 with a 1541 disk drive could be had for $900, although without a monitor (but you could hook it up to your home TV). The SX-64, with disk drive and screen, cost $1600 bur did not sell very well. But let's get back to 1982: a C64 with disk drive would cost more than $1200, and 360,000 were sold. IBM sold 188,000 PCs in that year (the "Charlie Chaplin" advertising campaign started in 1981). So, indeed, it looks like more people were willing to shell out $1000 for a game machine than for a business machine (I am aware that numbers are a bit murky; many C64 were sold with the 1530 tape drive instead of the 1541 disk drive, but a 1983 estimate claims that 90% of the C64 owners also owned 1541 disk drives). Apple sold an estimated 720,000 machines in 1983. The bare Apple II (even without a single disk drive!)) was significantly above the $1000 mark, but it was an established business machine (thanks to the first "killer app" ever, VisoCalc and later Lotus 1-2-3). Still, a lot of Apple IIs sold on the home computer market; businesses tended towards the IBM machines (especially the larger businesses which had prior experience with IBM products (like mainframes and electric/electronic typewriters...and the ability to pay the "professional IBM prices"). TL;DR version: IBM failed in the home market; they served businesses. Still, there is some validity to the $1000 "sound barrier", even though it does not apply in this context.

[@amigachris]

The original PC was basically inspired by the Apple II

[@minty_Joe]

Actually, the home PC market was dominated by Commodore, Apple and Atari. It took IBM almost 4 years to catch up. I won't dispute the fact that IBM did dominate the business market, when it came to office computers. Your statement regarding many households saving their cash on computers in the early 80s is probably true. I can say this much: my school (1-6th) in the mid-80s into the early 90s had 2 or 3 Apple IIe systems to share amongst Pre-K through 8th. That just goes to show you how ubiquitous PCs were back then. Not everyone had one at home, work or school. It wasn't until the 90s when there was a huge push for "computers in the classroom".

[@TheRealSuperJ]

I was a 10 year old kid when the IBM PC came out. These commercials remind me of how I felt back then at the promise technology offered of the future.

[@Nithg666]

Esto tiene un curro guardian, que es para fliparlo, y me han encantado todos los anuncios ^^ Chaplin forever!!!

[@GuardianMisterioso]

***** Estaba convencido de que te iba a encantar, Luiti. ¡Si es que parece que te conociera de toda la vida! Jajaja.

[@DyoKasparov]

those are all great ads lol but the second and the duck one are my favs

[@Weensx]

This is what I still think of when I hear PC

[@1xWertzui]

(at the end of the video) Wait, IBM held the Chaplin ad campaign, thus paid the license and the imitator for TEN YEARS!?

[@1xWertzui]

It's not like IBM (out of anyone) didn't have that money, but still surprised they did it for so long.

[@haroldfarthington7492]

@@1xWertzuihey good on him. Hope he was paid well.

[@1xWertzui]

Then again, the last ad might be just Zenon Computer Center and not actually IBM itself.

[@brentmann2988]

The voice-over talent is Gary Merrill. He was married to Bette Davis.

[@haroldfarthington7492]

Wow really?

[@brentmann2988]

@@haroldfarthington7492 Yes, isn't that a cool piece of show biz trivia.

[@sataniachya1840]

esta buenos estos comerciales, se nota que estan dirigidos a empresas (por que básicamente eso era el ibm pc, una computadora para empresas, a diferencia de otras compus de la epoca ,mas baratas, pero menos capaces) en especial la parte de que va al centro de computadoras y el vendedor le recomendaba una computadora para su empresa, eso de verdad pasaba, si tenias una empresa, le decias al vendedor que cosas hacias o que problemas tenias, y te vendia la compu que necesitabas, obiamente eran muy muy caras, pero como eran para trabajar, tenian que tener si o si personal capacitado para esto, ahora con suerte te dicen que tiene wifi XD

[@TheFel0x]

"10 programs to help you write your own programs" I'd love to learn more about history of IDE's I should look that up

[@lukekendrick3762]

CooL! PC Jr comes with a "Free-board" (AKA Wireless Keyboard) that's a good idea. ;)

[@zfoxfire]

Does anyone else find in ironic that the Tramp would be using a computer and working in an office? He seemed like the guy who never really fit it to the modern world.

[@GuardianMisterioso]

I wrote an article about it in my website: www.lamazmorraabandon.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=322

[@1xWertzui]

Yeah, it seems like the whole basis of the ad campaign is on the fact that he once had a movie called Modern Times, which is a bit loose of a connection.

[@DevilMaster]

The message was that in the "Modern Times" movie, people were at the service of machines, while with IBM computers, machines were at the service of people.

[@zfoxfire]

@lil' pump 'The Tramp' is Chaplin's character in most of his movies.

[@jms_d0]

These commercials are lovely and well done. That being said Chaplin would have fucking hated this.

[@nnerd]

Friend: im being honest, no cap. His house: 0:21

[@AustrianLinuxMemer]

0:01 this is so true in 2020

[@woreno]

everything is fun and nice, great transitions at 1:25 6:25...

[@ReBufff]

My left ear really enjoyed that one

[@cevheriyldz998]

love charle chaplin

[@edwardpate6128]

A fantastic marketing campaign!

[@mspeter97]

Not gonna lie, these ads are genius

[@paulo0651]

Juan

[@hughmongus6191]

Rerez's Just Bad Games brought me here.

[@jeffwolcott7815]

The Little Tramp and computers, hilarious!

[@legoman8960]

4:53 I would hate to have to pick up all those floppies if the table was bumped into

[@wut6922]

You got to admit. I don't think a lot of people understand how computers made a lot of task much easier to complete. What also use to take teams of people to do you can do on a laptop at home.

[@MeichMG]

geniales los anuncios! like :)

[@GuardianMisterioso]

Meich MG ¡Muchas gracias, Meich! Ya sabes que de vez en cuando me gusta mostraros curiosidades de este tipo relacionadas con la retroinformática.

[@ZTenski]

"In the modern times" I wonder what they'd have thought 40 years ago, if they could see me now with an x86 emulator on a device I can hold in my palm that can run at speeds thousands of times higher than anything IBM had ever produced to that point.

[@krunkle5136]

Funny to think of a time when a computer was something to help you be more productive, rather than replacing as much parts of your life as possible.

[@MediaRavenEditor2025]

The IBM PC was the original version and the progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is the IBM model 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981 as part of the fifth generation of computers. It was created by a team of engineers and designers under the direction of Don Estridge and William C. Lowe of the IBM Entry Systems Division in Boca Raton, Florida. Along with "microcomputer" and "home computer", the term "personal computer" was already in use before 1981. It began to be used as early as 1972 to describe the Xerox PARC Alto. However, due to the success of the IBM Personal Computer, the term PC came to mean more specifically a microcomputer compatible with IBM PC products. The IBM PC is the predecessor of today's personal computers and the progenitor of the IBM PC compatible platform.

[@zachsawsomeblogs185]

Was the narrator on the last clip 8:30 Casey Kasem?

[@brentmann2988]

That is not Casey Kasem. I'm not sure who is doing the voice-over at 8:30, but the narrator on the other commercials is Gary Merrill.

[@VegaMora]

Con eso te podrias armar una pc gamer, nah mentira, creen que esa pc corra en gta v? Xd

[@samueldsouza8797]

does anyone know the number to a ibm representative cause i want a ibm pst

[@jpunyedvideorestorations9347]

IBM stopped selling Personal computers in 2008, they sold the division to Lenovo

[@samueldsouza8797]

@@jpunyedvideorestorations9347 1. How did you find this post 2.what was I on about

[@haroldfarthington7492]

Who is playing Chaplin?

[@ignaciocarranza86]

Son muy buenos!

[@GuardianMisterioso]

Ignacio Carranza Tenía los anuncios por separado y creí oportuno crear un recopilatorio de todos ellos para mostrároslo. Me alegra saber que os ha gustado, jaja.

[@cristianaranda1102]

genial

[@realazduffman]

I wonder how many people even remember WAIT/WALK signs?

[@noahw3309]

Wait those where real!?

[@noahw3309]

Wait those where REAL?!

[@chiensyang]

​​@@noahw3309, Actually, the sign was "Walk," and "Don't Walk."

[@realazduffman]

@@chiensyang Usually, but some said "Wait" and "Walk" this was a play on that.

[@zackthebongripper7274]

As a child I though these IBM commercials with Charlie Chaplain were cool. But, I also thought computers were for adults: inaccessible and dull. No wonder why IBM fell from it's reign and Microsoft and Apple ate their lunch.

[@ericoulashin1753]

IBM might not be selling home computers anymore, but they're still doing fairly well in the business market. Also, I heard the PC clone market contributed to IBM's losing marketshare - Other computer makers such as Dell, HP, etc. were able to reverse-engineer the IBM BIOS and make their own PC clones that were better than IBM's. It wasn't really Apple that did that. In fact, I heard the first Apple Mac was still a bit expensive for many people and wasn't quite powerful enough to do all the things it was advertised to do. By the mid 90s, Apple was not doing very well and almost disappeared before Steve Jobs came back to Apple. IBM had an operating system they were developing called OS/2 (which Microsoft originally worked with them on, but eventually parted ways with IBM). OS/2 was fairly good in the mid 90s and probably technically better than Windows 95, but IBM did not market it as well as Microsoft marketed Windows.

[@vanasdale]

that's funny shit.. Apple has less that 10% of the computer market at any time.

[@davidpinzon2156]

Feliz cumpleaños n35 IBM pc

[@GuardianMisterioso]

Efectivamente, fue hace unos pocos días :)

[@davidpinzon2156]

exacto esto fue lo mejor en su dia

[@CaptainShovelHead]

4:56 I think it's fair to say that was... wrong

[@ansatsu3051]

Today Lenovo PC😭🤣

[@danieldougan8613]

Charlie Chaplin died in 1977, so I'm pretty sure this wasn't really him.

[@ElGrecoDaGeek]

Holy crap. I've noticed similar deception in other commercials over the years. I think there's a good chance that covert agents are posing as these historical figures for some sinister purpose. Let's call said purpose acting and these agents actors...

[@StacieMMeier]

Bill 'Billy' Scudder did part of Charlie Chaplin in commercials.

[@clay4320]

@@pjcm_yfu449 bullshit you're lying

[@clay4320]

@@pjcm_yfu449 you never acted as Charlie Chaplin in these commercials

[@pjcm_yfu449]

@@clay4320 Lol my last channel name was Something accurate to this commercial,That's why i put that comment

[@AllGamingStarred]

Keyboard needs an overlay to find the right keys? ridiculous. the PCjr was a failure from conception

[@digerttm]

bueno.

[@Kevinperez-of8ex]

Ta bueno

[@theactualnic]

Is this the real Charlie Chaplin

[@GuardianMisterioso]

No, he's Billy Scudder, an impersonator.

[@PaimSilva]

not!

[@gracielabricenoruiz6865]

Of course I am! Best regards from your dear communist friend, Charles Chaplin

[@WAQWBrentwood]

No, not actually Charlie Chaplin. Oddly it's an actor, playing.... an actor!

[@ZanderLexx]

And he did it very well ^_^

[@vitoriaalmeida3657]

Nyatakan matlamat dan perlukan wang

[@AndreuCampanarioPonga]

Aquí va començar tot Només el podien comprar els O les empleades El tió Pedro va demanar un , per mi. Va costar poc més d'un milió de pessetes

[@lorumipsum1129]

Didn’t Charlie die not long after these commercials

[@anthonyc.trimarchi1769]

Charlie Chaplin died in 1977 at the age of 88. This is a Charlie Chaplin impersonator named Bill Scudder that did all the commercials and ads. IBM obtained the legal rights to use "The Little Tramp" character (around 1981 or so) from Charlie Chaplin's estate.

[@moisessoto6539]

IBM made cheap commercials with Chaplin and fucks Apple with 1984 monster expensive comercial. what happened? in 1985 Steve Jobs was fired from apple

[@WAQWBrentwood]

Stretching 4:3 video to 16:9 is as bad as "colorized" black and white movies. Like when they made Frank Sinatra ('ol Blue Eyes) have BROWN eyes (racism!) leave the content as it was for Cliff's sake! No wonder everyone thinks Americans were fat in the '80s (racist,!)....

[@brushwaterkhan]

WAQWBrentwood what the fuck are you even talking about

[@DeadSetOnDestruction]

Really? Hitler as your "face" when promoting a computer? No wonder they failed.

[@pjcm_yfu449]

NEIN

[@hhs_leviathan]

Dude, every modern x86 computer is an IBM-compatible clone, their success was their failure. But it is ironic considering they provided tabulation services for the guy from Great Dictator.

[@saerte9403]

That's Charlie Chaplain you fucking idiot, and that wasn't the reason why they "failed", infact they're doing better than ever