Movie Computers

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:45 pm

Is it just me, or are most of the computers on TV shows and movies not running Windows? It seems to me that they're usually running linux. I think theres even one that had OS X running on what looked like Thinkpads. Does anyone know what is running on most of the computers on shows, and why they don't use Windows, since 90% of people watching use it themselves?

Post by **bicostp** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:46 pm

Because then they would have to pay Microsoft scads of money.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:48 pm

I think Windows would pay them for advertising.

But linux is free, so...

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:49 pm

bicostp wrote:Because then they would have to pay Microsoft scads of money.

Thats what I was thinking, and it seems cooler if the hero isn't using the same kind of computer as you have. But what do they use?

ghosstt · Post by **ghosstt** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:52 pm

usually some awsome linux distro.

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Mon May 07, 2007 5:55 pm

ghosstt wrote:usually some awsome linux distro.

Why don't they advertise it then? I mean, if its good enough for a movie, shouldn't it be good enough for everyone?

Sir Games-A-Lot · Post by **Sir Games-A-Lot** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:25 pm

I always thought that they just edited in something cool looking but non functional with photoshop.

Post by **Sparkfist** » Mon May 07, 2007 6:25 pm

vskid wrote:
ghosstt wrote:usually some awsome linux distro.
Why don't they advertise it then? I mean, if its good enough for a movie, shouldn't it be good enough for everyone?

Because they don't care about advertising a tool they use, they want to advertise their product.

I agree Microsoft is greedy, greedy company and any display of their software likely requires a fee or permission first. Linux is free so don't have to worry there, and Apple would see the use of their OS/Computer on a movie or commercial as free advertising so they don't mind.

What I find funny is about half of the commercials I see have a Mac as the laptop they use to display the website, and of the rest they are a similar style and/or color, but they use something like Foxfire as the browser or they remove the windows theme so it doesn't look windows or something to that effect.

Edutainment · Post by **Edutainment** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:13 pm

I'm pretty sure most shows' and movies' O/S's are CGI.

ghosstt · Post by **ghosstt** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:24 pm

Sparkfist wrote:
vskid wrote:
ghosstt wrote:usually some awsome linux distro.
Why don't they advertise it then? I mean, if its good enough for a movie, shouldn't it be good enough for everyone?
Because they don't care about advertising a tool they use, they want to advertise their product.

I agree Microsoft is greedy, greedy company and any display of their software likely requires a fee or permission first. Linux is free so don't have to worry there, and Apple would see the use of their OS/Computer on a movie or commercial as free advertising so they don't mind.

What I find funny is about half of the commercials I see have a Mac as the laptop they use to display the website, and of the rest they are a similar style and/or color, but they use something like Foxfire as the browser or they remove the windows theme so it doesn't look windows or something to that effect.

the netflix commecial

sgtpepper · Post by **sgtpepper** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:31 pm

Most TV commercials and shows use Macs or if they a PC, it's a VAIO, because they're the only stylish computers

Post by **Triton** » Mon May 07, 2007 8:39 pm

lol the geeksquad commercial where the lady is sitting at a generic dell looking PC and is clicking and its making the macOS error noise

Felino · Post by **Felino** » Tue May 08, 2007 4:03 am

I have always noticed this, in all adds in australia, all the pcs are running osx. Odd hey?

Post by **benheck** » Tue May 08, 2007 11:36 am

The real reason is that the people who make the movies and TV shows are all Apple lovers. Thus they put them onscreen, and they also tend to look fancier.

Anyone remember the 90's when everyone used a Silicon Graphics computer?

Edutainment · Post by **Edutainment** » Tue May 08, 2007 3:12 pm

Good point. Most directors who edit their own stuff (Robert Rodriguez for example) like Apple because Windows sucks for those uses, especially graphics heavy editing like that of Sin City or Spy Kids. Also, I do what Wikipedia tells me, and it says something similar there.