40 Unforgettable Tech Super Bowl Ads

pcmag.com:

For a select group of people, the Super Bowl is one of the most important days of the year: advertisers. The game is one of the most-watched events on television, pulling in monster audience numbers. Plus, some people tune in only to watch commercials rather than the game (especially when the teams playing are nowhere close to home).

Many commercials are created specifically for the Super Bowl, and companies spend a LOT of money to advertise. Last year, a 30-second ad on CBS during the game went for $5.6 million—that's up $500K+ from the average cost between 2016 to 2018. Reports say the price could hit $6.5 million this year.

Every year, the big guns of the advertising world flex their creative muscle to make the most talked-about commercials, whether it's hawking cars, beer, or chips. Tech companies have contributed their fair share. Even after the first dot-com boom went bust, the tech ads haven't stopped. Will they make memorable commercials this year? We'll know for sure on Feb. 13. Until then, take a look back at some of the most memorable technology-related ads from past Super Bowls.

(If you can't watch the game on a huge, brand-new TV from the comfort of your living room, here's how to watch the Super Bowl online from anywhere.)

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You knew this was going to be on the list, so let's get it out of the way. Apple's 1984 commercial directed by Ridley Scott showed Apple's disdain for the conformity of IBMers. It claimed the Macintosh, which officially debuted several days later, would free the world from the status quo. The irony, of course, is that Apple devices are now subject to 1984-like criticisms, as everyone seems to have one.

Monster.com ran an excellent ad in 1999, featuring children explaining