'I'm a Mac' and I'm unemployed

by Network World Staff, Network World, MacCentral

Published reports say Apple has ditched its popular “Mac Guy” actor Justin Long for future “Get a Mac” commercials.

According to Radar more commercials featuring John Hodgman as the “I’m a PC” character are being produced. One of Long’s representatives told Radar: “Justin’s a movie star, not a commercial guy.” Long has appeared in Dodgeball and Herbie: Fully-Loaded. No word on what his next project will be although rumor has it he’ll be playing a hacker in a Bruce Willis flick called Live Free or Die Hard.

The “Get a Mac” guy follows in a long tradition of popular spokespeople cut off in their prime. Dell killed the Dell Dude in 2002 and Sprint spiked its deadpan trench coat-wearing guy in 2005 (after appearing in 155 commercials). If you were the “Can you hear me now” guy you better watch your back.