Cordata / Daewoo — “The Apple vs. IBM debate is over.”

A third party declaring a winner by selling you the hybrid. Peace treaty as product pitch.

What this ad is really doing

It hijacks a cultural argument and resolves it with a purchase. The “winner” isn’t Apple or IBM — it’s the vendor that claims compatibility with both.

Why it worked then

Computer choice was identity politics: platforms, software ecosystems, office standards. A compatibility machine promised safety — you wouldn’t bet wrong.

Why it feels unhinged now

The confidence is absolute, the layout is calm, and the promise is basically “you can stop thinking now.” It’s the dream of a world where technical anxiety can be solved by a single box.

Status: Alive (as a scan). Cause of death: ecosystems became subscriptions, not boxes.