You know, it's not totally inconceivable that the "Espionage" G4 commercial that popped up so mysteriously at AdCritic.com is actually part of a new look and feel for Apple commercials. Most of Apple's ads in recent years have been targeted squarely at consumers, with a high concentration of brightly-colored iMacs and iBooks whimsically dancing across unthreatening white backgrounds. That's all well and good when you're trying to attract first-time buyers who want a computer that's friendly enough to help them through their technophobia. But what about the professional users? The Power Mac G4 is user-friendly, sure, but that's probably not the right tack to take when trying to woo those high-end graphics professionals who crave speed, power, and style-- not round candy-colored style, but Graphite and silver, futuristic, this-thing-isn't-just-a-computer,-it's-a-weapon style. So why not make a commercial with a darker edge for the pros? And the hardcore gamers, for that matter? An iMac is great for people who want to play Bugdom, but the Quake-heads want a box that clearly says it's an implement of mayhem.

The reason we're going on about this is because AppleInsider's back from its month-long hiatus, and brings us more rumors of Apple's long-awaited multiprocessor line of G4 systems. Apparently Apple's supply problem with 500 MHz G4 chips has abated quite a bit, because now it looks like we'll soon see not only dual-processor G4s, but also quad-processor systems, each using the current top-of-the-line 500 MHz chips. Yes, if AppleInsider is correct, then when the new systems touch down at WWDC in two weeks, you'll be able to order up a box powered by a whopping 2000 MHz of blistering G4 speed. That's the kind of power you can use to obliterate the competition-- whether that competition is the graphic design firm down the street whose best client you just stole with your breathtaking turnaround time, or LORD_SKULLHED whose virtual corporeal form you just deftly turned into dog food via the liberal application of a few rockets.

So "faster" G4s are on the way-- they're sleek, they're stylish, and they're deadly, and Apple's going to need a commercial that gets that point across. Of course, that still doesn't mean that "Espionage" is a real Apple commercial that was leaked before its first scheduled airing; for one thing, you'd expect the ad to mention the new multiprocessor option, at least in passing. No, what we're really saying is that Apple should seriously consider an ad campaign along the darker stylistic lines of "Espionage." The iMac and iBook should appear unthreatening, but the PowerBooks and the new G4s should be made to look downright dangerous.