A television commercial by a Taiwanese computer maker featuring an impersonation of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs hawking a tablet computer running the rival Android operating system has ignited a war of words in Taiwan and abroad.
In the advert posted to YouTube, popular Taiwanese comedian and impersonator Ah-Ken is seen dressed in Jobs' classic look: black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, round glasses and sneakers. There is also a moment at the end where he sports angel wings and a digital halo.
While many people have found it highly distasteful and disrespectful, others view it as amusing and inoffensive.
Though the advert does not mention Jobs or Apple by name, the lookalike says: 'Introducing the new generation of the pad. It is amazing. What more do we need?' The commercial ends with him saying: 'Thank God, I can finally play another pad.'
Devices running Google's Android operating system, such as the Action Pad featured in the commercial, compete with Apple products such as the iPad, and Jobs strongly derided the rival technology.
Ah-Ken first appeared dressed as Jobs during a press conference promoting the Action Pad on January 10. The TV advert first aired about a week later. However, it appears that the advert was yanked early this month amid the criticism, much of which could be found in international coverage of the advert by media outlets such as Reuters and CNN.
But some web users in Taiwan, accustomed to impersonations aired by local broadcasters almost every day, say it is not a big deal, and that the advert was meant to be amusing and catch viewers' attention by using a well-known figure.