Intel has just launched a TV ad campaign with actor Justin Long comparing PCs and Macs. Sound familiar? The premise – and the actor – have been taken from Apple's iconic Get A Mac campaign from the early 2000s. But this time Long isn't on the side of Apple; he's playing for the Intel-based PCs. The 'attack' ad comes after Apple went from being an Intel customer to a competitor late last year when it started to use its own Mac chips. But Apple can't complain considering its past adverts comparing itself to PCs... Click or scroll through to be reminded how that played out.

In 2006, after sales of its Mac computers had started to drop, Apple decided to use the power of advertising to change the world's opinion of its brands.The resulting Get A Mac campaign featured casually-dressed Justin Long (pictured right) as the 'Mac', and rather more stuffy-looking comedian John Hodgman as the 'PC'. The funny adverts put human faces and personalities to the two rival computer brands and, unsurprisingly, Apple's Mac always came out top. And that translated to sales, which were up by 39% by the end of the fiscal year. In fact, the campaign was so successful Apple made 66 different versions of the ad, and it ran for three years, which is a pretty long time in the world of advertising. Long has now returned 20 years later in an Intel advert that directly references this iconic campaign, but this time he's on the side of PCs. In one of the new ads he refers to his previous role "I'm a – Justin. Just a real person doing a real comparison between Mac and PC."

Whether it’s for a catchy jingle, a quirky storyline or even a long-fought rivalry, these iconic commercials from the 1940s up until the early 2000s have earned a place in the hearts of many. Click or scroll through to revisit some of the most memorable US TV adverts from the last 80 years.

Clothes detergent Tide was among the earliest advertisers to hit TV screens, promising us "The cleanest clean under the sun" in a merry jingle. In the ad, a young girl runs around a garden in immaculate white clothing, before she is picked up by her father as the voice-over tells us it's "the kind of clean you like best, next to those you love".

Nowadays, marketing companies often create new words to make their products sound fresh and exciting. But it's actually a technique that dates back many years, as this 1947 ad for General Motors 'Oldsmobile' car shows. "Futuramic is a brand new word created to describe this brand new postwar General Motors car", says the voice-over. While the car may look outdated now, it was indeed very modern for its time.

What have a peach and a hairbrush got in common? They've both been shaved by a Remington razor in this 1948 advert, to show that it could achieve both a close and comfortable shave, "no matter how tender your skin, no matter how tough your beard".

Shocking as it might seem today, this 1949 Camel advert hooked viewers by promising that the cigarette brand was the favourite of doctors – yes, you heard that right. The ad drew on results from a US national survey which found that "more doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette", landing the company with an instant strapline.

Gillette was one of the first brands to harness the power of celebrity when it used famous baseball players Roy Campanella, Don Zimmer, and Pee Wee Reese to get people to go out and buy their razors. Each player is shown using one of the three razors in Gillette's Super Speed range: light, regular and heavy. Marketed at $1.29 in the advert, that's the equivalent of $12.20 (£9.30) in today's money.

After Popeye made spinach cool, Cowboy Tom hit our screens and made kids want to eat Cheerios. Paired with a catchy jingle, the cartoon cowboy uses his lasso to capture wild animals and lifts them with his bare hands as we're told, "he's got go-power from Cheerios". The ad also appealed to adults with the promise that "Cheerios is made from energy-packed oats, made to give you the vitamins and minerals you need".

Remember Mr. Potato Head? Back when this iconic toy first entered the scene in 1952, it didn't even feature a body. Instead, it came with the plastic features that kids were meant to stick into real potatoes. This ad also features a vanity case and Doctor and Nurse kits, finishing with the simple slogan: "Hasbro makes great toys. It's fun to play with Hasbro!"

It may be a kitchen staple today, but dishwashing liquid was a brand new product when this advert was released in 1953. Unsurprisingly, the advert stresses the liquid's superiority to soap powder: "Joy in a bottle beats anything in a box". While the product has had many different reincarnations over the years, Joy remains a major US brand of dishwashing liquid.

Before we could listen to our favourite tracks from our mobile phones, we listened to music from "portable" radios like this one. RCA Victor's made a strong case for its durability in this ad, by dropping it from a ladder alongside an older radio. The "old-style" portable radio they compared it to broke into pieces while the RCA Victor radio remained completely intact.

In 1955 Band-Aid hatched a brilliant idea to sell their sticky band aids (plasters). The brand decided to prove the effectiveness of their band aids by brushing them, and their inferior competitors, against an egg to show how sticky they were.

This ad played on the idea of a well-kept secret to advertise their deodorant with the slogan "Mum's the word". In the ad, a spy slips a paper message on the floor next to another agent, which says "New MUM now has secret weapon", hinting at the deodorant's use of chemical M-3 to give all-day freshness.

Dove soap is one of the few products that looks almost the same now as it did 60 years ago. The product became a lasting hit as it offered more softness than regular soap, containing a quarter cleansing cream.

Catchy tunes and animated characters are still common features of kids' TV ads, and this commercial for Keds shoes is no exception. It features Kedso the clown singing the ad's jingle, whose chorus simply goes: "Keds! Kids! Keds!"

The iconic Barbie doll didn't rise to fame without a significant amount of advertising. This advert, which aired in 1959 during an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club, might seem dated now but was very much in keeping with its time. 

Tanning had been popular since the 1920s, when it became a mark of luxury associated with exotic holidays. However, not everyone could afford to go away, so when Coppertone released its Quick Tan (QT) in 1960, promising to replicate a natural tan indoors, it became an overnight sensation. The ad features a young couple dancing to a catchy jingle, flitting between indoors and outdoors to demonstrate that the product “tans you anytime / rain or shine”.

Few would recommend soda for weight loss today, but that’s exactly what this 1961 Coca-Cola commercial, featuring actress Connie Clausen, does. “There’s no waistline worry with Coke, you know”, states Clausen, adding, “This individual-sized bottle has no more calories than half a grapefruit.”

Who can forget Slinky?! This iconic toy made its way onto our screens in 1962, with a catchy ad that claimed "Everyone knows it's slinky!" In the ad we see Slinky making its way down stairs and being catapulted, showing its characteristic springiness.

Echoes of today's recognisable "Green Giant" jingle are contained in the song in this ad, in which Green Giant's unique selling point is the fact it contains little water compared to other brands. It's a classic 60s advert that appeals to both kids and adults.

Not all advertisements are light-hearted and cheerful. The 'Daisy' ad was used as part of Lydon B. Johnson's presidential campaign, depicting a young girl picking the petals off a daisy and counting, until the screen goes blank and we hear the sound of an explosion. Intended to signify the nuclear weapons which Johnson's opponent, Barry Goldwater, was in favour of, the ad helped Johnson win the election and has remained in collective memory ever since.

Pizza Hut's first ever commercial aired in 1965. In it, a man in a suit makes an order on the phone, then heads out in a comically-tiny red car, angering a neighbour who chases him down the street. He gets to Pizza Hut, picks up the pizzas and deposits them on the family dining table before they're snapped up. Simple, but effective.

By 1966, using well-known faces in ads was an established way of capturing people's attention. This Volkswagen advert sees movie star Dustin Hoffman singing the praises of the VW Fastback Sedan, showing us around the car and describing its features.

Female celebrities in shampoo ads are ubiquitous nowadays, a trend which began in the 1960s. In this ad, actress Lindsay Wagner arrives fresh out of the shower, complaining she can't go swimming as she's just washed her hair. But Twice As Nice saves the day and at the end she's pictured shiny-haired, walking off into the sea.

"How many licks?" That's the slogan that many will remember from this 1968 advert, in which an animated boy goes round asking various animals how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll centre of a Tootsie Pop (lollipop).

There's a good reason why COVERGIRL remains a best-selling global brand today, and that's advertising. In this ad, actress and model Cybill Shepherd showcases their products alongside a jingle "Now there's a new age, a new look, that's part of the scene", acknowledging the fresh-faced look that was coming into fashion in the late 1960s.

Taking a catchy tune and getting it stuck in viewers' heads is one of the oldest tricks in the book – and this jingle's one of the catchiest of all. "When you say Budweiser, you've said it all", so the song goes, during which a group of marching singers gradually join in, a US flag above their heads. Watch this and you'll have the song in your head all day...

Group singing in drink adverts seemed to be a theme in the early 1970s, as this famous Coca-Cola advert shows. "I'd like to buy the world a Coke" are the main lyrics, a spin on New Seeker's I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing. The commercial has become one of the most well-loved – and memorable – in history.

Playing on the fact that many kids are picky eaters, in 1972 Quaker Oats Company released a clever commercial for their Life cereal in which two boys shun the unknown breakfast food, saying “I’m not going to try it!”. So they pass it to their friend Mikey, saying, “He won’t eat it, he hates everything”, before discovering to their surprise he does – suggesting even the fussiest of kids will enjoy Life cereal.

Sometimes the simplest ads really are the most effective. This advert for Oscar Mayer bologna – smoked sausage – features a cute kid eating a sandwich while singing: "My bologna has a first name, it's O-s-c-a-r. My bologna has a second name, it's M-a-y-e-r."

Sometimes simplicity and silliness make for the best ads. In this 1974 commercial for Meow Mix cat food, a cat ‘meows’ to a jingle with subtitles showing what he’s really saying below: “I want turkey, salmon and chicken / oceanfish flavours keep me lickin”.

The 70s were when convenience food started to dominate the food market, so Campbell's soup was a big hit for those looking to save time and money. Hence the slogan in this advert: "Campbell's in the cupboard, like money in the bank".

Rolaids is a heartburn and indigestion treatment which was invented in the 1920s. In this 1976 commercial, people are asked, “How do you spell relief?” and they reply, “I spell relief R-O-L-A-I-D-S”. It also features a demonstration in which Rolaids is tested in laboratory acid and changes colour, which shows that Rolaids “consumes 47 times its weight in excess stomach acid”.

Set in a medieval monastery, this tongue-in-cheek ad begins: "Ever since people started recording information, there's been a need to duplicate it". A monk, upon presenting his writing to a fellow monk, is told to duplicate it 500 times. He shows up in an office and gets it copied with a Xerox machine, returning the copies quickly to his friend who proclaims, "It's a miracle!"

Trix used the winning formula of cartoons, bright colour and catchy songs to make this kids' TV advert memorable. In it, an animated bunny hops onto a ship singing "Trix Ahoy!" and sneaks a bowl of the colourful cereal away, before it's pinched by a parrot.

As the fast food industry boomed throughout the 1970s, Taco Bell wanted to remind its customers that it could still deliver high-quality, fresh food with the slogan: "The Fresh Food Place". The ad features a jolly tune and families eating at the fast food restaurant, cementing the idea that fast food could be a wholesome, family affair.

Video gaming began to reach mainstream popularity in the 1970s, so when Coleco released its ‘Head to Head’ line of electronic games in 1980, they quickly became a hit. In this ad, a scoreboard is used to show how Coelco’s baseball game compares to its competitors, with the tagline at the end: “It’s no contest! Get Head to Head Electronic Baseball by Coleco – now that you know the score”.

You may not have heard of John Moschiatta, but he's the fast-talking focus of this iconic ad, delivery instructions to employees at lightning pace. If you listen closely, he is actually saying real words. This effective, funny and memorable advert ends with: “In this fast-moving, high-pressure, get-it-done-yesterday-world, aren’t you glad there’s one company that can keep up with it all?” And in comes the FedEx logo.

The world-leading fast food brand wouldn't have got to where it is today without a whole lot of advertising. This advert suggests that, for those living busy lives, food on the go can be an essential, claiming that McDonald's "won't slow you down". It ends with the very persuasive slogan: "You deserve a break today".

Duracell has long used its signature bunnies to illustrate a simple point: that its batteries lasted longer than any other brand. In this ad, a group of drum-playing pink rabbits is seen, gradually running out of power until only the one powered by a Duracell battery remains.

"Where's the beef?" That's the memorable phrase that's barked down the phone by an elderly lady, after eating a tiny burger on large bread. In an attempt to throw shade at McDonald's this quirky ad claims "At Wendy's, the hamburger we modestly call a single has more beef than the Big Mac Whole Whopper". Ouch.

Who remembers the release of the first ever Nintendo Entertainment System? This ad marks its historic release, enticing viewers with the question: "Will you be the one to witness the birth of the incredible Nintendo Entertainment System?" To today's viewers, it may look dated, but kids from the 1980s will remember the hype.

Discover how Nintendo went from playing cards to Animal Crossing and conquered the world of gaming

Those who grew up in the 1980s are also sure to remember this quirky commercial for California Raisins. In it, a host of dancing raisins bust some moves to an aptly chosen song, I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. The commercial was wildly popular and even led to a line of merchandise featuring the dancing raisins themselves, as well as a fan club dedicated to the California Raisins created in 1987. 

Friends fans will be pleased to know that Matt LeBlanc had some fun roles before the hit sitcom – like this Heinz ad. In it, he balances a glass ketchup bottle at the top of a building, before heading downstairs, buying a hot dog and holding it out at just the right time for a dollop of ketchup to fall onto it. It's ludicrous, fun and charming ending with the slogan: "Heinz. The best things come to those who wait".

Marking the birth of the iconic "Just Do It" slogan, this ad features 80-year-old Walt Stack, a wisened runner who tells us he runs 17 miles every morning. We see him running over a bridge as he says, "People ask me how I keep my teeth from chattering in the winter time... I leave them in my locker". It's the perfect combination of funny and inspiring, and certainly lends weight to the famous slogan.

Now read: From Nike to IKEA, big companies that started small

Energizer made a not-so-subtle dig at competitors Duracell with this ad, which is a parody of Duracell's 1983 'bunnies' commercial. The drum-playing bunnies are back, with the voice-over saying, "For years, you've seen some commercials where one battery outlasts the others, so you may have assumed their battery outlasts even Energizer". On cue a brighter, livelier bunny enters thumping a bigger drum, followed by the warning/slogan: "A word to the wise: Energize".

Who remembers this classic 1990s game? "It's the craziest trap you'll ever see", or so says the jingle, while cartoon animals and kids show us the game's fun features. If you want a slice of 1990s nostalgia, watch this and you won't be disappointed.

Cindy Crawford could probably make anything look good – but it's this advert's humour that makes it memorable. Crawford, dressed in denim shorts and a tank top, steps out of a car and swishes her hair, unaware of the audience of young boys watching from afar. She heads to a vending machine, buys a Pepsi and starts drinking it, as one of the boys says: "Is that a great new Pepsi can or what?"

Michael Jordan featured in more than his share of commercials during the 1990s and 2000s, since any product associated with the basketball legend was pretty much guaranteed to sell. In this 1992 ad for Wheaties, Jordan shoots and misses a goal, before saying: “Ah! I better eat my Wheaties”.

It was 1993 when the famous "Got Milk?" slogan was born. We see a man spreading peanut butter on a sandwich and eating it, while in the background a radio quiz presenter asks a question he knows the answer to. He calls up the radio show host, only to find he can't speak because his mouth is jammed with peanut butter – but when he reaches for milk to wash it down with, there's only a drop left. In comes the iconic slogan "Got Milk?"

IKEA made history in 1994, being the first company to feature a gay couple in a mainstream TV commercial. The couple discuss how they will furnish their new apartment, laughing about their different tastes and commenting on how well-made IKEA's furniture is. The advert ends with the slogan "It's a big country. Someone's got to furnish it", hinting at the universal appeal of their furniture.

Ingvar Kamprad: the story of Ikea's enimagtic founder

Who remembers this? Three frogs are the stars of these commercials that ran from 1995-2000, in which they croak oat the syllables "Bud - weis - er". It's a memorable, witty and deceptively simple formula that helped keep Budweiser as a firm favourite across the world.

Bagel Bites gained popularity in the 1990s thanks to this ad, featuring a catchy jingle. Altered from The McGuire Sisters' 1957 single Sugartime, the song goes: “Pizza in the morning / Pizza in the evenin' / Pizza at suppertime! / When pizza's on a bagel / You can eat pizza anytime!” 

Michael Jordan's appeal was also harnessed by Nike in the 1990s, in a fitting collaboration for the basketball player. For Nike, aspiration has always been a big selling point, an image which sports stars such as Jordan helped to maintain. In this advert, the basketball player is seen in action, while his voice-over explains the importance of failure: "I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." 

Here's one that 1990s kids will remember: the ever-infuriating and addictive game Bop It! Two years after the popular toy was released, this ad showcases how easy it is to get hooked on it, ending with the slogan: "Once you get your hands on Bop It!, you're not gonna want to stop it!" How right they were.

Adding to Budweiser's string of memorable commercials, this ad won over viewers with its beloved catchphrase. In it, a group of young men say to each other "Whassup!" at increasing volumes, much to their own delight and amusement. Despite not saying much about the beer itself, the catchy ad has often been called the best beer commercial of all time.

Now read: From Starbucks to Sony, brands that changed their name

This witty and ridiculous advert comes from IT company EDS simply trying to explain what it is the company actually does. In it, a group of "cat herders" in the Wild West explain the nature of their nonsensical job. "Herdin' cats... don't let anybody tell you it's easy", says one, while others show the scratches they've got from it. It ends with an off-piste analogy: "In a sense, this is what we do. We bring together information, ideas, and technologies... and make them go where you want".

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