There's an 12 year old notebook right on the front of firefly's homepage. It instantly makes this product look like it was from 2001. why do you do that?
They are trying to evoke the kind of user who provides the hardest challenge to support, and who would benefit the most from screen sharing during support.
It might be more clear if they had the text overlaid or above the image, so that the instant you see that filthy beast of a machine you know what they're saying. Instead of the momentary confusion about "what the heck is this thing doing here?"
Who knows. With a/b testing, probably them. :)
Way to obscure. It's not a indie film being analyzed in cinema class. It's a website image. It needs to not leave practically any chance for misinterpretation.
When's the last time you saw a laptop that old running one of those browsers? I typically see them running IE6 or 7.
Anything can be used to contrast. They chose a picture of a laptop. It's not your standard MacBook Air on a Crate & Barrel table a la ÜberConference.
I think it was smart.
Also, side note: I think it's interesting that we have shifted to default choice as Mac in these images. If you don't show a Mac product, then you're not pumping your brand the right way. That's an interesting observation.
Parent makes a very valid point and I wouldn't be surprised if A/B testing on that would reveal that a more modern laptop would put potential buyers more at ease...