New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices

[donga]

I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10205668-71.html)

i saw this during the games tonight too. what do you guys think? of course macs are cooler... ;)

[chaosbunny]

Damn I wanted to buy a pc today but that add changed my mind.

[the vj]

Ok... PCs are cheaper but... you get to run Windows...

I have saying for thta: is not the place, is the company.

[Thomas Veil]

So they're selling it entirely on price. Clever of them, in a way, because they're taking advantage of the bad economy.

Be interesting to see how Apple answers this. IMO, it's a fair criticism. I don't know how many people I know who'd like a laptop but have turned down Apple flat-out because of the price. Maybe we need the laptop equivalent of a Mac mini. (Pricewise...not a laptop without a screen, smartass! ;) )

[garybUK]

So they're selling it entirely on price. Clever of them, in a way, because they're taking advantage of the bad economy.

Be interesting to see how Apple answers this. IMO, it's a fair criticism. I don't know how many people I know who'd like a laptop but have turned down Apple flat-out because of the price. Maybe we need the laptop equivalent of a Mac mini. (Pricewise...not a laptop without a screen, smartass! ;) )

I turned down a Apple laptop purely on price, for the money i got a HP with way better specs, just didn't make economical sense. (This was my sisters when she broke her macbook, insurance paid out).

[jmann]

I'm not cool enough to be a pc person. :D

[yetanotherdave]

Here's the laptop she got for $700
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&st=HP+17+inch+laptop&type=product&id=1218041148373
It may be 17", but it's got poor resolution for the screen size, slower ram, questonable CPU, rubbish battery, 100Mb (not gigabit) ethernet, G wireless, shared graphics memory. Comes with Vista, the list goes on.

There's a reason it's cheap...

[iBlue]

I rather like that Microsoft have given a few little jabs back at Apple, who have previously been taking jabs at PCs for years.

[Voidness]

Yes, everyone knows Macs generally have a higher price tag. What's new here?

And a $699 17" Notebook? Has anyone seen how horrifically bad the screen on those notebooks are?

[Davieis]

And an amazing 2 hour battery life!

[AppleMatt]

It makes out she's a regular-Jo. But it turns out she's an actress:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/165113.asp
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j21_czE2W3qfqjnCXv_pZEimzGNQD975VIA80

Not that I'm shocked - adverts use actors. Just it's a bit misleading, in my eyes.

It's on Daring Fireball too but couldn't be bothered to find the article link.

AppleMatt

[kymac]

And an amazing 2 hour battery life!

thats more than i get on my macbook pro :(

[Perrumpo]

So they're selling it entirely on price. Clever of them, in a way, because they're taking advantage of the bad economy.

Be interesting to see how Apple answers this. IMO, it's a fair criticism. I don't know how many people I know who'd like a laptop but have turned down Apple flat-out because of the price. Maybe we need the laptop equivalent of a Mac mini. (Pricewise...not a laptop without a screen, smartass! ;) )

Netbook, anyone?:D

[mkrishnan]

I agree. She's not cool enough to meet my standards.

[foshizzle]

Apple can come back with an ad where they get that same exact laptop from best buy, get it's vista experience rating number, then install vista on a macbook pro 17" and get it's Vista experience rating. Im willing to bet it would be much higher than that laptop from best buy, maybe even if they installed it in a virtual machine without even running bootcamp it might get a better score. Then show how long the battery lasts on the two.

Point: sure you can get a cheaper laptop running windows, but the mac that you didnt buy because it was 'too expensive' is loads better than that PC you just bought. Sony marks their prices up, so I'm sure if you got a 17" from them, it'd be the same amount as a macbook pro and im still not convinced it'd get the same vista rating as the mac would.

Apple isnt going to make crap. My two year old MBP 2.2 ghz is just as fast as it was when i got it, not running slow because of malware or having to run a virus scanner every time it boots (which it does in about 30 seconds). On the other hand, even just my XP virtual machine is dogging after a year of having it installed..on a virtual machine that all i have on it is office 2003 and some software for my job! I used PCs up until 4 years ago, and every one I've had was full of crap after I bought it! dell or HP or Gateway, they all would fill it up with trial programs of this and that. You try to uninstall them but it is to no avail. Then you have to put virus protection on it, which decides to run at the most inconvenient times, slowing down the entire computer. My family gave away all of our PCs after moving completely to macs. They werent even worth selling, and a couple were a year or two old.

[gollum]

Funny part is the ad agency Microsoft hired "Crispin Porter + Boguksy" use Macs.

[yg17]

That's like giving people $10,000 to buy a car and then saying that since they got a Kia, it must mean that Audis and BMWs are overpriced :rolleyes:

[neiltc13]

Here's the laptop she got for $700
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&st=HP+17+inch+laptop&type=product&id=1218041148373
It may be 17", but it's got poor resolution for the screen size, slower ram, questonable CPU, rubbish battery, 100Mb (not gigabit) ethernet, G wireless, shared graphics memory. Comes with Vista, the list goes on.

There's a reason it's cheap...

So? What if she wants a 17" notebook because she's a student who wants the biggest screen possible in her dorm, but still some sort of portability for when she travels home in summer?

There are plenty of reasons why people would buy these machines.

Microsoft are advertising to consumers - they do not care about gigabit ethernet or Wireless N. They don't care about screen viewing angles. They don't care about shared graphics memory either.

Now we're on that, doesn't Apple sell a computer with a smaller screen, lower resolution, poor viewing angles, shared graphics memory and rubbish battery? Yeah. And it costs nearly double what this girl paid for her computer.

[MacBoobsPro]

You get what you pay for.

[techfreak85]

i like how they emphasize the price points for a "17 inch". they dont even compare the specs. oh i can get a 17 inch P.O.C for 700 bucks, but! it still is 17 inch and thats all that matters!;)

[neiltc13]

i like how they emphasize the price points for a "17 inch". they dont even compare the specs. oh i can get a 17 inch P.O.C for 700 bucks, but! it still is 17 inch and thats all that matters!;)

It may be all that matters if she wants a big screen to watch movies on which is also a portable laptop.

[techfreak85]

It may be all that matters if she wants a big screen to watch movies on which is also a portable laptop.

17inch is pushing the portability factor, imo

[Perrumpo]

i like how they emphasize the price points for a "17 inch". they dont even compare the specs. oh i can get a 17 inch P.O.C for 700 bucks, but! it still is 17 inch and thats all that matters!;)

Of course. They're going to choose Apple's top of the line. The sad thing is, loads of people will fall for these ads even though comparing the 17" MacBook Pro to the 17" PC in this ad is like apples and oranges.

[neiltc13]

Of course. They're going to choose Apple's top of the line. The sad thing is, loads of people will fall for these ads even though comparing the 17" MacBook Pro to the 17" PC in this ad is like apples and oranges.

In what way? Apart from price, the machines are pretty similar.

Both have dual core processors, both have 4GB RAM, both have a 17" screen, both have a 320GB hard drive, both have a DVD-RW drive, both have built in webcams, both have a one year warranty.

The only area where the MacBook Pro will likely outperform the HP is in battery life, but then, I don't want to be one to fall for Apple's marketing garbage on that. I'm promised 5 hours on my MacBook, I get closer to 2 and a half.

[dL.]

What's the point of this? Oh PC has more varieties and choices? Oh I didn't know that :rolleyes:

dL

[Perrumpo]

In what way? Apart from price, the machines are pretty similar.

Both have dual core processors, both have 4GB RAM, both have a 17" screen, both have a 320GB hard drive, both have a DVD-RW drive, both have built in webcams, both have a one year warranty.

The only area where the MacBook Pro will likely outperform the HP is in battery life, but then, I don't want to be one to fall for Apple's marketing garbage on that. I'm promised 5 hours on my MacBook, I get closer to 2 and a half.

For the reasons yetanotherdave listed, as well as the fact that you're getting a superior OS and an aluminum, unibody machine. As I said, the general public will most likely not be concerned with such things, but that doesn't mean they're irrelevant.

[Consultant]

I guess she should join forces with the Zune Tatoo Guy ;)
(who eventually got sick of the poor usability of his Zune and got rid of the zune tatoo)

17inch is pushing the portability factor, imo

Not for an Apple laptop.

I carry my 17" MBP around every day as a 17" iPod, video iPhone (ichat / skype), portable office, internet communicator, gaming platform, etc.

Of course. They're going to choose Apple's top of the line. The sad thing is, loads of people will fall for these ads even though comparing the 17" MacBook Pro to the 17" PC in this ad is like apples and oranges.

Here are the spec comparison.
[http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=675665&page=2#33

[neiltc13]

For the reasons yetanotherdave listed, as well as the fact that you're getting a superior OS and an aluminum, unibody machine. As I said, the general public will most likely not be concerned with such things, but that doesn't mean they're irrelevant.

The ad highlights the fact that if you buy a PC you are much more likely to get a computer that meets your needs than if you buy a Mac. If you want to pay double or triple the price to get a different case, then that's up to you.

[dejo]

I'm promised up to 5 hours on my MacBook...
Fixed that for ya! :)

[Perrumpo]

The ad highlights the fact that if you buy a PC you are much more likely to get a computer that meets your needs than if you buy a Mac. If you want to pay double or triple the price to get a different case, then that's up to you.

If you buy a PC, you're much more likely to get a computer that meets your financial needs. Otherwise, the Mac is more likely to meet your needs since it includes better specs.

[neiltc13]

If you buy a PC, you're much more likely to get a computer that meets your financial needs. Otherwise, the Mac is more likely to meet your needs since it includes better specs.

Not true. The ad shows someone who wants a 17" laptop. She got one for a fraction of the cost Apple wanted for their machine. The Apple system would not have met her needs any more than the HP computer.

You can never separate your financial needs from your other needs, so why bother saying that Apple's machines will only suit you if money is no object?

[Benguitar]

"I'm a PC and I got just what I wanted."

- The great thing about a Macintosh is you get more than what you wanted. You get everything you would ever need as a standard consumer.

Whatever, Lauren have fun with your Piece-of-Crap

[Perrumpo]

Not true. The ad shows someone who wants a 17" laptop. She got one for a fraction of the cost Apple wanted for their machine. The Apple system would not have met her needs any more than the HP computer.

Fraction of the cost - exactly my point. Sorry, but screen size is not the only factor for someone's laptop needs. We don't know exactly what her other needs were, but it's neither here nor there. In an objective situation, the 17" MacBook Pro is more likely to meet someone's needs than the 17" HP because it is more powerful and higher quality. Period.

You can never separate your financial needs from your other needs, so why bother saying that Apple's machines will only suit you if money is no object?

As for the former, of course you can. As for the latter, when did I say that? In fact, I disagree with it.

[Abstract]

Yep, she got exactly what she wanted, so there's nothing more to it, really. In terms of actual hardware tech specs, she got a computer that's somewhat comparable to the 17" MBP. It's just the battery life, weight, size, LCD panel quality, and a bit of speed that she's missing. ;)


However, the situation used in the ad is fairly realistic. The 17" MBP is definitely a better laptop, but the slight benefits the 17" MBP will make to most consumers is not enough to warranty paying 4 times the price, especially if they're not all that into computers to begin with. Ask my girlfriend if she's happy with her computer, and she'll ask you what there is to be happy about. :confused:

Another example: I'm sure my $150 earphones aren't as good as a pair of $1000 Sennheisers or UEs, but I'm no less happy with them because there comes a point where it's not worth spending more to get back what I perceive to be little benefit in return. However, if you ask an audiophile, and they'll tell you that the benefits of the $500 to $1000 earphones are obvious, and worth the extra money. Well that's only true to an audiophile, just like the differences between computers only has value to those who care about such things. ;) To me, I get what I need from both my $100+ in-ears.


And she said she'd need to double her ($1000) budget to buy a 17" MBP. Where did she find such an awesome discount? :D :p The ad should have said "triple her budget".

[neiltc13]

Fraction of the cost - exactly my point. Sorry, but screen size is not the only factor for someone's laptop needs. We don't know exactly what her other needs were, but it's neither here nor there. In an objective situation, the 17" MacBook Pro is more likely to meet someone's needs than the 17" HP because it is more powerful and higher quality. Period.

As for the former, of course you can. As for the latter, when did I say that? In fact, I disagree with it.

I've heard people say "I want a 17" laptop" or "I want a tiny laptop" - the reality is that some people do use this as the only criteria for selecting a machine. The problem is that Apple uses screen size increments to also add other components which may be just as desirable to buyers of the cheapest machine. Backlit keyboard is a prime example - it's a couple of LEDs which cost a tiny amount to manufacture, yet you can only get it if you pay more.

"Higher quality" is debatable. I suppose you haven't read the articles explaining that the 17" MBPs have faulty GPUs. Provided the components don't fail in either machine, I don't see a difference in "quality". They have different enclosures, but that doesn't mean that one or the other is of greater "quality".

I really resent the ideas that people on this site and other forums put forward that Windows machines are in some way inferior to Macs. I've had plenty of problems with my Windows machines and I've had plenty of problems with my Macs. I have noticed that in recent years and particularly since Windows XP SP2 stability on Windows has improved massively. Looking at Windows 7, it seems like that is going to get even better.

I can't say the same about my Mac. I loved using OS X Tiger, it was rock solid and it always did what I wanted it to. Since upgrading to Leopard though, I've noticed a much greater number of program crashes and sluggishness from the OS. Let's hope that Apple take a leaf from Microsoft's book and make improvements rather than spoiling what's good.

[Consultant]

Not true. The ad shows someone who wants a 17" laptop. She got one for a fraction of the cost Apple wanted for their machine. The Apple system would not have met her needs any more than the HP computer.

You can never separate your financial needs from your other needs, so why bother saying that Apple's machines will only suit you if money is no object?

Looks like someone should have gotten a Yugo (http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1658545_1658533_1658529,00.html) because it costs much less than a Ferrari.

They both have 4 wheels, doors, seats, and get a person to the destination, so OMG there must be NO difference between them by your definition. :rolleyes:

Do I smell sourgrapes?

[ucfgrad93]

So they're selling it entirely on price. Clever of them, in a way, because they're taking advantage of the bad economy.

Be interesting to see how Apple answers this. IMO, it's a fair criticism. I don't know how many people I know who'd like a laptop but have turned down Apple flat-out because of the price. Maybe we need the laptop equivalent of a Mac mini. (Pricewise...not a laptop without a screen, smartass! ;) )

Agreed, it is a fair criticism. However, the price of Macs is worth it in my opinion.

[notjustjay]

- The great thing about a Macintosh is you get more than what you wanted. You get everything you would ever need as a standard consumer.


Yup. Wasn't it Henry Ford who said that if he asked people what they wanted, they would have asked for faster horses?

Lauren got just what she THINKS she wanted.

I know several people who recently switched to MacBooks. These are average every-day PC users, not power users or Mac/PC experts. They are continually being impressed by one more feature they just discovered on their Macs that they never knew about, never thought to ask for, but can't live without now. I hear it all the time now -- "Wow - it can do that?!" Or, more importantly, "Wow, I can do that?!"

[bigjnyc]

It's true you can get some nicely spec'd computers for really cheap but all that ram and processing power wont help you when the crappy operating system in it starts getting bogged down with spyware, registry crap, etc.... and your computer slows down after a few months. Thats what a lot of people just don't understand..... I have nothing against hardware manufacturers there are some good ones out there but a computer is only as good as the OS controlling it. A good example of this is you can have the best and ultimate graphics card ever made but if the drivers for it arent programmed to bring out its full potential then what do you have?

[Perrumpo]

I've heard people say "I want a 17" laptop" or "I want a tiny laptop" - the reality is that some people do use this as the only criteria for selecting a machine. The problem is that Apple uses screen size increments to also add other components which may be just as desirable to buyers of the cheapest machine. Backlit keyboard is a prime example - it's a couple of LEDs which cost a tiny amount to manufacture, yet you can only get it if you pay more.

Like I already said, I agree that loads of people aren't going to be concerned with the differences that exist between the two machines. In this woman's case, the HP was much more suitable. That doesn't mean, however, that the Mac is not the superior machine. In this comparison, it is, plain and simple. Ergo, it's more likely to meet a person's needs, granted they have use for such power.

"Higher quality" is debatable. I suppose you haven't read the articles explaining that the 17" MBPs have faulty GPUs. Provided the components don't fail in either machine, I don't see a difference in "quality". They have different enclosures, but that doesn't mean that one or the other is of greater "quality".

Ehh, it's too open for opinion. In mine, the Mac has higher quality in a general sense, but to each his own.

[chaosbunny]

I think it's strange that the ad doesn't focus on a microsoft product. We know now that hp makes cheap computers. Cool. Hoooray for hp!

Microsoft should focus on comparing their OS to apples OS, not comparing a hp notebook to an apple notebook.

As far as this goes, Lauren could say "wow, what a nice laptop to run osx86 on" in the end.

[neiltc13]

It's true you can get some nicely spec'd computers for really cheap but all that ram and processing power wont help you when the crappy operating system in it starts getting bogged down with spyware, registry crap, etc.... and your computer slows down after a few months. Thats what a lot of people just don't understand..... I have nothing against hardware manufacturers there are some good ones out there but a computer is only as good as the OS controlling it.

In the past Windows had issues like you describe. These days though, Microsoft has pretty much solved all of those problems so it really is not a valid argument to use when comparing Windows to OS X. I would love to hear some recent, real life examples of this occurring but I doubt there are many which don't involve some degree of user incompetence.

A good example of this is you can have the best and ultimate graphics card ever made but if the drivers for it arent programmed to bring out its full potential then what do you have?

A Mac Pro.

I think it's strange that the ad doesn't focus on a microsoft product. We know now that hp makes cheap computers. Cool. Hoooray for hp!

Microsoft should focus on comparing their OS to apples OS, not comparing a hp notebook to an apple notebook.

As far as this goes, Lauren could say "wow, what a nice laptop to run osx86 on" in the end.

When HP sells a laptop with Windows installed on it, Microsoft makes money.

[chaosbunny]

I would love to hear some recent, real life examples of this occurring but I doubt there are many which don't involve some degree of user incompetence.

Yes and Lauren looks like a pretty competent user to me. I bet she works in IT support or something! :D

When HP sells a laptop with Windows installed on it, Microsoft makes money.

Sure but that hp is still not a microsoft product. Why don't they focus on the advantages of their own products? Oh, wait a minute... :)

[Perrumpo]

Sure but that hp is still not a microsoft product. Why don't they focus on the advantages of their own products? Oh, wait a minute... :)

hahah, exactly. And it's a smart move on Microsoft's part what with the economy, their inferior OS, and the sheep of the general public.

[neiltc13]

hahah, exactly. And it's a smart move on Microsoft's part what with the economy, their inferior OS, and the sheep of the general public.

In what way is it inferior?

[dejo]

In what way is it inferior?
neiltc13 would like to argue the inferiority of OSes, Perrumpo. Cancel or Allow? ;)

[Perrumpo]

In what way is it inferior?
neiltc13 would like to argue the inferiority of OSes, Perrumpo. Cancel or Allow? ;)

(tee-hee)

[techfreak85]

neiltc13 would like to argue the inferiority of OSes, Perrumpo. Cancel or Allow? ;)

allow...*sigh*
http://i.zdnet.com/blogs/getamac_cancelorallow.jpg

[mkrishnan]

I think it's strange that the ad doesn't focus on a microsoft product. We know now that hp makes cheap computers. Cool. Hoooray for hp!

Microsoft should focus on comparing their OS to apples OS, not comparing a hp notebook to an apple notebook.

As far as this goes, Lauren could say "wow, what a nice laptop to run osx86 on" in the end.

I think one should admit, at least, that it's slightly more focused on their products than the recent failboat excursion with Captains Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. Plus... the last major ad campaign from MS that focused on their product was... Mojave. Yeah.

[Goona]

In what way? Apart from price, the machines are pretty similar.

Both have dual core processors, both have 4GB RAM, both have a 17" screen, both have a 320GB hard drive, both have a DVD-RW drive, both have built in webcams, both have a one year warranty.

The only area where the MacBook Pro will likely outperform the HP is in battery life, but then, I don't want to be one to fall for Apple's marketing garbage on that. I'm promised 5 hours on my MacBook, I get closer to 2 and a half.

So I guess this 699 HP is better than Apple's top of the line laptop.

What's the point of this? Oh PC has more varieties and choices? Oh I didn't know that :rolleyes:

dL

She wants the Mac, goes to the Apple store first, realizes she's not cool enough for Mac so goes and buys the cheap PC.

[Goona]

The ad highlights the fact that if you buy a PC you are much more likely to get a computer that meets your needs than if you buy a Mac. If you want to pay double or triple the price to get a different case, then that's up to you.

No it just shows you're too cheap for a Mac so you can stick your cheap garbage PC.

[question fear]

The thing is, how many users actually use or need a 17 inch laptop? How many are satisfied with a widescreen 14 inch laptop? The problem is that if you compare a comparable PC laptop to a macbook, it's a fairer fight (because the reduced size/weight for an hp laptop that has a 14 inch screen is probably going to bump the price up within spitting distance of a macbook). But a 17 inch laptop exists in two very different categories: the high end power laptop category (MBP) and the desktop replacement category (HP featured in the ad). They're competing for different users entirely, so there's a vast price differential.

Of course, they could do the same ad with someone looking for a small, lightweight laptop for schoolwork and notes, but Microsoft doesn't want to encourage people to buy too many netbooks. :p

[Goona]

Agreed, it is a fair criticism. However, the price of Macs is worth it in my opinion.

So what about the PC's that cost more than Macs, should they also be criticizing them.

[Goona]

I think it's strange that the ad doesn't focus on a microsoft product. We know now that hp makes cheap computers. Cool. Hoooray for hp!

Microsoft should focus on comparing their OS to apples OS, not comparing a hp notebook to an apple notebook.

As far as this goes, Lauren could say "wow, what a nice laptop to run osx86 on" in the end.

You want them to actually mention that disaster Vista in an ad, they are not even comparing their actual product because they know how disgraceful it is. Shame on them.

[evilgEEk]

Poor Microsoft and their pathetic attempts at advertising.

So many people get hung up on the price, but you get what you pay for, and I'm not talking just hardware.

If you want a $600 laptop then a Mac isn't for you, simple as that. Apple seems to be doing just dandy as a company with things as they are.

I will continue to purchase Apple computers because I feel they offer a vastly superior product.

:)

[.Andy]

Everyone in this thread isn't cool enough to own a mac either.

[NT1440]

I just dont understand why Microsoft feels it so desperately has to go after Apple. MS makes an OS, not hardware, but this ad is clearly about the price of hardware. I'd love to see a commercial of some guy walking into a Best Buy and seeing the ridiculous price of the 5 (its 5 right?) versions of Vista, and then walking into an Apple store to see OSX in its entirety for $150.

Apple has to go after MS in its ads, why MS thinks it has to go after Apple is beyond me.

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/27/new-microsoft-ad-campaign-targets-mac-prices/)

Microsoft has begun a new ad campaign focused on pricing differences between Macs and PCs. The most prominent piece of the campaign deployed so far has been a TV commercial in which "Lauren" is given a $1000 budget with which to find a 17" notebook computer. After a brief stop at a "Mac Store" where she comes away empty-handed noting that the only computer available for under $1000 has a 13" screen and saying "I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person," she settles on a $699 HP notebook from Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&st=hp+dv7&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1218041148373).


Another aspect of Microsoft's new campaign is web banner ads that have begun appearing today on a number of sites, including The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com). The ads feature two "slot machines", each showing either a Mac or a PC and two other items meant to illustrate how much extra spending money a PC purchaser would have left over to spend on other items when compared to a Mac purchaser. The ads are interactive, allowing users to click to "spin again" and see different combinations of items.

http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/03/27/153542-choosepc_500.png

Article Link: New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/03/27/new-microsoft-ad-campaign-targets-mac-prices/)

[Old Muley]

I'm not un-cool enough to own a PC.

-or-

I'm too cool not to own a Mac.

[claimed4all]

Its funny stuff. An article on Gizmodo has a guy that will give his 17" G4 mac to her so she can really decide which is better.

Link to article (http://i.gizmodo.com/5187031/lauren-we-have-someone-whod-like-to-talk-to-you)

[stagi]

I think its lame (comparing apples to bananas) but in this economy a pretty smart ad

[wgilles]

I believe in "You get what you pay for"
I've owned several PCs and after I "paid double" for a Mac I decided never to go back. They are built better than PCs, offer more hardware and flexibility than PCs, and not to mention the wonderful customer support I have received from Apple. Not like HP...I mean HP India.

This ad sucks, get original Microsoft.:apple:

[Shtekeris]

yeah, real Mac Rumors

[mikeinternet]

nope. you're not cool enough.

[11800506]

I saw the ad last night and overall I find it slight annoying, but it definitely is a much better campaign than the Seinfield ads and "I'm a PC" ads. Those were just obnoxious.

While I love Apple and their products, Microsoft does make the point that Apple could lower the prices on some of their products to better compete. While I'm not expecting them to anytime soon, competition is always better for the consumer so we'll see how Apple responds to the ads.

But I did find the "I guess I'm not cool enough" thing to be a little funny.

[andrew0122]

I'm curious if the 17" HP would still be under $1000 after 3 years.

My HP had to be replaced after only 2 years and 3 months. :mad:

Then I got my iMac and have never gone back. :D

[wgilles]

Its funny stuff. An article on Gizmodo has a guy that will give his 17" G4 mac to her so she can really decide which is better.

Link to article (http://i.gizmodo.com/5187031/lauren-we-have-someone-whod-like-to-talk-to-you)

HAHAHA, this is great!

[CWallace]

Well Macs have generally been more expensive then Windows PCs so I'm not sure this is really going to be "news" to the general public.

Then again, you do tend to get what you paid for... ;)

[jmau09]

This commerical basically calling PC's cheap hardware
Maybe this will just get people to save up to buy a mac :rolleyes:

[iHavenolife]

congrats lauren, you went around looking blindly for a computer and you found a cheap windows one.

[slapppy]

I would pocket the cash and save up to get a MacBook Pro. :)

[apearlman]

That's a good ad, and its message is timely with people trying to cut back on expenses these days. The direct shot at Apple is unusual for Microsoft.

[wgilles]

Here's another thing to think about. My MBP will be worth ~1000 dollars in 2 years, but that HP will be worth 100...

[mikeinternet]

I heard these ads will range in budgets from $700 to $2000. I'm curious to see how the one with the $2000 budget will not prefer mac.

[slb]

Kind of lame to take advantage of the down economy like that. I doubt it will work, though. Microsoft advertising never seems to have much of an impact on their sales.

[iPave]

Hope this will urge Apple to cut prices

[neiltc13]

I just dont understand why Microsoft feels it so desperately has to go after Apple. MS makes an OS, not hardware, but this ad is clearly about the price of hardware. I'd love to see a commercial of some guy walking into a Best Buy and seeing the ridiculous price of the 5 (its 5 right?) versions of Vista, and then walking into an Apple store to see OSX in its entirety for $150.

If you're buying OS X then Apple already made a good deal of money out of you selling you (likely overpriced) hardware. Microsoft makes nothing on the hardware.

There are 5 different versions, so what? It's not worse, it's just different.

[nanvinnie]

the way i see it, when i bought my mbp, i bought 2 computers in one. an apple and a pc. with bootcamp and vmware, i think i got a bargain.

[greenbreadmmm]

they forget that there getting vista instead of leopard, a crappy components hp and a **** screen. you get what you pay for

[11800506]

Here's another thing to think about. My MBP will be worth ~1000 dollars in 2 years, but that HP will be worth 100...

I can certainly attest to that. I recently sold my 1.5 year old fully loaded HP laptop so I could get a Macbook Pro and the best I could muster selling it for was $600. This was a $2000 machine (I don't know what I was thinking).

[Grimace]

Great idea with the spinning thing, but I'll still take a twig and thumbtack over skydiving lessons and a crappy Toshiba notebook.

[wgilles]

I also noticed she's driving a VW...looks new...maybe she should sell that and buy a cheaper car while she's at it. Let's see if Ford gives her 20 grand to buy a new car.

[acxz]

I think it's a fair point well made. The Apple Tax is stupendously high now, particularly here in the UK. I love my iMac and Macbook, don't get me wrong, but if all someone needs is something to browse the internet and keep their files on, it's a lot of money to pay.

[jibern]

Have a d-link router... don't want it.

[.Andy]

Are PC users more likely to be incontinent?

http://att.macrumors.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=164405&d=1238183371

[dwd3885]

This is a good ad and a good marketing strategy for Microsoft. And I think it will work. You can nitpick at the things they don't say, but you can do the same with Apple ads and any ad for that matter.

This is smart, those who say it isn't are just Apple fanboys.

[Schtumple]

I guess Microsoft has gotten pretty pissed over the I'm a Mac adverts... Is it just me, or does it seem like when Microsoft does things like this, it's like they're picking on the little kid in the playground, MS has what 95% global market share? Apple has 3%?

Does it really need to these "real life reality it's real cause it's a real person trying to be real by being zanny because she's a real person not being paid by a massive conglomerate to promote PC's because she's real and hip and real" adverts, are they that worried everyone's going to move to Macs just by seeing an advert...?

Apple will never have a high global market share, by making these adverts it's like Walmart spitting all over the corner shop, just seems a bit petty...

[Enigmafan420]

The comparison is not a true Apples to Apples (no pun intended) comparison.

Sure you CAN get an HP laptop for $700-but it does not compare to a MBP in terms of spec or software.

How much $$ is your time worth? The time you won't have to spend on a MBP getting rid of crappy software that comes preinstalled on the HP that you will NEVER use?

How much time will you save by not having to deal with Windows BSODs?

How much money will you save by not having to buy anti spyware, anti-virus, and anti...?

Once again, M$ presents only 1/2 the story. I guess I expect nothing more from them.

[Tallest Skil]

...Mac[s]... ...offer more hardware and flexibility than PCs...

This is an Internet first for me.

Ar. Oh. Tee. Eff. Ell.

Absolute nonsense.:D

[themoonisdown09]

Hope this will urge Apple to cut prices

This won't happen. If you compare a PC with the same specs as a Mac, there is not really a price difference.

Yes, there are cheap PCs out there, but that is comparing apples to oranges.

Apple doesn't sell cheap computers, they sell premium computers.

[Morod]

One thing I hope the money I spend at Apple goes for.
I've called Apple Support twice now. Each time I actually talked to a person I could understand! This is well worth any amount to me as I have really lost my high frequency hearing over the years, and being able to understand the tech person's suggestions is priceless.
Morod

[effilc]

MS speaks the truth about price point, but only partly.

The differences between Mac & PC are like living in a "Planned City" (Mac) Vs. "Urban Sprawl" (PC).

Suckers don't deserve a "Mac Experience."

[vansouza]

I wonder what Apple will respond with or if it will at all.

[wgilles]

i heard these ads will range in budgets from 700 to 2000. i'm curious to see how the 2000 dollar budget will not prefer mac.

And if MS is paying for "their budget" couldn't they technically double their budget? I could do a lot with 4 grand

[kmarty009]

I hate to say it, but that was pretty effective commercial.... Money does indeed talk, even over quality at times, especially in this economy.

[Lancetx]

Yet she is "cool enough" to drive a brand new VW huh? :p Oh well, just another idiotic ad from Microsoft.

[TexasPancake]

Funny how they're stating (acknowledging?) that "Mac people" are cooler than "Windows people"

[pcorajr]

In this economy, that is a great marketing move by the PC camp. You can say all you want about how great Mac are but in the end people have to pay bills and put food on the table. And some just can't afford a mac.

[wgilles]

This is an Internet first for me.

Ar. Oh. Tee. Eff. Ell.

Absolute nonsense.:D

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is the 17" MBP not the thinnest, most powerful, lightest, most energy efficient laptop on the market?

[NateDMB]

Ball(mer)sack is at it again. Good ad in this economy, but computer buyers don't just willy-nilly buy a mac. They know what they're looking for be-it a mac or a pc. It's just very funny to me how Ball(mer)sack is so upset about Apple's 7-10 % market share. He can't just be happy with dominating 90%.

[ChrisA]

I think its lame (comparing apples to bananas) but in this economy a pretty smart ad

No it's not. Saying "our stuff is cheap" is not good for your brand image.

Not even Walmart runs adds that say "I'm poor, this is the only place I can afford to shop."

What Microsoft is saying is "I don't have enough money to buy what i really wanted so I settled for this". Not a smart long term ad strategy.

[Consultant]

Another analysis on it.
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/03/27/microsoft-to-attack-mac-pricing-in-new-series-of-tv-ads/

I saw the ad last night and overall I find it slight annoying, but it definitely is a much better campaign than the Seinfield ads and "I'm a PC" ads. Those were just obnoxious.

While I love Apple and their products, Microsoft does make the point that Apple could lower the prices on some of their products to better compete. While I'm not expecting them to anytime soon, competition is always better for the consumer so we'll see how Apple responds to the ads.

But I did find the "I guess I'm not cool enough" thing to be a little funny.

Not the same product. Here is a price comparison.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=675665&page=2#33

[ppdix]

not only u have to pay and update your virus detection software yearly but how much do Windoze users have to pay for repairs, fixes, virus removal, system optimization... Not to mention all that crappy DEMOware software the u have to purchase after a few days of use.

My girlfriend hasn't been able to use her Dell laptop in a month cause there is a virus in it and it erases every file she tries to download to her computer.

Who wants the hassle and the steep learning curve to be able to operate such a complicated and problematic operating system?

<------ Proud Mac user since 1987...

[dwd3885]

And I'm going to be recommending my dad a new computer to get since his old laptop is too slow for him now after 5 years (pc by the way). And there's really no Mac laptop in his price range.

He wants a big screen, but it's stupid to pay $2000 to get that, especially when you can get a really nice and long lasting HP or Dell for $1000 that'll be a great computer and better spec'ed than an Apple.

[Jphillippe]

I used windows for 9 years...worst experience ever I lost my work so many times with random restarts, blue screen of death. I bought a sony before I bought my mac and the computer was pretty and pretty expensive but 11 gb was dedicated to self installed programs that lasted 30 days. The computer was so sloooooow and windows vista? full of insecurities. "are you sure you want to continue" press ok, "are you positive", press ok "ok its at your own risk"...I ****ing hate PCS I hate that there are about 1,000 models out. I hate how bulky the computers are....especially dells, toshibas, they're so ugly. I had a toshiba and I dropped it once...nothing happened to the computer, but the tile in which it fell on, BROke...

on the other hand I love my mac, it actually brings alive the name "Personal computer"...its so uncomplicated, so smooth, beautiful. I'm a fan. I'd rather spend 999 on a 13" computer. 899 with education discount...then spend 400 dollars on a pc that i would replace after 1 or two years of failure.

[Tallest Skil]

I wonder what Apple will respond with or if it will at all.

Advertising, advertising, aaaadvertising...

Make Windows 7 good.

Advertising, advertising, aaaadvertising...

Make Windows 7 good.

They preemptively responded, remember? :D

Back when the Jerry Seinfeld ads first came out, they were already spoofing how much money Microsoft was wasting–and CONTINUES to waste–on ineffective advertising.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is the 17" MBP not the thinnest, most powerful, lightest, most energy efficient laptop on the market?

Sure? You still can't use whatever graphics card you wish in the Mac Pro (the GT 120 is a farce), can't easily upgrade your hard drive or add a second to the iMac or Mac Mini, and have no means of expansion on any computer below $1,999.

[petermcphee]

This will likely be the most effective MS advertising campaign yet. It's drawing the attention of the consumer to something that they really care about: their bottom line. As opposed to screen resolution, specs of the machines, etc, which some folks might disregard as unimportant.

[Spock]

I really think these ads are kinda pointless, really the only thing this is going to do is make the Microsoft fanboys feel good and giggle a little bit. My girlfriend got a new HP abou a year and a half ago and the battery lasts 2 minutes after a full charge. My 6 year old PowerBook lasts 15 minutes on a full charge that's just one example.

[Stridder44]

The comparison is not a true Apples to Apples (no pun intended) comparison.

Sure you CAN get an HP laptop for $700-but it does not compare to a MBP in terms of spec or software.

How much $$ is your time worth? The time you won't have to spend on a MBP getting rid of crappy software that comes preinstalled on the HP that you will NEVER use?

How much time will you save by not having to deal with Windows BSODs?

How much money will you save by not having to buy anti spyware, anti-virus, and anti...?

Once again, M$ presents only 1/2 the story. I guess I expect nothing more from them.


Oh wow you're so clever with the way you replaced the "s" in Microsoft with a dollar sign! So original!

[xnu]

Looks like a great opportunity for a "I am cool enough for a Mac" T-shirt!

[PoitNarf]

offer more hardware and flexibility than PCs

More hardware? Maybe the only store you go to for computer stuff is the Apple store? Last I checked the amount of hardware options for a PC far exceeds that of a Mac.

[pbassham]

"I got just what I wanted"

until you try using it....

[Roniniku]

yeah, real Mac Rumors

Agree 100%......what is this doing as a page 1 story?

[Eraserhead]

This is smart dumb, those who say it isn't are just Apple Microsoft fanboys.

FITY.

Of course its just an opinion so really both are invalid.

[falcon99]

Game on... :D

[Jphillippe]

And I'm going to be recommending my dad a new computer to get since his old laptop is too slow for him now after 5 years (pc by the way). And there's really no Mac laptop in his price range.

He wants a big screen, but it's stupid to pay $2000 to get that, especially when you can get a really nice and long lasting HP or Dell for $1000 that'll be a great computer and better spec'ed than an Apple.

you're in the wrong forum darling...once you go mac you never go back...you pay more but the quality is incomparable.

[Eidorian]

Times are tough.

My landlord's husband bought a 17" HP laptop last year on clearance at Staples for $699. It's tough to pry him off of it now since they just got broadband.

[apearlman]

Yes, I also noticed she drove a VW. (Beetle convertible, it looks like.) My guess is that Apple & VW have a lot of overlapping customers, and this car was a deliberate choice. After all, it would have been easy to make the car and the steering wheel logo disappear.

Advertising is very interesting sometimes.

I also noticed she's driving a VW...looks new...maybe she should sell that and buy a cheaper car while she's at it. Let's see if Ford gives her 20 grand to buy a new car.

[Prof.]

Very very true. You get what you pay for.

$699.00 PC Laptop = 1-3 years.

$1499.00 MacBook = 5+ years.

I'll take a MacBook.:)

[bori]

I'd prefer a balloon over 600 diapers.

[macintel4me]

I wonder why Ms. PC was so concerned about getting a 17" laptop if resolution didn't matter. I wonder what an equally powerful, equipped used MacBook or PowerBook would cost doing real apples-to-apples comparisons.

Netbooks are flying of the shelves and Microsoft shows off buying an 8 pound hunk-a-junk. Gheez.

[Pika]

Funny how they're stating that Macs are the ''cadillacs of personal computers''.

[jbussiere]

"Im a PC and I touch myself at night" :cool:

[Enigmafan420]

Oh wow you're so clever with the way you replaced the "s" in Microsoft with a dollar sign! So original!

Yep I was trying to be original all right!

[petermcphee]

So? What if she wants a 17" notebook because she's a student who wants the biggest screen possible in her dorm, but still some sort of portability for when she travels home in summer?

There are plenty of reasons why people would buy these machines.

Microsoft are advertising to consumers - they do not care about gigabit ethernet or Wireless N. They don't care about screen viewing angles. They don't care about shared graphics memory either.

Now we're on that, doesn't Apple sell a computer with a smaller screen, lower resolution, poor viewing angles, shared graphics memory and rubbish battery? Yeah. And it costs nearly double what this girl paid for her computer.


This post highlights the likely effectiveness that these ads will have on consumers. No die-hards or tech-heads will be converted, but the average consumer will likely find something in the ad that resonates with them.

[wgilles]

Every cost does not involve money...but opportunity costs. Like the above poster said, "how much is your time worth"

[uph0m3r]

If Lauren was smart she would sell her free HP on eBay and use the money and her original budget to buy a Mac.
:eek:

[Steven.nevets]

not a bad ad, but i dont like how she reads amazing specs off an expensive laptop, then buys a different one. suggests she got everything in her 699 hp, but really she wouldn't have.

but a smart way to go about advertising, even if i personally dont like it (being a mac user)

[Tones2]

Those of us who used BOTH PC's and Mac's extensively know that you can get the SAME or BETTER quality hardware in a PC versus a Mac at about 70% of the price. Plus a world of more hardware options and flexibility. In terms of hardware alone, a well built PC will always come in for less money for the same quality components. Always. It's called competition. You can even have one custom made to specs chosing everything from your specific motherboard to RAM type etc. You can't do that with a Mac even at the inflated price. If you think differently, then you're just being a Mac fanboy. :)

Now, in terms of the SOFTWARE O/S, it's debatable which is better. But that's a DIFFERENT issue.

Tony

[mark88]

I think it's kinda funny to hear people say "it's like comparing apples and oranges..."...total BS.

To the masses(ie the girl in the ad) the Apple laptop is no different to the PC laptops. She knows what she wants and what she wants to do.

So lets cut the crap and stop all this, you get so much more with a mac ********.

[NoSmokingBandit]

That's a good ad, and its message is timely with people trying to cut back on expenses these days. The direct shot at Apple is unusual for Microsoft.

+1

I think this ad is the doing of Ballmer. He is much more aggressive than Gates.

I lol'd when the chick said "i guess im not cool enough." Apple has played the elitist card too long, and their arrogance bothers the crap out of me.

People are more concerned about price than anything right now. Sure, the already wealthy wont be affected by the ****** economy quite as much as the rest of us, but if apple wants to increase its user base they need to appeal to the average user, which doesnt work when they strut around looking down their noses at the rest of the world.

[dissdnt]

Hackintosh FTW

[acxz]

Oh wow you're so clever with the way you replaced the "s" in Microsoft with a dollar sign! So original!

I'm surprised no one has started using Appl€ yet.

[jmdeegan]

i just chuckled when she said she wanted a 17 inch laptop, and that to get one from apple she'd have to double her 1000 dollar budget.

last i checked, the 17 inch macbook pro is nearly 3x her budget, so that was silly stuff there too.

yea, driving a new VW....not sympathetic. she just wanted a cheaper option.

as others have pointed out, take comparably spec'd mac/pc, and over x years, what's the TCO?
I'd bet, worst case, it's a wash. its probably better than a wash, but i don't really care that much about it to figure it out....

[Enigmafan420]

I'm surprised no one has started using Appl€ yet.

Now that IS funny! Haven't seen that one :)

[Jphillippe]

apple and windows is like prada, gucci compared to walmart, target brands.

[benpatient]

I really think these ads are kinda pointless, really the only thing this is going to do is make the Microsoft fanboys feel good and giggle a little bit. My girlfriend got a new HP abou a year and a half ago and the battery lasts 2 minutes after a full charge. My 6 year old PowerBook lasts 15 minutes on a full charge that's just one example.

wait...you're BRAGGING about a 15 minute battery life?

you both need new batteries.

and a 6 year old powerbook with a 1Ghz mobile G4 and a Go5200 GPU needs about 15 minutes to open gmail in a browser window...

[carrythebanner]

I get the point of the ad and all, but why a _17"_ laptop? Do most people actually buy 17" laptops? I thought only graphic designers and such only felt the need for such massively impractical laptops, with most people going for 12–15" models.

[Marlor]

Why would you want a $1000 17" laptop?

17" laptops aren't very portable, and are only really suited to those people who need the large screen for professional work while going on-site.

But you're not going to get a pro laptop for $1000. Especially a 17" one.

[markfc]

they forget that there getting vista instead of leopard, a crappy components hp and a **** screen. you get what you pay for

a **** screen like on the MacBooks?

Still, good luck running vista on 1gb ram Lauren! ;-)

[themoonisdown09]

I think it's kinda funny to hear people say "it's like comparing apples and oranges..."...total BS.

To the masses(ie the girl in the ad) the Apple laptop is no different to the PC laptops. She knows what she wants and what she wants to do.

So lets cut the crap and stop all this, you get so much more with a mac ********.

I guess you're right if screen quality, memory speed, ethernet speed, wifi speed and enclosure durability don't make a difference.

[psymac]

MS=short term thinking at its best.

Total Cost of Ownership is what really needs to be discussed here. The TCO of Macs, when factoring in all the time and headaches of keeping your Windows machine running has to be considered, not even including the seemless user experience, wonderful OS, amazing hardware quality, and useful software that are included with most Macs.

However, people get what they deserve if they decide to not really think about it long term. Good for them, let them buy all the $699 laptops and $399 desktops they want. I used to buy cheap clothes years ago, till I found that quality expensive ones were actually cheaper in the long run.

[jhande]

I wonder how all those cool people are going to feel when April 1 comes next Wednesday and Conficker activates its payload....

Maybe I'm not cool, but there are 3 of us in a company of 1,000+ employees with MacBooks, and everyone else just can't stop stroking the unibody (that sounds vaguely...... :o))

Go figure....

[HONDAxACURA]

Duh of course she can get it for under $1000. Downside is... laptop will be outdated in a year since windows 7 is coming out. Well that doesn't even matter because HP laptops break in 1 year. GOOD JOB LAUREN, you've made a right decision!

I love how M$ is sooooooo desperate to get back some sales.

[winninganthem]

Good for her, she found what she wanted.

We all have different needs for computers. I personally just happen to like Apple notebooks because their hardware design and form factor is beautiful and elegant. OSX also fits my needs. For those reasons, I'm more apt to spent $2000+ on a notebook. For me, that kind of purchase is worth it.

Not everyone is like that though, so an HP notebook was right for her.

[Mac21ND]

This seems like a very short term strategy for MS. Basically, the commercial comes down to price. Which is a valid argument, especially in a recession. However, it's not a real viable long term strategy. Look at companies like Dell, who made their marketshare go up several years back because you could buy a Dell desktop for $300. Short term that's great, but eventually the Dell brand came to be known for nothing more than a $300 machine. Dell is now really struggling to move customers up to more expensive models. That's why you have to be really careful with discounting and pricing your product at such low price points.

[synth3tik]

Although I did find Microsoft's ad rather annoying (they all seem to do that). MS haas the point right there. Recently I have watched Macs perform less and cost more. This is especially true with the portables. I hate to say it, but Microsoft got it dead on with this ad.

[Dimwhit]

A friend of mine bought a "nice" Asus laptop a few weeks ago (17"). Crapped out on him so he returned it and got another. Same thing. So he got a Dell, which totally wigged out on him after installing a basic anti-virus program.

Saw him last week with a nice 15" MacBook Pro. He's loved it.

[Michael73]

You know, right now I'm looking at my dock and realize that in the 2 1/2 years I've had my MP, there are very few programs other than the ones that came pre-installed that I've needed to buy.


Virus software - nope
mail client - nope
photo editing and management software - nope
video editing and management software - nope
music management software - nope
Website building software - nope


I don't even use GarageBand or iChat but if you want something equivalent on a PC, pull out that wallet, Lauren.

I haven't even gotten into the stability of the OS. Try finding a Genius Bar or free seminars at BB where you got that $699 HP.

[talkingfuture]

I think I'll stick with my Mac. I suppose for people who don't look any further than price that advert may stick, those who delve deeper may still switch, or not.

It seems strange that MS have taken so long to strike back at Apple in advertising. How long have the Get A Mac ads been running now? 2 years?

[Unspeaked]

I heard these ads will range in budgets from $700 to $2000. I'm curious to see how the one with the $2000 budget will not prefer mac.

I don't know, I just quickly put together this system at Dell for less than $1,900:

Quad Core 3.0GHz Tower
8GB RAM
1TB HD
Dual Optical Drives: DVD Burner & Blu-Ray Burner
Wireless Networking
nVideo GeForce 9800GT w/512MB RAM
Sound Card
Speakers
Card Reader
Wireless Keyboard & Mouse
All-In-One Printer
Web Cam
Software package w/Vista, Games, Anti-Virus, Firewall, Microsoft Works
24" Widescreen Display


Sure, it looks like crap and runs Windows, but someone looking purely at what they get for the money might think it's a value.

[blizaine]

"I'm a PC and I got just what I wanted"

You wanted viruses and malware? you're kind of strange...

[hassanpr]

That chick will return in about 6 to 12 months for a replacement laptop once she tries to load microsofts next OS. I have a 17 inch g4 laptop that i still use alongside my mac book pro that can run leopard and finalcut Pro. I dont have to upgrade as much with my macs its just a fact that you have to replace a windows based pc every 2 to 3 years and sometimes less. I was a die hard windows head until december of 1999 that is. I never looked back.

[Policar]

While the manifest message of the ad is price, the underlying message is just as significant: Apple offers less choice, which has been Balmer's thing from the get-go.

She goes to the "mac store" and finds "one computer" for under $1000. Not a lot of choice.

Then she goes to Best Buy and finds a whole lot of computers (look at all the rows you see lined up), rattles off a lot of different specs, compares how they look, and gets "just what" she wants.

And if all she wants is a 17'' screen, the pc is the better option. This isn't an evaluation of comperable products; the sole message is "get what you want; pay only for what you want." It's a message of choice versus conformity (the "mac people"), which is powerful in a consumer capitalist society based on the value of choice and free will. Her wording also subtly hints at an element of zealotry extant in Apple's marketing, positing Apple as "the conformist other:" the Communist, the blob, Foucault's Iranian muslims, what have you--things that scare choice-loving Americans.

That said, I can't even choose what kind of toothpaste I want, so I'll stick with my macs.

[Jphillippe]

My apple makes me feel glamorous....

[NT1440]

If you're buying OS X then Apple already made a good deal of money out of you selling you (likely overpriced) hardware. Microsoft makes nothing on the hardware.

There are 5 different versions, so what? It's not worse, it's just different.

Good point on the hardware, but again, MS has no stake in that whatsoever. With such a big marketshare their OS practically sells itself (almost literally in the business world).

As for the 5 versions, I love how people can blast apple for "crippling" their devices into separate groups yet MS has done it on their OS for years now and no one says anything.

[cesar]

she is cute! :)

[apearlman]

I hate how bulky the computers are....especially dells, toshibas, they're so ugly. I had a toshiba and I dropped it once...nothing happened to the computer, but the tile in which it fell on, BROke...

The Toshiba survived a fall onto tile... and this caused you to dislike the Toshiba? You must be VERY fond of your tile floor.

[PeterQVenkman]

This is aggressive advertising by MS. I'd like to see Apple address it.

That gap in the pro desktop machines is WAY larger.

[iDAG]

On the Microsoft website it leads you to that specific notebook online and it is using an AMD processor (no idea what speed), DDR2 ram, up to 1946 MB shared memory for shared graphics (ATI) and horrible screen resolution for a 17 inch notebook. :cool:

[themoonisdown09]

I don't even use GarageBand or iChat but if you want something equivalent on a PC, pull out that wallet, Lauren.

Wait... since when did a messaging application on a PC cost money?

[idiosyncratic i]

OS X is way better than Vista. Apple computers are very well designed and a better value that the ads imply.

However... Apple does charge ludicrous amounts of money for certain things, and has the best profit margins on hardware in the business. I checked the price difference between having apple install an extra gb of ram my macbook vs. doing it myself and the difference was $100 vs. ~$30. I ended up with an extra 3 gb of ram, and it still cost me less than what I would have paid apple for. There's no excuse for that.

I'm all about microsoft hammering Apple on price. If they hammer them enough, Apple might actually lower their prices. Apple would still make a profit. I'd just be able to afford a lot of their goodies that I can't right now.

[dwd3885]

you're in the wrong forum darling...once you go mac you never go back...you pay more but the quality is incomparable.

Well I have two macs and two pcs. And they are all great machines. It's how you take care of them really. My cousin has a mac and it craps on him all the time. My uncle has a pc and it's a great experience.

I agree that the design on the Mac is superior, that's partly why I got the macbook pro. But OSX isn't miles ahead of Windows in any stretch of the imagination. And many people like Windows.

[Tallest Skil]

Duh of course she can get it for under $1000. Downside is... laptop will be outdated in a year since windows 7 is coming out. Well that doesn't even matter because HP laptops break in 1 year. GOOD JOB LAUREN, you've made a right decision!

I love how M$ is sooooooo desperate to get back some sales.

Incorrect. Se7en runs on hundreds of computers that Vista cannot.

Seven runs easily on everything XP did, I believe.

[Dmac77]

I wonder how much she enjoys viruses, and BSODs? Because those are included for under $1000.

Don

[petermcphee]

I'd prefer a balloon over 600 diapers.

Now THIS is a person I want to hang out with. Someone who's priorities meet up with my own.:D

[PeterQVenkman]

My apple makes me feel glamorous....

In my house, computers are used for work, not emotional support.

Oh, and posting to discussion boards.. ;)

[LukeW16]

Macs are overpriced though.

[anubis]

I actually think the ads are good and point out that the "Apple Tax" can be pretty ridiculous some times. Its my hope that microsoft goes on an all-out blitz with this advertising campaign and forces Apple to lower their prices a bit (with record billion-dollar-a-quarter profits, Apple can afford to).

I'm not saying I would ever buy a PC over a Mac. I've never owned a PC in my entire life and never will. But competition is good and microsoft is showing some balls and going for the jugular on this one

[cesar]

cool hardware even for a dell
just go linux! debian.org
rm -rf Windows/

[cloudnine]

This is a good ad and a good marketing strategy for Microsoft. And I think it will work. You can nitpick at the things they don't say, but you can do the same with Apple ads and any ad for that matter.

This is smart, those who say it isn't are just Apple fanboys.

I agree, but honestly, I think it's only good marketing at this point in our economy. If it were two years ago, I don't think it would be nearly as effective.

[paroparo]

Let's see how long she is going to have that PC before it breaks down. I guess less than 1 year. :D

[VSMacOne]

Lol... good idea Microsoft, but I think their adds are off.

Help me out people, but I don't think Apple has ever TRIED to compete at pricing with PC laptops... EVER!! It's not like people have gone out to buy a laptop and said.. hmm, this macbook is definitely cheaper than this pc laptop, i'm gonna buy it!!

just my opinion :D

[Sehnsucht]

That was pathetic. "But the look of that one is, like, drawing me." :D

Seriously, what's with the brand new VW? If "Lauren" (probably played by a Mi¢ro$oft employee) sold the VW, she could buy a used Chevy Malibu and still have enough left over for a 17" MacBook Pro with 4 gigabytes of RAM, a 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (as opposed to the dinky AMD processor found in the HP Pavilion she picked) and she'd have a computer that's more stable and would hold on to its resale value much, much longer. And the part where she cracks a little *****-ass grin and says, "I guess I'm not cool enough to be a Mac person," that's when you know that Mi¢ro$oft staged the hell out of this one. :rolleyes:

Mi¢ro$oft is playing off of emotion and people's ignorance. Emotion being the "600 diapers" on the slot machine. Ignorance being the people who have no money and buy computers based solely on price. "Lauren" here pulled a classic "Wal-Mart shopper" move, and Mi¢ro$oft was there to take advantage of it.

:rolleyes:

[Mac21ND]

Why would you want a $1000 17" laptop?

17" laptops aren't very portable, and are only really suited to those people who need the large screen for professional work while going on-site.

But you're not going to get a pro laptop for $1000. Especially a 17" one.

Yeah, it's funny that they don't mention:

* how heavy it is
* the screen resolution
* that it's really an HP you're buying
* that you're getting Vista (notice how they don't use "Vista" anymore - it's just windows)
* that you're dealing with three companies for your service - Best Buy, HP and Windows; instead of one company with Apple.
* that there was no mention of her software needs because that would be extra

I'm sure there's more...

[dwd3885]

Let's see how long she is going to have that PC before it breaks down. I guess less than 1 year. :D

It's USER Error. Anyone can screw up a mac in less than a year do, downloading anything and everything, taking care of it, etc.

[apulk]

I have to say it but I think it is a pretty good ad. The economy, savings, value are all front page stuff right now and it goes right to it. I have 3 Macs and will probably be buying a new 24" iMac this weekend because I do know you get what you pay for. But....the average person....and she obviously was an average user.....the ad makes a really compelling case.

If I really thought it would make a difference with Apple I would wait a month or so to buy my new iMac but my old 17" G5 is starting to show its age (but then again, I still should be able to get about $500 for it I bet).

[mags631]

Why stop at a cheap HP laptop? There are a ton of refurbished laptops for $100, running XP. Seems like she could use the savings to pay 3 months of her car payment. Would her experience be any different?

[Tones2]

Those of us who used BOTH PC's and Mac's extensively know that you can get the SAME or BETTER quality hardware in a PC versus a Mac at about 70% of the price. Plus a world of more hardware options and flexibility. In terms of hardware alone, a well built PC will always come in for less money for the same quality components. Always. It's called competition. You can even have one custom made to specs chosing everything from your specific motherboard to RAM type etc. You can't do that with a Mac even at the inflated price. If you think differently, then you're just being a Mac fanboy. :)

Now, in terms of the SOFTWARE O/S, it's debatable which is better. But that's a DIFFERENT issue.

Tony

A Dell Laptop at $700:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166564&type=product&id=1218041148773

The $1000 Macbook:

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB881LL/A?mco=MzE2NjMyOA

Processor: Both are Intel Core 2 Duo running at 2 GHz.

Screen Size: Dell 15.4"; Mac 13"

RAM: Dell 4GB DDR2; Mac 2GB DDR2

Hard Drive: Dell 320 GB at 5400 RPM; Mac 120 GB at 5400 RPM

'Nuf said. :)

[NickolasSin]

Great idea with the spinning thing, but I'll still take a twig and thumbtack over skydiving lessons and a crappy Toshiba notebook.

Hahahahahaha. Loving it.

[Consultant]

I get the point of the ad and all, but why a _17"_ laptop? Do most people actually buy 17" laptops? I thought only graphic designers and such only felt the need for such massively impractical laptops, with most people going for 12–15" models.

You do know that the 17" MBP weights about the same as most 15" PC laptop??? Not massive. I use my 17" MBP every day.


Why would you want a $1000 17" laptop?

17" laptops aren't very portable, and are only really suited to those people who need the large screen for professional work while going on-site.

But you're not going to get a pro laptop for $1000. Especially a 17" one.

Photographers, DJ, etc. Anyone who need the screen real estate.

[Goona]

She's not cool enough to own a Mac so she goes for the cheap garbage alternative.

[Tallest Skil]

Macs are overpriced though.

You need to find a dictionary and look up the definition of the word "overpriced", I think.

A Dell Laptop at $700:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166564&type=product&id=1218041148773

The $1000 Macbook:

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB881LL/A?mco=MzE2NjMyOA

Processor: Both are Intel Core 2 Duo running at 2 GHz.

Screen Size: Dell 15.4"; Mac 13"

RAM: Dell 4GB DDR2; Mac 2GB DDR2

Hard Drive: Dell 320 GB at 5400 RPM; Mac 120 GB at 5400 RPM

'Nuf said. :)

Dell: Windows.
Mac: OS X.

"NUF" said.

[psymac]

Besides, Apple isn't going for the mass market, its making pretty good money with just 5-10%. I wouldn't actually want to see Apple with much larger share than that, too many compromises.

[Blunk]

Sure Lauren... you've got just what you want it... a laptop, 17 inch, viruses, crashes, lag... and so on..
everything you want it... or didnt

[dwd3885]

A Dell Laptop at $700:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166564&type=product&id=1218041148773

The $1000 Macbook:

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB881LL/A?mco=MzE2NjMyOA

Processor: Both are Intel Core 2 Duo running at 2 GHz.

Screen Size: Dell 15.4"; Mac 13"

RAM: Dell 4GB DDR2; Mac 2GB DDR2

Hard Drive: Dell 320 GB at 5400 RPM; Mac 120 GB at 5400 RPM

'Nuf said. :)

exactly. you can talk about the OS all you want, but the actual HARDWARE SPECS are undisputible

[psymac]

(Speaking in a soup nazi voice)

Not cool enough? No Macs for you!

[Makosuke]

Given the state of the economy, it's a better angle to be playing up than trying to sell people an overpriced Windows 7 upgrade or several-hundred-dollar Office suite. Also not as bizarre as those aborted Seinfield ads.

That said, it smells an awful lot like desperation. Also, explicitly saying that your products (or those running your OS, technically) aren't as cool as the competition seems like a really, really stupid thing to be touting.

Yes, it's obviously trying to paint the Mac as elitist or somesuch, but I don't think that's not the way to go about it.

There's also the "preaching to the choir" issue--the people with a $1000 budget for a 17" laptop weren't going to be buying from Apple anyway, so I'm not sure what they're actually getting with this ad.

[jb1280]

A Dell Laptop at $700:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166564&type=product&id=1218041148773

The $1000 Macbook:

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB881LL/A?mco=MzE2NjMyOA

Processor: Both are Intel Core 2 Duo running at 2 GHz.

Screen Size: Dell 15.4"; Mac 13"

RAM: Dell 4GB DDR2; Mac 2GB DDR2

Hard Drive: Dell 320 GB at 5400 RPM; Mac 120 GB at 5400 RPM

'Nuf said. :)

The display will show the exam same as they are the same resolution.

I would rather have 1280x800 in 13" and 5lbs than 15.4" and 6.4 lbs.

[ThunderSkunk]

Perhaps Mac could simply show a breakdown:

$1000 for a mac

or

$500 for a PC
+$500 in IT service costs the third month


+ $500 in IT service costs the sixth month
+ $500 in IT service costs the eight month
+...

But hey, you can say you got a computer, so I guess that's something.

[NT1440]

This post highlights the likely effectiveness that these ads will have on consumers. No die-hards or tech-heads will be converted, but the average consumer will likely find something in the ad that resonates with them.

I'm sure of this, which is why i think this is MS first effective ad in quite a while.

[Matariel]

Wait... since when did a messaging application on a PC cost money?

Since never.
I was actually quite appalled when I got my Macbook at the number of Mac 3rd party apps that have the gall to charge you for them, when equivalent PC apps have been free for years.

Even the open source community dont really seem to care about an OSX port, but check over on MacUpdate, and pretty much every single app costs money, even for the most basic software like an audio/video transcoder.

[Peaceful]

I'd prefer a balloon over 600 diapers.

I'd take the 600 diapers over a crappy "PC". The diapers actually work. And they're more sanitary. And I have small kids. :p

[rjohnstone]

$1499.00 MacBook = 5+ years.

Yet it will be obsolete buy Apple's standards within 6 months after you purchase it. ;)

[Tallest Skil]

Yet it will be obsolete buy Apple's standards within 6 months after you purchase it. ;)

And this is different from the PC world... how? It's faster there.

[totocalimero]

Am I seeing this right? They are telling you to buy diapers with the HP laptop? Why is that? Because the HP laptop will crap out all time? :D

Also, MS should be careful with this kind of ad, because they are basically positioning a typical PC you can buy at Best Crap as the bottom of the barrel. If people follow this logic (get the cheapest machine you can find) they will reach the conclusion that they should ditch windows and get a $300 netbook with a Linux flavor of some sort...

I like the comment she makes at one point: "I am not cool enough to buy a Mac". Ouch!

[themoonisdown09]

Since never.
I was actually quite appalled when I got my Macbook at the number of Mac 3rd party apps that have the gall to charge you for them, when equivalent PC apps have been free for years.

Even the open source community dont really seem to care about an OSX port, but check over on MacUpdate, and pretty much every single app costs money, even for the most basic software like an audio/video transcoder.

Since when is that Apple's fault? Macs come with lots of free software installed on them that you have to pay for on PCs.

[HLdan]

Yeah, this ad didn't work out. Okay, here's my take. Microsoft is advertising "price" rather than overall experience. It's cheezy and says nothing about the customer more than, "Hey I'm a cheapskate ". What's not being "cool enough" have to do with not finding a Mac in her price range? Stupid. I actually like the MS ad with the little 4 year old asian girl that edits pics on her PC and emails them to her parents. It's not only cute but it sells the experience, although not a true reality when it comes to using a PC and Windows.

This is exactly what Apple does in their ads is sell the experience and that's exactly what you get when you buy a Mac or any Apple product is a good experience.
"Good selling" is when you sell the experience and not the price. If you sell on price alone your customer will most likely return the product. "Oh, you didn't tell me it would overheat!", "You didn't tell me the keyboard flexes more than others!" "You didn't tell me my son couldn't play Crisis on this $699 17"!", "You didn't tell me the screen washes out while watching DVD movies". "You didn't tell me that the fans would be noisy while I'm in class".

It doesn't make any difference if the economy is in a recession, people are still buying expensive goods, cars, going to the movies, going on trips so not everybody is a "cheapskate ".

One last thing, this ad represents a falsehood. Microsoft seems to have a deal with HP as they advertise only this company's PC's. What if someone prefers a Sony or Alienware PC, they won't get out the door with a 17" for $699.

[bilbo--baggins]

Definitely a good move for Microsoft to target Apple's foolish pricing. Hopefully Apple will review things as a result of this.

I bought the Mac Pro in Feb 2008 (2.8GHz 8-core) and the current models are TERRIBLE value for money in comparison, and yet the economic climate should warrant the opposite to be true.

[Marlor]

Photographers, DJ, etc. Anyone who need the screen real estate.

In other words, professionals who need a big-screen laptop for work.

If the laptop's vital for your work, you're not going to care too much about the price. You're going to get a fast, reliable model. Preferably with an on-site service contract.

[NXTMIKE]

the fact that Lauren admits that Mac people are just so much cooler than PC people makes my day:):apple:

[Eidorian]

Since never.
I was actually quite appalled when I got my Macbook at the number of Mac 3rd party apps that have the gall to charge you for them, when equivalent PC apps have been free for years.

Even the open source community dont really seem to care about an OSX port, but check over on MacUpdate, and pretty much every single app costs money, even for the most basic software like an audio/video transcoder.Lets not even get into webcam support from said messengers over on OS X. Laughed at so many times because I wasn't able to support conferencing in MSN on my MacBook in OS X...

[dornoforpyros]

The real question here isn't whether or not this is a good ad (which it is), it's whether microsoft will actually run it long enough to make any impact with it. Lately they seem to be taking a "spray & pray" approach with their vista advertising and they change their messaging so much that it's hard to follow.

If it's gonna be "I'm a PC and this is my office" then take that ball and run with it.

If it's gonna be "bill gates and jerry sienfeld are friends" then so be it, advertise the hell out of those 2 chumming it up.

But the current process of "run a campaign for a couple of weeks, then scrap it and start again" is causing more problems for them.

[johng2222]

Wow... Drag a cheap laptop through a trailer park...

[casik]

ya i have heard of car commercials doing the same thing.... lets go see how far $12000 will go when buying a new car.... the lady walks into a mercedes dealership and can't find anything in her price range... i'm just not cool enough to own a mercedes.... and then walks into a honda dealership and buys a used car..... ya i still think she made the best choice.... and this definitly proces that PC's are better.... hahahaha

NOT.

[tMac85]

give me a break.... thats the lamest ad.

[rjohnstone]

Perhaps Mac could simply show a breakdown:

$1000 for a mac

or

$500 for a PC
+$500 in IT service costs the third month Source?


+ $500 in IT service costs the sixth month Source?
+ $500 in IT service costs the eight month Source?
+...

But hey, you can say you got a computer, so I guess that's something.
Talk about utter nonsense. :rolleyes:

[Jimmery]

Yup, a great ad. Apple products are a rip-off.

[Goona]

Hope this will urge Apple to cut prices

If you want them to cut prices, why don't you go with one of these 700 dollar beauties.

[dwd3885]

Perhaps Mac could simply show a breakdown:

$1000 for a mac

or

$500 for a PC
+$500 in IT service costs the third month


+ $500 in IT service costs the sixth month
+ $500 in IT service costs the eight month
+...

But hey, you can say you got a computer, so I guess that's something.

i mean, that's your opinion. everyone i know who has a pc has no technical background and it works great for them. but i can see, as a mac fanboy, your perception that everything else stinks except for the things you like and you purchase. it makes you feel better about yourself that you spend more money and get a computer, while most people are perfectly fine with say a netbook and spending less to get a good computer.

[Marlor]

Even the open source community dont really seem to care about an OSX port, but check over on MacUpdate, and pretty much every single app costs money, even for the most basic software like an audio/video transcoder.

Install Fink or DarwinPorts, then you can install pretty much any OSS Unix-based app.

[Tones2]

exactly. you can talk about the OS all you want, but the actual HARDWARE SPECS are undisputible

Yeah, and here's the HP for the same $700 that actually has the same specs as the Dell only with a 17" screen and accelerated graphics chip:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&type=product&id=1218041148373

Tony

[dernhelm]

Oh wow you're so clever with the way you replaced the "s" in Microsoft with a dollar sign! So original!

Huh? Even most Microsoft pundits use M$ as a shortcut. Is this even a slam any more?

[tMac85]

the fact that Lauren admits that Mac people are just so much cooler than PC people makes my day:):apple:

+1


amen

they should have cut that comment for their benefit

[guzhogi]

I agree, Apple charges way too much for its computers. Appleinsider has the same story as this and said that many people who bought the same laptop she did said that the display's horrible among other things.

But I would have to disagree with those that say Macs are better built. I bought a 2.4 GHz MBP in 2006. The graphics card died on it 3 times in 2 years. The last time, I took it in to the Apple store by me and they said they had to take it for a few days. A few days later, I got a call from the store saying that while they fixed it, they found other issues and decided to just give me a brand new 2.5 GHz Penryn MBP. While I didn't mind a free upgrade. Free in this case being no money was spent, but I had to drive all the way to the Apple store, do without my MBP for several days, drive back to the Apple store, and then reinstall all my apps & data from backups. So I'm not completely buying the "Macs are better made" argument. Plus, I read in Consumer Reports that, while Apple does have the best service, of all the other brands tested (HP, Dell, etc.), Macs had to be fixed the most.

[armoguy94]

THANK YOU MICROSOFT! Keep making these ads! Hopefully Apple will lower their prices to REASONABLE prices! An Apple computer is NOT worth $1,000 for CONSUMER purposes! Unfortunately Apple knows that is how much we will pay since there is no other way to experience their great OS.

[cleareyes]

I believe in "You get what you pay for"
I've owned several PCs and after I "paid double" for a Mac I decided never to go back. They are built better than PCs, offer more hardware and flexibility than PCs, and not to mention the wonderful customer support I have received from Apple. Not like HP...I mean HP India.

This ad sucks, get original Microsoft.:apple:

First off I'm not an Apple hater... in fact I'm writing this on my Macbook Pro... but I'm a little confused about your comment. "More hardware" ummm... Apple is just one company, there are dozens and dozens of PC manufacturers, each offering dozens of models. I used to work in a laptop store and had access to spreadsheets of current models offered by acer... there were over 50 models!!! Apple definitly has less hardware... but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Believe me, it's not fun trying to figure out which 1 of 50 possible models is best for any given customer.

As for "This ad sucks, get original Microsoft" I don't think I've seen an ad like this from Apple of anybody else for that matter. I think this ad is perfect with the current global recession.

I'm an Apple fanboy and won't switch back... but at least I can give credit where credit is due. Microsoft may have finally found a good marketing strategy.

[Goona]

I guess Microsoft has gotten pretty pissed over the I'm a Mac adverts... Is it just me, or does it seem like when Microsoft does things like this, it's like they're picking on the little kid in the playground, MS has what 95% global market share? Apple has 3%?

Does it really need to these "real life reality it's real cause it's a real person trying to be real by being zanny because she's a real person not being paid by a massive conglomerate to promote PC's because she's real and hip and real" adverts, are they that worried everyone's going to move to Macs just by seeing an advert...?

Apple will never have a high global market share, by making these adverts it's like Walmart spitting all over the corner shop, just seems a bit petty...
No it seems they are bothered, Apple has a lit a fire under them after putting up crap like Vista, seems with Apple's 3% marketshare, they are concerned about them.

[Matariel]

Perhaps Mac could simply show a breakdown:

$1000 for a mac

or

$500 for a PC
+$500 in IT service costs the third month


+ $500 in IT service costs the sixth month
+ $500 in IT service costs the eight month
+...

But hey, you can say you got a computer, so I guess that's something.

Its amazing how Mac users quote things like this, despite the fact that Apple charges like 1/3 of the purchase price of their products for an "extended warranty" (AppleCare), when most PC OEM manufacturers usually have a 3 year warranty included, along with at least a year of free tech support.
Obviously it depends on who you buy from, but there's a ton of options to consider when shopping around.

For the record, Ive owned 2 Macbooks (a 2nd revision from early 2007, and the latest revision from early 2009), and both have been fine.
On the other hand, ive been building and maintaining PCs since I was about 10 years old, and not one has cost me "$1500" in the first year of owning it.
Quite the opposite, Ive been able to fix every problem myself, replace broken parts myself, and UPGRADE myself.

I should also note that my newest Macbook now has a 250gb 7200rpm HDD and 4gb of ram. To get those specs from Apple, it would've cost me twice as much, buying them myself, it cost me $200.

[Consultant]

Funny how they're stating (acknowledging?) that "Mac people" are cooler than "Windows people"

Perhaps due to MS ceo moneky boy Ballmer? :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVMy0PFr8no

[fenderfingers]

Did anyone notice that "Lauren" never really enters the Apple store? The pedestrian that's walking by is in both shots of her "entering" and "leaving" the store. You think they would have caught that in the edit. ;)

[Tallest Skil]

THANK YOU MICROSOFT! Keep making these ads! Hopefully Apple will lower their prices to REASONABLE prices! An Apple computer is NOT worth $1,000 for CONSUMER purposes! Unfortunately Apple knows that is how much we will pay since there is no other way to experience their great OS.

Define reasonable. Define not worth.

I'd create a rebuttal to your argument, but you don't even have an argument.

[GrnChkn]

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longer
2) Apple doesn't bash Microsoft as harshly as Microsoft bashes Apple
3) Apple doesn't directly mention "Microsoft" in any of their adds that I've seen. I have only seen them talk about PCs.

You do pay for what you get. If you get a $700 HP, it will only be worth about $100 in a few years and a $2700 MBP will still be worth over $1500. If you buy a PC, you will have to buy a new one every couple of years to keep up with technology and if you buy a Mac, you won't have to buy one nearly as often. SoldierKnowsBest has a great video on YouTube comparing his new 24" iMac to all-in-one PCs. THE IMAC IS LESS EXPENSIVE AND MORE POWERFUL THAN THE DELL XPS ONE 24!

[Eidorian]

Yeah, and here's the HP for the same $700 that actually has the same specs as the Dell only with a 17" screen and accelerated graphics chip:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&type=product&id=1218041148373

TonyAMD's 780/790G are passable for mobile gaming.

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longerIs this belief or fact?

I have a few Dell XPS towers from 1998 that still work just fine covered in dust alongside an immaculate Power Mac G3 Blue & White.

Laptops are going to get hell being mobile and tossed around.

[macjiro]

This is a good ad for the PC camp.
Finally, they can just try to have something basic and original in a commercial
instead of trying to copy the Mac and PC guy ad by Apple.

Its effective and the message comes across as true.
You can't buy a new 17" laptop for 1K.....
I would go with the 17" Toshibas....but

for 1199 you can get a brand new Imac 24". I'll take
that and add Windows in bootcamp. Walla...
2 birds/1 stone. :apple:

[chris7777]

I came out at a discount as well.

back in 2005 I decided to get my first laptop.

I had been with windows since 95 (3.1 at the time at work), and my desktop was 98.

every year it became more and more cluttered with things I did not want, nor need, that just seemed to be flash that slowed performance down.

I was ready for a macbook then.

But the $1000 price of admission stopped me cold.

Well I looked for a while, and found a compaq that based out at $399 on the tax free weekend. (speaking of which can I get a refurb from the apple store on tax free weekend, but I digress)

Well by the time I added blue tooth, a card reader a faster processor, and the extended warranty , my grand total was $1150 or so.

But I was coming out cheap after all.

I have come to tolerate xp, but I have no intention of ever paying for vista. I would be willing to try it if the entire laptop were given to me entirely free of charge. But I would want to option to uninstall the OS and go with something else if I could not grow to tolerate it.

Needless to say My next computer will be a mac, what I wished, over and over again I had done in the first place.

I would have had to have bought what and external card reader?

And not had to put up with the numerous windows issues I have seen others mention, O I did get some games until COD caused the paq to begin running hot.

My next game(machine) will be a standalone system.

It is like others have said you get what you pay for.

[tMac85]

Kia vs BMW



( no offense to anyone who drives a kia.)

[dwd3885]

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longer
2) Apple doesn't bash Microsoft as harshly as Microsoft bashes Apple
3) Apple doesn't directly mention "Microsoft" in any of their adds that I've seen. I have only seen them talk about PCs.

You do pay for what you get. If you get a $700 HP, it will only be worth about $100 in a few years and a $2700 MBP will still be worth over $1500. If you buy a PC, you will have to buy a new one every couple of years to keep up with technology and if you buy a Mac, you won't have to buy one nearly as often. SoldierKnowsBest has a great video on YouTube comparing his new 24" iMac to all-in-one PCs. THE IMAC IS LESS EXPENSIVE AND MORE POWERFUL THAN THE DELL XPS ONE 24!

really? Apple doesn't bash Microsoft hard? The entire last 3 years of the I'm a Mac, I'm a PC ad campaign for Apple has been bashing Microsoft.

It's insane that people think you don't have to buy a Mac that often. Of course, people say this because they spend $2700 on a machine, so of course they will want to keep it longer! But when you only spend $700 on a computer, then you can afford to buy another one two years down the road, while those with Macs gloat about keeping their two year old hardware.

[Michael CM1]

Yeah, and here's the HP for the same $700 that actually has the same specs as the Dell only with a 17" screen and accelerated graphics chip:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&type=product&id=1218041148373

Tony

I did some looking at the model last night, and the first thing off the bat you should notice is the resolution. It may be a 17" screen, but the resolution is 1440x900, not the 1920x1200 that the Apple screen's have.

There are a million sneaky ways manufacturers can trim quality from a computer without you even knowing it. Motherboard quality was the king of that for ages since nobody ever touts those specs past the bus speed.

All I know is I have had my MacBook Pro for almost two years, and it has given me far far far fewer problems than the $700 HP notebook or the $1300 Dell notebook I had before. The HP went down to 90 minutes of battery life after a month and a half, and that's AFTER I sent it in to get fixed.

[Tallest Skil]

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longer

Better? Completely wrong; it's the same stuff.

Last longer? Absolutely right.

2) Apple doesn't bash Microsoft as harshly as Microsoft bashes Apple


Ballmer lunges, Steve jokes.

"glass of ice water to someone in Hell" vs. "I guess I'm just not cool enough."

[Tones2]

The display will show the exam same as they are the same resolution.

I would rather have 1280x800 in 13" and 5lbs than 15.4" and 6.4 lbs.

But a bigger screen size, which is also not a trivial thing even at the same resolution. HOWEVER, there are MANY MANY 13" PC choices as well that are much lighter than the example I gave if that's important. Yes, PC users hae CHOICES - literally thousands of them. :)

Tony

[rjohnstone]

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longer

Proof?

[evilyankeefan]

Someone needs to tell Lauren to visit the refurb store.

[NightFox]

Did anyone notice that "Lauren" never really enters the Apple store? The pedestrian that's walking by is in both shots of her "entering" and "leaving" the store. You think they would have caught that in the edit. ;)

Ahem, I think you mean the "Mac Store".

Shame they didn't go in there with "Hi, we're just filming an advertisement for Microsoft, OK?"

[PinkyMacGodess]

Are PC's cheaper, out of the box? Yes.

Now add all of the 'features' that Apple provides with that overpriced hardware and compare them to what you would pay for them for the PC.

Stuff like DVD writing software, real usable movie creation software, real usable photo management software...

I see the makings of a much older Apple commercial that I remember from years ago... Show the cost of the out of the box systems, then show the cost of the items that the Macintosh has that the PC user has to purchase extra (not to mention the much smaller virus footprint)...

But still, this is a great commercial for Microsoft. They can't beat Apple on technology so they hammer them on the perceived benefit of being 'cheaper'. And how...

Put that aluminum MacBook against that cheezy skeezy HP for durability and 'fit and finish'... Oh, plus OS X doesn't crash like a wino out on a bender either like Vista does...

[jb1280]

Yeah, and here's the HP for the same $700 that actually has the same specs as the Dell only with a 17" screen and accelerated graphics chip:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&type=product&id=1218041148373

Tony

But the hardware specs are not equivalent.

This 17" has a resolution of 1440x900, significantly less than the 17" macbook pro.

It weight nearly 8 lbs, is nearly 2" thick and has a battery life of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

When we are looking at portables, usability is an important factor, ie. the ability to actually move the computer and use it out of an office.

Resolution, weight, thickness, and battery life must be taken into consideration when comparing specs of portable computers.

It's a balancing act between performance and usability, and apple is best in class in the latter.

[Goona]

They should have talked that it comes with that crap Vista, look at it's satisfaction ratings:

http://images.appleinsider.com/changewave.png

[dwd3885]

Kia vs BMW



( no offense to anyone who drives a kia.)

that's a stupid argument too really. But whatever.

[Ubuntu]

I believe in "You get what you pay for"
I've owned several PCs and after I "paid double" for a Mac I decided never to go back. They are built better than PCs, offer more hardware and flexibility than PCs, and not to mention the wonderful customer support I have received from Apple. Not like HP...I mean HP India.

This ad sucks, get original Microsoft.:apple:

And the apple ads... what were they, exactly? Childish. As someone mentioned, its a good ad in this economy. As much as I love Apple, the macs are very expensive at the moment, my dad was looking at buying me a MBP as a University present, but not anymore, and I can't blame him.

Kind of lame to take advantage of the down economy like that.

Sorry, but how is that lame? Unless a company is only up and running because it wants to commit financial suicide?

[libertyforall]

Ya know, it is true -- Apple needs some lower priced options, just like the Mini for 17in. laptops -- options are good. Apple quality is better, but they have got to drive prices down too...

[wavelayer]

I think it's a good ad, especially-as others have said-during these financial times.

[Marlor]

$500 for a PC
+$500 in IT service costs the third month


+ $500 in IT service costs the sixth month
+ $500 in IT service costs the eight month
+...

Nonsense.

Most people just beg a computer-savvy relative to fix the issues.

I know that, because that's how I end up spending at least one weekend each month.

[Bubba Satori]

LOL I've probably sold a hundred of those 1245s. Nice deals.

[Ubuntu]

I saw the ad last night and overall I find it slight annoying, but it definitely is a much better campaign than the Seinfield ads and "I'm a PC" ads. Those were just obnoxious.


Once again I find myself asking what the Apple ads were. This advert is quite hostile (although I do agree with it), but personally I see it as more effective than the Apple ads, which just seemed like immature attacks. This advert actually focuses on the crazy pricing of Macs at the moment - an issue many have frowned upon recently on these very forums.

[neutrino23]

Clearly I don't agree with the conclusion, but kudos to MS, it is probably good marketing. Of course it doesn't account for the windows tax, all the money you need to spend on anti-virus, anti-trojan, anti-malware and the time it takes to run that stuff and keep it up to date. And the time it takes to delete all the crapware that comes installed on the computer. Nor the money you need to purchase applications that come free with the Mac. Nor the time wasted with windows as using windows is less efficient than using a Mac. But from a superficial point of view, probably a good ad.


PS: To those complaining about Apple's price for memory upgrades, this is a long standing issue. It was never officially announced but the conventional wisdom is that Apple does this as a way to encourage resellers. You can't get a discounted Mac but a reseller could throw in some memory and sell the package for less than Apple does. I guess the tactic works. Look at all the stories of people so pleased with themselves because they found a better deal for memory than what Apple charges. They were happy to pay Apple's price for the computer because they saved X hundred dollars on memory.

I'm an amateur student of marketing and find this fascinating. How you package things and present them so that people will decide to spend their money to buy your stuff is wonderfully complex. There are huge asymmetries in how people get along with each other. Marketers figure out how to offer an inexpensive favor or benefit in return for receiving a very valuable benefit from the customer. Like offering free balloons for the kids so the parents come in and drop $50 on a family meal.

[tMac85]

that's a stupid argument too really. But whatever.

actually it fits perfect.

its called build quality.
its called you get what you pay for.
and its called, apple is considered a luxury, just like bmw

[Eidorian]

Are PC's cheaper, out of the box? Yes.

Now add all of the 'features' that Apple provides with that overpriced hardware and compare them to what you would pay for them for the PC.

Stuff like DVD writing software, real usable movie creation software, real usable photo management software...Vista Home Premium has this. You also get a TV tuner support from Windows Media Center unlike Front Row.

actually it fits perfect.

its called build quality.
its called you get what you pay for.
and its called, apple is considered a luxury, just like bmwMy cheap car won't last 200,000 miles? Tell that to my Geo Metro. :p

Bad example.

[dwd3885]

Are PC's cheaper, out of the box? Yes.

Now add all of the 'features' that Apple provides with that overpriced hardware and compare them to what you would pay for them for the PC.

Stuff like DVD writing software, real usable movie creation software, real usable photo management software...


You should try Windows Live Photo Gallery. It's very good. While I agree Movie Maker stinks, how many people actually edit videos anyway?

It makes sense if you are in the creative content business to use the bundled software, but if you are in that business, you're paying for Final Cut or Premiere anyway, so it's a wash because Adobe suites are in both system.s

[Small White Car]

A Dell Laptop at $700:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166564&type=product&id=1218041148773

The $1000 Macbook:

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB881LL/A?mco=MzE2NjMyOA

Processor: Both are Intel Core 2 Duo running at 2 GHz.

Screen Size: Dell 15.4"; Mac 13"

RAM: Dell 4GB DDR2; Mac 2GB DDR2

Hard Drive: Dell 320 GB at 5400 RPM; Mac 120 GB at 5400 RPM

'Nuf said. :)

Good move, leaving out specs that makes the Macbook look good. It's sure easy to "prove" your case when you only state the facts that are in your favor.

Or does it not matter to you that:

The Dell weighs 42% more

The Mac system bus is 33% faster (meaning the processor will get work done quicker)

Likewise, the Macbook has 50% more memory in the processor's cache

The Dell's 15" screen is the same resolution as the Mac's 13", meaning it's not as sharp

The Macbook has a 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9400M video card while the Dell has integrated graphics using shared memory

I would consider a faster machine with better graphics and a sharper screen to be worth $300 more.

[apearlman]

Yeah, this ad didn't work out. Okay, here's my take. Microsoft is advertising "price" rather than overall experience. It's cheezy and says nothing about the customer more than, "Hey I'm a cheapskate ". What's not being "cool enough" have to do with not finding a Mac in her price range? Stupid...

"Good selling" is when you sell the experience and not the price.

Companies use price as a sales tactic all the time, and many are very successful with it. Even services like hotels will point out that they have clean rooms and comfy beds and they cost less than their competitors. It works.

And the "cool enough" line is dismissive. She is saying that the cachet of the Apple brand is not worth considering. Again, lots of people here may disagree, but she is trying to say, "I want a big screen and a comfortable keyboard and an attractive looking computer, and I don't care about brands." That's an appealing marketing message. You may think this ad isn't selling the microsoft "experience", but it's clear that the woman is having a great time buying her windows computer. What a great Microsoft experience she's having!