Lauren, We Have Someone Who'd Like to Talk to You

[MacBytes]

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Category: Microsoft
Link: Lauren, We Have Someone Who'd Like to Talk to You (http://www.macbytes.com/link.php?sid=20090329112502)
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Posted on MacBytes.com (http://www.macbytes.com)
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[Kilamite]

She won't care.. she got paid to act in the commercial. It isn't her opinion - it is Microsoft's script she was using.

Though I guess it would be nice if she came out and said, "actually, I do love Macs".

[NoSmokingBandit]

This is stupid. everyone knows the macbook pro is a better computer. All the mac fanboys come here and say "negating the price, the macbook will beat the hp in all aspects."
No F*#king s#it!!!!!
You cant negate the only bad quality about macs then compare it to a different computer like you are being fair. Its pure idiocy and fanboyism at its finest. Apple zealots can whine all they want, but to most people the $2000 price difference matters. Taking that out of the equation voids the entire comparison. Ugh, this is pissing me off so much. Why cant you god damned fanboys just accept the fact that some people will be happy paying $2000 less to check their email and write papers? Is your head that deep in Steve's colon?

[opeter]

Have to agree here with NoSmokingBandit. You all forget, she was looking for an 17" notebook, for 800 $. There is no 17" Macbook for 800 $.

BTW: what will she do with a PowerBook? I know, it's a gift, but anyway... she can't run Windows on that.

[Sedulous]

This is stupid. everyone knows the macbook pro is a better computer. All the mac fanboys come here and say "negating the price, the macbook will beat the hp in all aspects."
No F*#king s#it!!!!!
You cant negate the only bad quality about macs then compare it to a different computer like you are being fair. Its pure idiocy and fanboyism at its finest. Apple zealots can whine all they want, but to most people the $2000 price difference matters. Taking that out of the equation voids the entire comparison. Ugh, this is pissing me off so much. Why cant you god damned fanboys just accept the fact that some people will be happy paying $2000 less to check their email and write papers? Is your head that deep in Steve's colon?

Chill out guy. While it is "true" that Macs are more expensive, it is only true when compared to compromised alternatives. As many others have said, "you get what you paid for". Yeah, I can go to Dell.com and find a notebook that is less expensive than a Macbook. So what? The point is that it isn't saving me money or time in the long run.

[POLBOSS]

Her first thought was an apple :)

[slu]

Sigh. This is exactly the type of thing that gives Mac users a bad reputation.

This is a commercial people! It is not real life!

And guess what, for some people, a Mac is too expensive and a PC is a better choice.

Get over yourself and mind your own business. Who cares what kind of computer someone uses, especially an actor in a commercial?

[tri3limited]

She's only going to surf the web... well facebook, type some stuff in office and probably want to print.

Still not sure why she wanted the 17" screen so badly, might as well get a desktop unless doing field graphics or something, but fair enough!

Not everyone wants to do graphic, video, audio or any 'pro' stuff so a glorified netbook is prefect.

Besides the sooner iWork for iPhone is available, the less netbooks will be needed!!

[dukebound85]

um right

id take a 17inch hp with current specs than the g4 that guy would give her for free

[Tallest Skil]

Still not sure why she wanted the 17" screen so badly, might as well get a desktop unless doing field graphics or something, but fair enough!

Yeah, she'll be doing some serious graphics work on 1440x900.:D

[Kilamite]

Yeah, she'll be doing some serious graphics work on 1440x900.:D

Exactly. But she is a consumer, and Apple doesn't have any consumer aimed 17" laptops.

[zombitronic]

I don't like the way Mitch is sitting.

Anyway, you could spec out the exact same computer as a MacBook and you could probably do so, and cheaper, minus two things. Hardware and software design. Intuitive design leads to intuitive functionality. These are two things that your so-called "fanboys" are willing to actually price into their purchase.

And this is what the whole debate is about. Some people like sweat pants, some people like designer jeans. When it comes down to it, yes, it's a matter of preference. Mitch is just trying to let Lauren decide whether or not she's willing to pay for what many feel to be a more intuitive experience.

This whole "giveaway," however, seems futile. She probably made enough money from that commercial to buy her own MacBook Pro.

[tri3limited]

My key point was what's with the desperation for a 17" laptop... It's pretty bulky for a laptop, I even went with the 15" MBP because as much as i'd like the 1920x1200 17" is just too big for me.

Not to mention she probs could have gotten better specs on her PC had she sufficed with 15"

With regards to the advert... I think they're aiming at the wrong market. Working on converting the last 10% instead of targeting schools where their future market is. Seems like an odd practice to me!

[dukebound85]

does anyone find it sad that "mitch" thought lauren was really looking for a computer?

its a freaking commercial

[ppdix]

Enough said... :rolleyes:

[twoodcc]

ha, now this could get interesting. i bet she doesn't show up though. microsoft would probably pay her not to

[zen]

It's already been established that she is paid actress whose name is not Lauren.

[OllyW]

My key point was what's with the desperation for a 17" laptop... It's pretty bulky for a laptop, I even went with the 15" MBP because as much as i'd like the 1920x1200 17" is just too big for me.

It isn't real life. It's only a bloody advert.

They have only picked the 17" to get the maximum price difference between Apple's high end model and HP's budget model. That was the point of the advert, to exaggerate the fact that Apple computers are expensive.

[Stevamundo]

does anyone find it sad that "mitch" thought lauren was really looking for a computer?

its a freaking commercial

Maybe that Mitch wants to date Lauren. Hell I would, she's cute! Hey Lauren, want to feel my “hard drive?” :D

Some SANE people have already said THAT IT'S JUST A FREAKIN COMMERCIAL! :rolleyes:

Unfortunately I think it's pretty smart of Mr. moneybags to put that commercial on these crappie economics times.

Oh I know “BUT, BUT BUT her crappie PC will cost her more in the long run!!!!!“ Again, THIS IS ONLY A FREAKIN COMMERCIAL PEOPLE.

For all it's holy in the world don't get this thread to 2000 plus posts too. :rolleyes:

[AlmostThere]

Maybe that Mitch wants to date Lauren. Hell I would, she's cute! Hey Lauren, want to feel my “hard drive?” :D


I doubt you can meet her size requirements :D

[BrownPlopz]

Sigh. This is exactly the type of thing that gives Mac users a bad reputation.

This is a commercial people! It is not real life!

And guess what, for some people, a Mac is too expensive and a PC is a better choice.

Get over yourself and mind your own business. Who cares what kind of computer someone uses, especially an actor in a commercial?

Exactly what I'm trying to say to my fanboy friends! Yet, they seem to be trapped in Apple's reality distortion field, and can't understand that it's only an advert.

[pdxflint]

Exactly what I'm trying to say to my fanboy friends! Yet, they seem to be trapped in Apple's reality distortion field, and can't understand that it's only an advert.

By 'reality distortion field," do you mean... uhmmm... advertising? So why does that belong exclusively to Apple in your opinion? Just wondering? I see a lot of reality distortion being expressed by anti-Apple as well as pro-Apple people in this forum, and in the world in general. Maybe they're all these competing energy fields, and a lot of you folks are trapped in them, like bubbles... sounds kind of sci-fi to me.

Let's face it, advertising is generally designed to 'spin' the truth - that's just the way it is. Apple does it well, now Microsoft is trying to do it well, too, after so many years of doing it so pitifully.

Now it's a spectator sport. But I'd rather watch the battle for the elite eight on the tube right now, so see y'all later.

[Stevamundo]

I doubt you can meet her size requirements :D

My hard drive is massive. She would be impressed. AND I'm a Mac! :p

[thunderweb]

Exactly. But she is a consumer, and Apple doesn't have any consumer aimed 17" laptops.


probably because the consumer doesn't need a 17" laptop...

[BongoBanger]

probably because the consumer doesn't need a 17" laptop...

Yeah? Why not?

[bruinsrme]

probably because the consumer doesn't need a 17" laptop...

Yeah? Why not?

Because Steve says so.

[blackhand1001]

The point is that it isn't saving me money or time in the long run.

How so? I have near decade old computers that still run pretty darn good. Heck they even suppport the latest software. A pentium 4 2 ghz runs windows 7 nice a peachy. My powermac g5 apparantly isn't going to run snow leopard at all and its from 2006. Most people hang on to their computers alot longer than a lot the people on this site seem to.

[gkarris]

um right

id take a 17inch hp with current specs than the g4 that guy would give her for free

Exactly...

I don't think she'd be very impressed by some "dude" cool enough to "own a Mac" dumping his old G4 PowerBook on her... :eek:

[thejadedmonkey]

What you all fail to realize is that there's a LARGE population that wants a 17" laptop to watch DVD's on while taking a break from writing a term paper.

If you are one of those people:

You don't care about weight; the computer is mostly on your desk
Windows is the better OS choice, so you can run a non-crippled version of MS Office
You don't have $3000 to spend when you can get what you need for $800
You don't care how many RAM's are in a Gigabte, as long as it has enough space for limewire
Screen resolution doesn't mean anything if, when you crank up the resolution, the sims 2 doesn't run as well
Did I mention that the next 4 years of your life may be lived off of loans, and if you can save $2200 and get something that can run a DVD just as well, that's $2200 saved?
You can also get a Blu-Ray drive upgrade if you want, which makes the computer better for watching Blu-ray's then the MBP. Why cares if there's an express card thingie, this has more USB's!


To summarize, The 17" MBP is a complete waste of money unless you are vehemently opposed to Windows. If you're in college, the $800 Hp is probably a better deal for you. The only bad I see on Microsoft's part is that she went to the Apple store first - That gives validity to the claim that people want OS X, which is exactly what MS is trying to argue against.

The fact that someone's willing to give her a free 17" Powerbook is just lame. What good is it when she tries to download Firefox or Adium and it doesn't run. At least with the most f****d up Windows installs, the programs will still eventually open.

[opeter]

For all it's holy in the world don't get this thread to 2000 plus posts too. :rolleyes:

Hahaha, why not? :D

Because Steve says so.

And who the **** is Steve? Is he a God? No... (sarcasm closed)

[theDUB]

Mitch works for Apple.

[BenRoethig]

Have to agree here with NoSmokingBandit. You all forget, she was looking for an 17" notebook, for 800 $. There is no 17" Macbook for 800 $.

BTW: what will she do with a PowerBook? I know, it's a gift, but anyway... she can't run Windows on that.

I agree. Will the 17" Macbook Pro run circles around the $700 HP? Well yeah, its a high end premium thin and light, its supposed to. That's not the issue. What is the issue is that not everybody who would benefit from a 17" screen needs something that high end. "Lauren" may be an actress, but she represents a very large and very real user base.

The lack of large screen entry level notebooks is the one weakness its notebook armor and its caused by Apple's unfortunate black and white world view. If you need one feature you must obviously be doing this and need these other features as well. If you think they're selling well now, rebrand the Alu Macbook as the 13" Macbook Pro and release 15" and 17" versions of the white book. Same specs as the 13" whtiebook, just lower resolution 15.6" (1366x768) and 17.3 (1600x900)" 16:9 displays. They'd sell like hotcakes. Of course Apple won't do it because in they're mind it would somehow be competing with the high end notebooks and screwing themselves out of many sales in the process.

[awpitchy]

Bascially you pay for what you get in this word!

[macFanDave]

My hard drive is massive. She would be impressed. AND I'm a Mac! :p

I doubt that. If it were true, you wouldn't have to say it.

If you have to say you are cool, you aren't.
If you have to say you are smart, you aren't.

and

If you have to say you are fair and balanced, you are neither.

[iBlue]

My hard drive is massive. She would be impressed. AND I'm a Mac! :p

Oh sure but what's it like after formatting?

[szark]

Windows is the better OS choice, so you can run a non-crippled version of MS Office
You can also get a Blu-Ray drive upgrade if you want, which makes the computer better for watching Blu-ray's then the MBP. Why cares if there's an express card thingie, this has more USB's!



Which "crippled" part of MS Office for Mac OS X will interfere with writing term papers?
If a college student is that strapped for cash, are they really going to spend money on Blu-Ray discs?



The fact that someone's willing to give her a free 17" Powerbook is just lame. What good is it when she tries to download Firefox or Adium and it doesn't run. At least with the most f****d up Windows installs, the programs will still eventually open.

Now that's a poor argument, as my 500 MHz G4 Cube runs the latest versions of Firefox and Adium without any difficulty. :)

[Stevamundo]

I doubt that. If it were true, you wouldn't have to say it.

If you have to say you are cool, you aren't.
If you have to say you are smart, you aren't.

and

If you have to say you are fair and balanced, you are neither.

Does this also mean that I'm not a Mac either? When I have two Macs and no PCs. Huh? :confused:

[Rodimus Prime]

What you all fail to realize is that there's a LARGE population that wants a 17" laptop to watch DVD's on while taking a break from writing a term paper.

If you are one of those people:

You don't care about weight; the computer is mostly on your desk
Windows is the better OS choice, so you can run a non-crippled version of MS Office
You don't have $3000 to spend when you can get what you need for $800
You don't care how many RAM's are in a Gigabte, as long as it has enough space for limewire
Screen resolution doesn't mean anything if, when you crank up the resolution, the sims 2 doesn't run as well
Did I mention that the next 4 years of your life may be lived off of loans, and if you can save $2200 and get something that can run a DVD just as well, that's $2200 saved?
You can also get a Blu-Ray drive upgrade if you want, which makes the computer better for watching Blu-ray's then the MBP. Why cares if there's an express card thingie, this has more USB's!


To summarize, The 17" MBP is a complete waste of money unless you are vehemently opposed to Windows. If you're in college, the $800 Hp is probably a better deal for you. The only bad I see on Microsoft's part is that she went to the Apple store first - That gives validity to the claim that people want OS X, which is exactly what MS is trying to argue against.

The fact that someone's willing to give her a free 17" Powerbook is just lame. What good is it when she tries to download Firefox or Adium and it doesn't run. At least with the most f****d up Windows installs, the programs will still eventually open.

Agreed with most of it.

Lets faces some facts. Most people who are going to college and hell most of the general population do not need anything more powerful than the $700 computer but we will stick with the college one here.

Hard drive space is more of a mute argument at this point because now hard drive space on even laptops is passing the point where most people will never fill them up.

Ram and video card need to be able to handle internet surfing and office. Even 500 computers have pass that point with out a problem.

The laptop would get used mostly for DVD watching or watching shows online so big screen there is a really nice plus.


Most people do not take their laptops to class no matter what size it is because it is a pain to pack it all up, unpack it and so on. For the most part it sits in a dorm on a desk and when it is moved it general for a short trip to like the library, study room, or to meet with group members so light weight portability is not a huge issue. It not like the computers are carried with them at all times.

I did the laptop thing for my first few years of college. mind you my laptop is from 2002 and even my last year in college it handled just fine for basic internet and paper writing. I had my desktop to do my heavy lifting.

Sum it up price has become a very valid argument. No longer is the agrument you get all this extra stuff with apple really good any more. It more what does it cost to meet my needs/wants and lets face it apple is falling behind in several areas on that front. Now the laptop side is catching up to them. The desktop version of this battle was lost long ago (cost to get needs/wants)

[Stevamundo]

Oh sure but what's it like after formatting?

Formatting, who needs formatting? :D

[jav6454]

They found Lauren and she has returned the call; however, she signed an NDA about any experience with the HP laptop. So, Mitch can't give her his laptop.

Originally stated by Lauren
Thanks for tracking me down and everything...I'm humbled and honored by all the attention, but I'm trying to gracefully turn down any interviews.

The article is here at Gizmodo (http://i.gizmodo.com/5190861/someone-found-microsofts-lauren-and-shes-an-actress).

[gkarris]

They found Lauren and she has returned the call; however, she signed an NDA about any experience with the HP laptop. So, Mitch can't give her his laptop.



The article is here at Gizmodo (http://i.gizmodo.com/5190861/someone-found-microsofts-lauren-and-shes-an-actress).

And she's an Actress - ain't that a coincidence... :eek:

[jav6454]

And she's an Actress - ain't that a coincidence... :eek:

Didn't surprise me... Now, what Apple needs to hammer this one down is post the specs of a 17" MBP and a $699 any brandname laptop....

[BongoBanger]

And she's an Actress - ain't that a coincidence... :eek:

An actress in a commercial? GET OUT OF HERE!

[Stevamundo]

An actress in a commercial? GET OUT OF HERE!

NO!!!!!! My PC babe is really an actress? The next thing that you MONSTERS will say that Santa Claus isn't... Oh I can't even say it!

I HATE YOU!!!! :p

[Peace]

Here's what "she" got :

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&st=HP+17+inch+laptop&type=product&id=1218041148373

[armoguy94]

Here's what "she" got :

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&st=HP+17+inch+laptop&type=product&id=1218041148373If that's true, that's almost the same specs as my 20" Alu iMac I spent more than $1,000 for:eek:

[jav6454]

Here's what "she" got :

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&st=HP+17+inch+laptop&type=product&id=1218041148373

Gizmodo commenters did a comparison of that vs the MacBook 17".


Same resolution as 15" MacBook Pro
Lower processor clock and L2 cache (2.1GHz 1MB in HP vs 2.66
GHz 6MB in MacBook Pro 17")
Battery life is less than the MacBook (notice the Pro 17" has up to 8 hours vs the HP which has up to 2 hours and 30 minutes)
Uses DDR2 vs MacBook Pro 17" uses DDR3
Plastic build vs Aluminum unibody build
ATI Radon card 3200 (unknown VRAM) vs nVidia 9400M 256MB VRAM + nVidia 9600 GT 512MB GDDR3


Pretty much, there is little MS fanboys can criticize since the MacBook Pro 17" clearly eats that HP laptop for breakfast.

[BenRoethig]

Gizmodo commenters did a comparison of that vs the MacBook 17".


Same resolution as 15" MacBook Pro
Lower processor clock and L2 cache (2.1GHz 1MB in HP vs 2.66
GHz 6MB in MacBook Pro 17")
Battery life is less than the MacBook (notice the Pro 17" has up to 8 hours vs the HP which has up to 2 hours and 30 minutes)
Uses DDR2 vs MacBook Pro 17" uses DDR3
Plastic build vs Aluminum unibody build
ATI Radon card 3200 (unknown VRAM) vs nVidia 9400M 256MB VRAM + nVidia 9600 GT 512MB GDDR3


Pretty much, there is little MS fanboys can criticize since the MacBook Pro 17" clearly eats that HP laptop for breakfast.

How many times does this have to be said NOT EVERY USER WHO WANTS A BIG SCREEN REQUIRES THE VERY TOP OF THE LINE!!! Yes, it eats it for breakfast, that's the point of of having a notebook a $2800 machine like the MBP. It's absolutely appalling that this platform has become so radicalized and so intolerant of any outside thought that Mac users can go longer understand there are different user groups in different market segments.

[clevin]

same old wine in a new bottle

pc vs mac is such a long-living topic.

guess this M$ ads is really scaring some people here :p

[macFanDave]

Does this also mean that I'm not a Mac either? When I have two Macs and no PCs. Huh? :confused:

Well, I own three Macs, but I don't claim to be one. In any case, anyone with $599 can "be a Mac" in your vernacular. Having a "massive hard drive" in the connotation you suggested is either something you are born with or something that requires very expensive procedures. I doubt the relatively cheap pills that flood everyone's spam boxes really work.

[Stevamundo]

Well, I own three Macs, but I don't claim to be one. In any case, anyone with $599 can "be a Mac" in your vernacular. Having a "massive hard drive" in the connotation you suggested is either something you are born with or something that requires very expensive procedures. I doubt the relatively cheap pills that flood everyone's spam boxes really work.

Yeah that's right, for JUST $599 ANYBODY can “be a Mac” baby!

Of course that doesn't include Apple's expensive monitors. :D

So buy a cheap monitor that will last about nine months. ;)

[PCMacUser]

Well, if put it this way. They are trying to compare a $2800 notebook with a $699, so its fair to posts the specs given the conditions that you are ridiculing the higher priced machine.
I hate to be blunt but either you have not seen the advertisement, or your comprehension skills are lacking.

The advertisement does not directly compare the Apple 17" MBP with the HP $699 computer.

The task was to find a 17" laptop for under $1000. In much the same way that you might look for a new car under $15000. A Porsche may be better engineered, faster, look better, and provide a more enjoyable experience, but it is simply NOT going to fit into this price criteria. Therefore, you do NOT buy the Porsche. And therefore, you will not compare specifications of a Toyota Corolla with those of a Porsche 911.

[BenRoethig]

Well, if put it this way. They are trying to compare a $2800 notebook with a $699, so its fair to posts the specs given the conditions that you are ridiculing the higher priced machine.

No, they are comparing the cost of an entry level 17" screen on windows versus Mac OS X. Since Apple makes no entry level 17" (or 15") models and allows nobody else to make one, the only comparison available is with the $2800 Macbook Pro.

The part that does not seem to compute for you is that none of this is saying that the $700 HP is better, only a better fit for what she wants. She (and many like her) do not want and cannot afford the absolute top of the line also, since its likely her only computer she doesn't want a 13" screen.

[Rodimus Prime]

No, they are comparing the cost of an entry level 17" screen on windows versus Mac OS X. Since Apple makes no entry level 17" (or 15") models and allows nobody else to make one, the only comparison available is with the $2800 Macbook Pro.

The part that does not seem to compute for you is that none of this is saying that the $700 HP is better, only a better fit for what she wants. She (and many like her) do not want and cannot afford the absolute top of the line also, since its likely her only computer she doesn't want a 13" screen.

And there is a good example of part the reason where there is a perceived "Apple premium cost" put on all apple computers.

To get something basic like a 17in laptop you have to pay for a lot of extra crap you do not want/need jacking up the cost.

[PurrBall]

So buy a cheap monitor that will last about nine months. ;)

I've never had a monitor fail on me. I have an old Gateway LCD from 2001 still going strong.

[BenRoethig]

I've never had a monitor fail on me. I have an old Gateway LCD from 2001 still going strong.

I've had one had need to be replaced, the TN display in my 20" iMac. They found the problem when it was in for service on the optical drive.

And there is a good example of part the reason where there is a perceived "Apple premium cost" put on all apple computers.

To get something basic like a 17in laptop you have to pay for a lot of extra crap you do not want/need jacking up the cost.

Right. It isn't as a much a premium tax as you really do get what you pay for as much as a "disconnect on needs" tax.

[wardev]

The ONLY reason(s) I'd buy a pc over mac is if

1) I was technologically retarted and was afraid of trying a new os

2) I couldn't afford microsoft os and really needed it

3) windows somehow becomes better than a mac. (which is very unlikely)

[clevin]

1) I was technologically retarted and was afraid of trying a new os


which linux distro do you like and why?