Microsoft Releases New Anti-iPad Ad Highlighting Surface Accessories

MacRumors · Jul 19, 2013

Microsoft today released another anti-iPad commercial, this time focusing on the iPad's lack of a USB port while highlighting the Surface RT's keyboard and stand. The ad once again returns to using Siri's voice to point out the iPad's shortcomings.

"Oh dear, I need a little help here," says Siri as the Surface is propped up with its included kickstand. "I'm sorry, I don't have a USB port," Siri continues, before lamenting about the Surface keyboard. "Oh snap, you have a real keyboard too?"

Microsoft's newest ad comes just a day after the company announced that it was taking a $900 million charge "related to Surface RT inventory adjustments," during its fiscal fourth quarter earnings report. As of Sunday, Microsoft discounted the price of its Surface RT by $150.

The 32GB version of the tablet now sells for $349 compared to $599 for the 32GB iPad, which is another point that Microsoft uses in its newest advertisement. "This isn't going to end well for me, is it?" Siri asks, just before the prices flash on the screen. "No, definitely not ending well. Do you still think I'm pretty?"

Following yesterday's announcement, Microsoft stock fell 12%, marking its worst single day drop since 2000.

Article Link: Microsoft Releases New Anti-iPad Ad Highlighting Surface Accessories

Dreamer2go · Jul 19, 2013

Microsoft

THATS WEAK....
Siri is doing ALL the talking.... so you're making Apple more glorious coz I find Siri super funny here.

appleisking · Jul 19, 2013

My reaction to this ad was the same as Siri's first line: "Oh no, here we go again."

sza · Jul 19, 2013

$349 is reasonable price for that ****.

MacVault · Jul 19, 2013

Microsoft is desperate cuz surface sucks.

ValSalva · Jul 19, 2013

I guess $900,000,000 isn't enough to lose. Now Microsoft is wasting even more money advertising this lemon.

AbyssImpact · Jul 19, 2013

Theres a reason why MSFT dropped 10% today.

Millah · Jul 19, 2013

Well, at least we know these ads are SUPER effective. Flying off the shelves

magiic · Jul 19, 2013

Microsoft needs to focus on telling people why they should buy a Surface and not why they should not buy an iPad.

Eidorian · Jul 19, 2013

A Tegra 4 model should be coming soon.

sulpfiction · Jul 19, 2013

"Here we go again"....Exactly what I was thinking.

chr1s60 · Jul 19, 2013

It's to the point where Microsoft is simply trying too hard to make the surface look cool and it's something that shows and most consumers can pick up on. These ads probably help iPad sales more than Surface sales.

dannyyankou · Jul 19, 2013

You'd think Microsoft would know by now these ads aren't working.

Makosuke · Jul 19, 2013

It's difficult to pull off comparison ads like this and "I'm a PC" style ribbing without coming across as either scared or a bully. Apple's ad agency did it because in part, PC was cute and friendly, just a loser, and in part because Microsoft was so huge.

When you're already Microsoft, I don't personally think it works. Makes you look scared AND like a bully.

saboteur · Jul 19, 2013

Accessories on a Surface?!? ya, is there any other accessory for it besides the keyboard/cover?!

milo · Jul 19, 2013

Especially weak considering the iPad DOES have a stand.

Aren't they just throwing money away on these ads at this point? With the price drop it seems pretty obvious they're not selling enough of these, seems like they're just having a fire sale like some of the other tablets that ended up going away.

techwhiz · Jul 19, 2013

Oh, I gotta have one!!!! NOT!!!!

It's a laptop, no a tablet. No it's a laplet, a laptab, a toptab..... Oh, it's just a flop......

techpr · Jul 19, 2013

Microsoft you fail.

gaximus · Jul 19, 2013

Its not really fair to compare the same sizes of internal space when the Windows OS is almost 16GB of space.

trauncher · Jul 19, 2013

The Art Schol method of business suicide

Art Scholl (a famous aerobatic pilot) always said that when he died, he wanted to die "Full Throttle, pulling back on the stick, with both feet on the dashboard". That is exactly what Microsoft is doing.

Full throttle... both feet on the dashboard... straight down.

Perhaps this is why...

KdParker · Jul 19, 2013

MS had a good advertising plan when the surface came out, but the cost was just too high.

Now...anyone looking for a pad, just for emailing/surfing and use like an extention of their PC. Then they have the pricing right for that crowd.

Not sure if this price cut will help them now, but this is closer to the wha the introductory cost should have been.

Konrad9 · Jul 19, 2013

MacVault said:
Microsoft is desperate cuz surface sucks.

I don't think it sucks, but the RT is pointless and the one you'd actually want is way too expensive.

emozolik · Jul 19, 2013

"Do you still think I'm pretty?"

Yes Siri, yes I do

Lazy · Jul 19, 2013

That's funny. Microsoft is doing the best marketing job they can with the product that they have. Can't blame any company for doing that. At least they are showing actual differentiation that might matter to some people, and in a humorous way, which it not my recollection of their usual marketing.

Risco · Jul 19, 2013

I wish Steve Balmer would just quit. I much prefer a strong Microsoft against Apple than this weak shell of a company.

Microsoft Releases New Anti-iPad Ad Highlighting Surface Accessories

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