Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Microsoft Launches New Holiday Ad Comparing Surface Pro 3 to MacBook Air

A definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. This defines MS right now with their Surface ads. They keep trotting out the same "comparative" ads, but no one cares. IMHO the Air buyer and the Surface buyer are not the same person. MS is targeting the wrong group. (I'm not really sure what big consumer cluster would devour the Surface, but it's not the one that keeps buying Airs).
 
In reality I think the SP's really appeal to those people that have been lugging around those big, bulky Windows laptops from the "desktop replacement" era of laptop design.

These ads seem to be designed more to make the Windows crowd feel like the SP is a viable alternative to a MacBook Air rather than getting OSX users to switch OS's and hardware.

Regardless, it will be interesting to see Apple's interpretation of the Tablet / Laptop / Convertible hybrid.
 
Apparently it's a tablet to replace my laptop, so does it sit well on a lap or a cushion when I'm at home? The adverts tend to show it on a desk when used as a laptop.
 
proline said:
Comparisons can work if it is part of a whole scrappy startup thing. Unfortunately for Microsoft, that's a bit of a stretch. Not sure this strategy has ever worked for a failed has been. Case in point- BB.
Click to expand...

Comparison ads work, if effective, in demonstrating
  • the alternative is worth trying > "see, look at the features!"
  • you're being irrational in not giving it a try > "you'd be crazy to not consider this alternative since it's rationally better in x, y, z ways"
Unfortunately to Microsoft, we're all familiar with Microsoft, so it's not an effective ad to us. Maybe to young, teen-age kids it may work. Or someone on the buyers-fence pondering which one to get. But not a loyal Mac user since we're voluntarily locked-in.
 
Waxhead138 said:
I know the OS is the key differentiator here, but it's hard to ignore the versatility of the Surface.

Prior superiority won't be enough to keep Apple on top forever. We need some new ideas.
Click to expand...

Surface was so versatile that it was used by CNN anchors for iPad stand. Need not to say more.
 
Perhaps we all should drop our Macs and go with that wonderful operating system and solid hardware that MicroSoft is so well known for?

GIVE ME A BREAK......I have owned a Mac since 1984 "Test drive a Mac" days. It has always been the operating system, simply no comparison to the Win machine.

I got so tired of supporting my Wife's Window 7 Dell computer, with the constant crashes and crappy hardware. I let her use my MacBook Pro, and she was sold. Got her into the MacBook Air a couple of months ago. She is so happy with the computer, has not crashed once, built like a brick, and has all the applications she needs. Integrates with her iPhone and iPad mini, which she now sees the value in.

Worth every extra penny to me...having no issues...is priceless.

OS X
Built well
Has connectivity

And let's not forget free OS X software updates......
 
Wow, a kickstand! The MacBook Air doesn't need a kickstand since it's kind of built-in via the hinge.
 
Rogifan said:
Why in the world would anyone think OSX on a tablet would be a good idea? :eek:
Click to expand...

Personally, I use splashtop to connect to my mac on the iPad and it is amazing! If it were native, it would be great! The issue is that there are no multitouch gestures for splashtop like they do on OSX. Add those in there, and it would essentially be an OSX tablet. I dont know how anyone would think its a bad idea though. It would rival the air, and clearly wouldnt be a 'pro' tool. But for light uses that requires more functionality than iOS, an OSX tablet would be perfect.

Im still waiting for the iPad to be a laptop replacement, but it cant, because everything I have still needs to sync through itunes on my mac. Make a tablet, with a file manager, full itunes and iphoto, so I wont need both an iPad and a mac, but rather one device for all. I really did consider the pro 3 as this solution, but its the lack of OSX that pulls me away. Plus the non-1-to-1 zoom gets to me, I just dont like that.
 
Last edited:
But I do love how the MBA is always running Pages. Also, using the ugly non-transparent dock was a nice touch.
 
TallManNY said:
They have to compare it to a Mac. There are very few home users buying PCs at the price point of the Surface 3 aside from Gamers. Gamers obviously won't buy a Surface. Budget conscious folks aren't buying $1,000 PCs, so you can't compete with a Dell or an HP. Besides those are great customers of you since you capture most of the profit from those sales through your Windows license.

Business users who plan to sit down and do 8 hours of work 5 days a week on the device will not stand for the small screen, the small keyboard, and the poor touchpad. So you aren't getting too many sales there. Maybe to road warriors as their travel machine. But that is about it.

The Surface has to take market share from Mac or it won't sell.
Click to expand...

Very true, looks like they've got their work cut out for them though.
 
The ad might work for some, but when they go to the store to get one, they’ll observe how it is at our local mall: Microsoft store vast and empty, same for Sony store, and a couple steps away is the crowded and briskly doing business Apple store.
 
Someone/Something needs to put pressure on Apple!

Someone, something needs to put pressure on Apple to make an all-in-one product with the features of the Surface Pro 3. I have been Apple since the PowerMac 6100 so I have been loyal because they have good ideas! And I've been waiting to buy a laptop with touchscreen abilities and have a tablet with the full operating system power of Yosemite. Both things that Apple are behind on and very disappointing. Apple needs to do more than just make money by making phones.
 
If Apple put an Intel Atom/low powered x86 and Mac Os X on the Ipad...

That would be great!
 
Last edited:
People who want a macbook air will not even look at the surface pro. People who use surface pro are usually Microsoft fan, hence won't even consider and air. Microsoft just don't get it.
 
Fingerprints Drive Me Crazy!

Whether I'm using my desktop or laptop, I don't want to touch the screen! Ergonomically it doesn't work for me and I like my screens spotless.

----------
0x100 said:
If Apple put an Intel Atom/low powered x86 and Mac Os 10 on the Ipad...

That would be great!
Click to expand...

...said no one, ever.
 
I strayed from my 6 yr old mbp 15 to surface pro 3. I was neat, small, light portable. I got used to win 8 and liked the touch screen. The pen was great and i used it a lot. The scaling of most windows programs I ran were awful. everything was so tiny. The surface pro 3 had only one resolution you could run that would use the whole screen. Glitches galore, keyboard forgetting it was there, pen not responding. Then I noticed that the unit looked bent or curved at the top. The chassis was so thin that it would not hold its shape. I begged Best Buy to let me return it after 50 days. They did and then I got a retina macbook pro 15. Shedding a pound of weight from my previous mbp is great!
 
Guess I am in the dissent.

But this is a smart move by MS. The surface is too expensive as a tablet, and changing the marketing to a lower cost 2 in 1 laptop might increase sales for the surface.

Not sure if Macbook Air potential buyers will be swayed, but if you are looking for a 2 in 1 laptop the surface could be an option.
 
oh my...

the arrogance, the presumptuousness..... the FAIL.

and also: can do the same on ipad+adonit pro stylus+keyboard

Waxhead138 said:
I know the OS is the key differentiator here, but it's hard to ignore the versatility of the Surface.

Prior superiority won't be enough to keep Apple on top forever. We need some new ideas.
Click to expand...

you do realise that one is a computer and the other a tablet, right?
 
0x100 said:
If Apple put an Intel Atom/low powered x86 and Mac Os 10 on the Ipad...

That would be great!
Click to expand...

I don't get why anyone would want OS X on an iPad. I'd much rather see improvements to iOS than putting a desktop OS on a mobile device.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back