Microsoft Releases Second 'Laptop Hunters' Commercial

[Cleverboy]

Wow you are full of it. Take a look at these two systems, the specs and prices and also remember both run CS4 for us 'graphics folks' so tell me which is the better deal right now.

Mac Pro Quad Core
- 1x 2.66Ghz XEON
- 1x 320GB HD
- GT120 512MB
- 8GB DDR3 (OWC $146)
- 1x 1TB HD (OWC $115)
- Photoshop CS4 limited to 3.5GB Ram
- PRICE = $2,729.27

DELL T3500 WORKSTATION
- 1x 2.66Ghz XEON
- 1x 160 HD
- FX580 512MB
- Vista x64
- DVDRW/CDRW
- 12GB DDR3 1333mhz (Crucial $220)
- 1x 1TB HD (Newegg $110)
- Photoshop CS4 is 64bit / 192GB Ram =)
- PRICE = $1,801.88

Aside from the obvious note that no where NEAR every Photoshop user will opt for a tower system (I've used Photoshop as a multimedia and web developer for over 15 years, and have finally abandoned any interest, considering the iMac supports two monitors perfectly fine), some details in your pricing make me wonder about your ability to create a comparative quote. Why would a PC 1 TB harddrive cost $5 more than the Mac 1 TB harddrive? Wouldn't you simply be looking for components that have the right specs (like eSATA)? Why does the Mac have a bigger 320 GB hard drive? Wouldn't you just requote the two to match? Regarding the video cards, is there a difference between the two (GT 120/FX 580)?

Personally, as a "graphic" person, I've absolutely HAD IT, with Windows and its handling of multiple monitors in Photoshop. It's ridiculous. While on the Mac, I can have one window with a ZOOMED in view, and another with a 1-to-1 image updating in real-time. --On a Windows computer, you can only use multiple monitors to sit your tools inside of, you main images all relegated to living inside of ONE monitor at a time (all the tiling options in the word doesn't really help this).

While its a decision Adobe made early on when it ported Photoshop to Windows, its been a farce when it comes to optimal use of your system resources. So, even if you can get cheaper hardware, what the use in having hardware if the OS can't effectively use it?

~ CB

 

[Cowboy22]

Apple needs to lower their prices desperately. Wow a better screen res in Apples. Not a justification of more than $1000. Seriously. LOWER PRICES. Apple has needed to do this for years. Since they use basically the same hardware as PCs now, why do they charge so much more? For OS and iLife? Get real. I'm surprised this economy hasn't made Apple budge a little bit. And they charge MORE for their Macbook????? I own two Apple laptops just in case someone says you haven't had the Mac "experience".

 

[NT1440]

I don't think implementation matters that much, as Google Maps Mobile is now actually nicer on other phones, IMO. (Apple's version always seems to lag a bit these days.)

The real difference is that Apple included it, and made a big deal of it.

Do other phones make it as easy to use as Apple has with their implementation of multitouch? (honest question). What I was trying to say was that Apple has a tendancy to make features incredibly easy, and dare I say, fun to use.

I really don't know how it compares on other phones however so I can't call one version better than another.

 

[DoubleU]

And the APPLE ram didn't even have an APPLE Logo on it! WTF?

You don't need to buy Apple RAM, the RAM that come with your Mac is more than sufficient for all your needs.

Seriously though, these ads have a target audience just like the Apple ads do, and the bulk of that audience aren't posting on tech rumour sites right now. The MS adds aren't quite in the 'Crazy Larry' category but they might get Apple some more sales of the 'I am Rich' variety.

Personally I've never liked the 'I'm a Mac' ads emphasis on fun and doing 'fun things'. I don't enjoy fun.

 

[habros]

Yes, it's so sad it's almost fun...to see PC trollers populating these forums...in fact, PC-toting Mac bashers should be banned from MR...they add nothing to these discussions apart from their inferiority complex coming from ownership of a lower-class product.

You do realize that majority of the "bashers" are mac users. So by stating that they own "lower-class product" you imply that... ahh, you figure it out.

 

[yegon]

As for browsing the web, most people don't use Safari. Firefox is better in every way, and multi-touch in Firefox isn't supported without unstable hacks.

I've used Multi-Clutch extensively with Firefox for months using all available gestures, not had a single problem with stability.

I love the glasspad for browsing, but clearly mouse ftw for practically everything else.

 

[Trajectory]

So Windows and HP aren't brands??

I'll bet the jeans and shirt he's wearing are made by Gap - another brand.

 

[KnightWRX]

Wow you are full of it. Take a look at these two systems, the specs and prices and also remember both run CS4 for us 'graphics folks' so tell me which is the better deal right now.

Mac Pro Quad Core
- 1x 2.66Ghz XEON
- 1x 320GB HD
- GT120 512MB
- 8GB DDR3 (OWC $146)
- 1x 1TB HD (OWC $115)
- Photoshop CS4 limited to 3.5GB Ram
- PRICE = $2,729.27


DELL T3500 WORKSTATION
- 1x 2.66Ghz XEON
- 1x 160 HD
- FX580 512MB
- Vista x64
- DVDRW/CDRW
- 12GB DDR3 1333mhz (Crucial $220)
- 1x 1TB HD (Newegg $110)
- Photoshop CS4 is 64bit / 192GB Ram =)
- PRICE = $1,801.88

Your comparison is bad. Especially considering the Mac Pro doesn't have a 320 GB option.

My System Details
Dell Precision T3500, CMT, 85 Percent Efficient Power Supply
Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate Bonus 64 -Windows XP Professional downgrade
Energy Star 5.0
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® W3520 2.66GHz, 8M L3, 4.8GT/s
Mini-Tower Chassis Configuration
3GB, 1066MHz,DDR3 SDRAM, ECC (3 DIMMS)
3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD On-Site Service
512MB NVIDIA® Quadro® FX 580, DUAL MON, 2 DP & 1 DVI
C1 All SATA drives, No RAID for 1 Hard Drive
Integrated Intel chipset SATA 3.0Gb/s controller
750GB SATA 3Gb/s with NCQ and 16MB DataBurst Cache™
16X DVD+/-RW w/ Cyberlink PowerDVD™ and Roxio Creator™ Dell Ed

2088$

Vs the Mac Pro :

# One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
# 3GB (3x1GB)
# None
# 640GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
# None
# None
# None
# NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB
# One 18x SuperDrive
# None
# None
# Apple Mighty Mouse
# Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (English) and User's Guide

2499$

Every external devices you cited is going to be the same price between the 2 (how the hell did you get that 5$ extra for a Mac external HD ?).

Where's your 927$ now ? Oh yeah, it's not there anymore, because I'm not trolling and actually configuring the systems the same.

 

[LagunaSol]

These ads remind me of the Hyundai ads that showcase their comparable horsepower with "equivalent" BMW or Lexus models, yet for "thousands less." I wonder if BMW and Lexus shoppers were swayed to the Hyundai side?

Answer: NO.

Macs are more expensive than PCs, people. We all know it. And many of us are willing to pay for the superior industrial design, the better software, and the more satisfying integrated experience.

Microsoft's message in these ads: "Macs cost more. And you're really not worth it."

Oh, and at what point did the Winbot horde infest MacRumors???

 

[VoR]

Where's your 927$ now ? Oh yeah, it's not there anymore, because I'm not trolling and actually configuring the systems the same.

Wasn't my post, but you're not doing much but proving your inability to shop properly?

 

[r.j.s]

Oh, and at what point did the Winbot horde infest MacRumors???

When the iPhone came out.

 

[Serpico74]

Wow you are full of it. Take a look at these two systems, the specs and prices and also remember both run CS4 for us 'graphics folks' so tell me which is the better deal right now.

Mac Pro Quad Core
- 1x 2.66Ghz XEON
- 1x 320GB HD
- GT120 512MB
- 8GB DDR3 (OWC $146)
- 1x 1TB HD (OWC $115)
- Photoshop CS4 limited to 3.5GB Ram
- PRICE = $2,729.27


DELL T3500 WORKSTATION
- 1x 2.66Ghz XEON
- 1x 160 HD
- FX580 512MB
- Vista x64
- DVDRW/CDRW
- 12GB DDR3 1333mhz (Crucial $220)
- 1x 1TB HD (Newegg $110)
- Photoshop CS4 is 64bit / 192GB Ram =)
- PRICE = $1,801.88

You are incorrect. Let's do an apples-to-apples pricing (no pun intended) and outfit the Precision with a Nehalem Xeon and ECC RAM (same as the Mac Pro, neither of which you did), and the numbers come out quite different. I have upgraded both machines to 1TB hard drives since 640MB was not available through Dell and I wanted to get them as similar as possible.

- Dell Precision T3500

Dell Precision T3500, CMT, Standard Power Supply
Genuine Windows Vista® Business 64
Quad Core Intel® Xeon® X5550 2.66GHz, 8M L3, 6.4GT/s Turbo
Mini-Tower Chassis Configuration
3GB, 1066MHz,DDR3 SDRAM, ECC (3 DIMMS)
3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD On-Site Service
256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 295, DUAL MON, 2 DP
1 DisplayPort to DVI (Single Link) Adapter
1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s with NCQ and 8MB DataBurst Cache™
16X DVD-ROM with Cyberlink Power DVD™

$3255

Mac Pro Quad Core

One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
3GB (3x1GB)
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB
One 18x SuperDrive
AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac Pro (w/or w/o Display) - Auto-enroll

$2848

Even an upgrade in RAM with both cases doesn't close up the price gap that Dell has with their i7 Xeons, both through Newegg or direct from the manufacturers.

Just for fun, here are some eight core Nehalem configurations:

- Dell Precision T5500

Dual Quad Core Intel™ Xeon® Processors X5550 2.66GHz,8M L3,6.4GT/s,turbo
Mini-Tower Chassis Configuration
4GB, DDR3 Memory,1333MHz, ECC (4 DIMMS)
3 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 3 Year NBD On-Site Service
256MB NVIDIA® Quadro® NVS 295, DUAL MON, 2 DP
1 DisplayPort to DVI (Single Link) Adapter
1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s,7200 RPM Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst Cache™
16X DVD-ROM with Cyberlink Power DVD™

$5936

- Mac Pro Octo Core

Two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon
6GB (6x1GB)
1TB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 512MB
One 18x SuperDrive
AppleCare Protection Plan for Mac Pro (w/or w/o Display) - Auto-enroll

$3648


Mac Pros were cheaper than Dell Precisions before the leap to Nehalem processors (and WAY cheaper than comparable HPs), and it continues to be the case today. Price compared to other manufactuers varies with Apple's lineup, going from awful (the Mac Mini) to great (24" iMac compared to Dell and HP's all-in-ones) to the best value in its class (the Mac Pro). The only thing I can truly knock Apple for is not having a Core 2 Duo machine with PCI-E expansion, IMO it is the one massive hole in their desktop lineup.

Either way, you are completely wrong in your price comparison with their i7 Xeon desktops.

 

[Malfoy]

Why can't we get along like the Canon/Nikon factions...


oh wait...

 

[habros]

Sorry to enlighten you, but one possible analogy could be as follows (and no, I am not gay):

"This is a gay club, we are all gays, and we all hate meeting women simply because we're not interested. Then you come to our party and start bringing lots of women to the place, and saying that gays are mentally disabled lowly creatures. Then we react and say: this is our club, and you're invading it, even though there are a thousand other 'normal' clubs for you to visit. Then you reply that we shouldn't be gays, or that this club sucks."

Now tell me: what gives you the right to criticize us for loving Macs in a Mac-loving club? If you don't like it or don't share such fondness for a superior brand, don't even come near here...go visit Windows SuperSite or other similar crap. And spare us from these empty criticisms.

Oh boy, that ship has sailed.

 

[KnightWRX]

Wasn't my post, but you're not doing much but proving your inability to shop properly?

Are we comparing prices from manufacturers or trying to find out who's the best coupon cutter in the weekend paper ?

Professionals who buy Professional Workstations don't "shop" around and use parts from a parts bin, they buy everything from the manufacturer so that when something goes wrong, they don't have to track down the original RAM to prove to the manufacturer that it isn't their non ECC RAM from Crucial that's off spec that's causing it.

 

[southernpaws]

Well, thats just you to be honest. Thats certainly not everyone else. Like I said, I've yet to personally meet someone who doesn't have a mouse for their notebook.

Plus, when you're at a desk, why would you want to limit yourself to the MacBook's built in keyboard?.

Never had a complaint with the keyboard, so i wouldn't see that as anything but a matter of opinion.

like i said, i have a mouse for my macbook as well. and i agree, the majority of people i met who have a notebook have a mouse for it. but i haven't met a lot of users who have the new macbook trackpad, but i really think there are more than just me that use the trackpad (at the very least in conjuction with a mouse) while at a desk. unless you use firefox and windows on your macbook, it's a pretty addictive feature.

 

[habros]

LOL, yeah but they sure aren't fixing viruses.

Yes, you are right. So what might be keeping them busy all time?

 

[3282868]

You got that right, the one thing I like about the MS commercials is how it causes fan boys to get their panties in a bunch.

and M$ fanboys are right there in step. "Fanboy" needs to go, it's immature, shows bias and is merely used to inflame others. "Fanboys" exist on both sides. Now let's be adults and try to keep this (played out and ridiculous) topic civil.

FYI you do realize you are on MACRumors, a "fanboy" site. That's tantamount to a Democrat expecting a welcome parade at an RNC convention. Oooops.

 

[VoR]

Are we comparing prices from manufacturers or trying to find out who's the best coupon cutter in the weekend paper ?

Professionals who buy Professional Workstations don't "shop" around and use parts from a parts bin, they buy everything from the manufacturer so that when something goes wrong, they don't have to track down the original RAM to prove to the manufacturer that it isn't their non ECC RAM from Crucial that's off spec that's causing it.

Straight from the mouth of a corporate auditor!

You're right of course, that's exactly what happens. It's probably best to take the easiest option, especially when it's not your money being spent.

If I'm buying any machine for myself or business, I'll certainly shop around. I'll also look for and compare my options based on the 'cheapest cut coupons' I can find.

 

[Cleverboy]

I don't think implementation matters that much, as Google Maps Mobile is now actually nicer on other phones, IMO. (Apple's version always seems to lag a bit these days.)

The real difference is that Apple included it, and made a big deal of it.

As for the MS ads... I'm not sure why people are so fired up about them. Apple's been making fun of MS computers for a long time now, and we didn't see people go crazy.

Of course the implementation matters... until the ease-of-use becomes the new "standard". Then you have to do BETTER than the first guy to do it that well to matter.

As for the MS ads... I'm not sure why people are so fired up about them. Apple's been making fun of MS computers for a long time now, and we didn't see people go crazy.

It would be more amusing if Microsoft were simply poking FUN at Apple, but they are attempting to imply a more "man on the street" honest quality, that doesn't match the comments of those inside the commercials... basically, they're misleading consumers into thinking all laptops are created equal, while pretending to be "real". Someone who's looking for a "portable" computer, picking a 7lb 16" extended keyboard device, seems more than disingenuous to me.

For instance, Apple did its commercials with the average people, on the street, in front of black drapes. These would have been more detestable if they'd mentioned "Windows" in passing. They didn't. They existed as stand alone propaganda. The "I'm a Mac commercials" were much more "cartoonish", and openly mocked Vista and PCs. They weren't attempting to be anything but persuasive and funny however. Mixing the two things is immediately a recipe for trouble. Remember how people dug into the Apple ad with the airplane pilot, wondering how he'd use his iPhone to check the weather... and WHY that should be even remotely likely.

~ CB

 

[brop52]

Are we comparing prices from manufacturers or trying to find out who's the best coupon cutter in the weekend paper ?

Professionals who buy Professional Workstations don't "shop" around and use parts from a parts bin, they buy everything from the manufacturer so that when something goes wrong, they don't have to track down the original RAM to prove to the manufacturer that it isn't their non ECC RAM from Crucial that's off spec that's causing it.

It's pretty simple to prove. Put in the original RAM and if everything works then you know it is the RAM. RMA the RAM and use the computer with the original RAM so you don't have to ship the computer off to Apple needlessly.

 

[3282868]

Oh boy, that ship has sailed.

Originally Posted by BRLawyer
Sorry to enlighten you, but one possible analogy could be as follows (and no, I am not gay):

"This is a gay club, we are all gays, and we all hate meeting women simply because we're not interested. Then you come to our party and start bringing lots of women to the place, and saying that gays are mentally disabled lowly creatures. Then we react and say: this is our club, and you're invading it, even though there are a thousand other 'normal' clubs for you to visit. Then you reply that we shouldn't be gays, or that this club sucks."

Now tell me: what gives you the right to criticize us for loving Macs in a Mac-loving club? If you don't like it or don't share such fondness for a superior brand, don't even come near here...go visit Windows SuperSite or other similar crap. And spare us from these empty criticisms.

Perfect comparison. I made the exact same statement on the first Windows ad discussed recently, and of course all the Windows guys slammed me for being an elite "fanboy" and that they like "some" Apple products and ... You get the idea.

 

[dwl017]

Ok lets throw this one up in the air and see who can hit it, if you are not a creative professional why do you need a Mac? You can surf the web and check email on just about anything these days. Photoshop will run on either platform and there seems to be a Windows equivalent for just about every Mac program out today.

So without rambling on, there is only one thing you cant do on a Windows box and that is FCP. I really dont understand this long standing feud between Mac and Windows owners since both boxes do the same thing.

No I am not trolling I have spent tons of my hard earn money on both platforms and have no problems at all using both.

 

[RebootD]

Your comparison is bad. Especially considering the Mac Pro doesn't have a 320 GB option.

Where's your 927$ now ? Oh yeah, it's not there anymore, because I'm not trolling and actually configuring the systems the same.

Testy aren't we? You do make me laugh =)

The whole point was take stock Dell and take stock Apple (and yes I made a mistake with the HD that comes with it sue me) and the Dell is still cheaper. Plus YOU chose the downgrade XP version rather than the x64 model so good job there as well.

But fine I will give back the $5 dollars to the Apple since it is a huge contention and add a 640GB 3rd party drive for a whopping $64. So now it is only $858 cheaper.

 

[DocNYz]

Never had a complaint with the keyboard, so i wouldn't see that as anything but a matter of opinion.

like i said, i have a mouse for my macbook as well. and i agree, the majority of people i met who have a notebook have a mouse for it. but i haven't met a lot of users who have the new macbook trackpad, but i really think there are more than just me that use the trackpad (at the very least in conjuction with a mouse) while at a desk. unless you use firefox and windows on your macbook, it's a pretty addictive feature.

I currently am on a 30-inch cinema display running off of a brand-new MBP typing on a keyboard and using a wireless mouse. When I am not at my desk, I use the trackpad all the time, and have gotten very used to it over the years - the only time I don't is when I am connected to either the 30-inch display or much larger HDTVs. I use a wireless keyboard and mighty mouse from Apple, and sometimes a logitech wireless mouse. I am in no way tied down to the keyboard or mouse of the MBP, but they function very well when I do use them.

On other notes, if you like PCs and their lack of reliability and structural stability, fine, go use one but don't try to tell anyone that they're better, they're simply not. We are here on this forum to discuss mac issues, not decide which computer is "better." If you want to do that, look at the marketshare of the more expensive units and compare top of the line macs to top of the line PCs. Macs aren't supposed to placate normal, average, everyday people without money, they're supposed to create reliable, swift, and functional top quality hardware.

On a very side note, am I the only one that thinks these videos are set up EXACTLY the same as "reality" porn websites where they "find" someone on the street and then pay them for their "services" at the end?