Microsoft Targets MacBook Air's Need for Dongles, Lack of Touchscreen in New Ad

[CE3]

There’d be nothing wrong with this ad if it actually seemed like a compelling option over a fanless laptop with significantly more power and battery life, but how they chose to frame this feels disingenuous and insulting to the intelligence of Microsoft’s customers. Same story with the Intel ads.

The reality is Apple Silicon is changing the game for both Apple & Windows computers, and this is probably the first time in the history of the MacBook that it not only represents the best in performance, but it’s clearly the best value too. Look at what you get from a Windows laptop for $999, and then look at the MacBook Air. Enough said. Market share is increasing as we speak, and they’re scared.

 

[trellus]

seriously. i never used a card reader on my macbook pro, when i had one))) usb a i can go for though, for sure!

I did use the SD card reader on my previous (2012) MacBook Pro, more than a few times, actually, but it was a minor convenience and I've not missed it terribly on my 2019 MacBook Pro 16, and I agree that USB-A is far more useful than an SD card reader for most people, certainly me.

If it's a choice between the two, it isn't a hard one -- I'd take even just a single USB-A port over an SD card reader.

 

[alexandr]

I did use the SD card reader on my previous (2012) MacBook Pro, more than a few times, actually, but it was a minor convenience and I've not missed it terribly on my 2019 MacBook Pro 16, and I agree that USB-A is far more useful than an SD card reader for most people, certainly me.

If it's a choice between the two, it isn't a hard one -- I'd take even just a single USB-A port over an SD card reader.

yea, everyone has so many usb a things that it'll be a while before this isn't needed... i have a great usb a hub which has both usb a and usb c cables(for connecting to the computer), so that's a great solution, but not so much when on the go.

 

[trellus]

Me. My cameras use SD and XQD memory cards and either one or both would be appreciated if a new iMac had them.

Yeah, I think an SD card reader on (the much larger) iMac is easier to justify than on the laptops.

I find it funny that these companies are comparing lack of dongles. Whether it’s Windows or Mac, I need 5 USB-C OR USB-A ports. Does the surface have 5 of either? No? Then I need a dongle regardless.

True, but that's probably atypical. I bet a supermajority of users use two or less USB ports at a given time.

 

[gnasher729]

hm, yea it can work for that i suppose. i've had the worst luck using time machine — it corrupted several drives that i had(not permanently — i wiped them clean). i guess using a dedicated sd card is a good method. of course if you lose your macbook — you lose the sd as well.

Yes, I never used an SD card as the only backup. I started doing this a while ago because an SD card is much more portable than a hard drive. And it protects against user mistakes, hard drive crashes, not against loss or theft obviously. That's why you need a second backup. BTW. A 256 GB Sandisk SD card is less than £35.

 

[cbass90]

Microsoft is out with yet another ad highlighting the new Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, but rather than primarily focusing on the features of the machine, Microsoft has chosen to pit it against Apple's MacBook Air.

In the spot, the same Windows user who was in previous ads, shows off his new Microsoft laptop to his sister. She continually asks questions about how it compares to the MacBook Air.

"Is the MacBook Air touch screen?" she says. "How could you not have a touch screen?" After a description of the ports on the Surface Laptop, which has USB-C and USB-A, she says "better bring your dongle."

Microsoft has been running ads pitting its devices against Apple's devices since January, comparing the laptops to the MacBook Air and the iPad Pro. Most of the prior ads have highlighted the Surface Pro 7, but this one focuses on the Surface Laptop 4, Microsoft's ultra-thin touchscreen laptop, priced starting at $999.99, which is similar to the $999 price of the MacBook Air.

Measuring in at 13.5 inches, the Surface Laptop 4 features an AMD Ryzen 5 or an Intel chip, depending on configuration, while Apple's laptop uses the M1 chip. Apple is rumored to be putting additional ports in next-generation MacBook Pro machines, adding an HDMI port and an SD card reader in addition to USB-C ports, though there are no plans to add USB-A ports.

Article Link: Microsoft Targets MacBook Air's Need for Dongles, Lack of Touchscreen in New Ad

If there's one thing I don't want on a laptop, it's a touchscreen.

 

[trellus]

There’d be nothing wrong with this ad if it actually seemed like a compelling option over a fanless laptop with significantly more power and battery life, but how they chose to frame this feels disingenuous and insulting to the intelligence of Microsoft’s customers. Same story with the Intel ads.

The reality is Apple Silicon is changing the game for both Apple & Windows computers, and this is probably the first time in the history of the MacBook that it not only represents the best in performance, but it’s clearly the best value too. Look at what you get from a Windows laptop for $999, and then look at the MacBook Air. Enough said. Market share is increasing as we speak, and they’re scared.

Yeah, the value proposition for the new M1-based Macs I think is astounding.

I favor macOS as a user generally, but I am a developer on the Windows platform, so I need my Windows 10 VM, and having used Windows since 1990, I still have a soft spot for it, so I anticipate having Windows in my life for the foreseeable future, and I'm hoping Windows 10 ARM is available retail soon enough (and works well enough) for my planned MBP upgrade at the end of this year -- I am definitely keen to get my hands on an M1 Mac as they are clearly superior to the Intel-based predecessors.

Otherwise, I'll have to lug around two computers, one as my personal device (Mac, of course!) and a Windows laptop... oh wait, I already do that 😂, I also carry around my Surface Go 2, which I use when I need to do something very quickly on the go -- I have literally used in the car waiting on someone else to run an errand.

 

[Peperino]

Eww... they have INTEL inside Microsoft surface.

M1 Chip.. Don't have to say much more Microsoft. That's alone is a game changer.

Microsoft's Tablet business still exist?

Are they not aware of the M1 iPad Pro? Come on now...

ONly if the new iPad Pro would use a regular Mac OS rather than iOS, then we can talk. Until then, iPad is still quite limited in its functions

 

[bounty1097]

That kid just seems so punchable in these Microsoft ads.

Glad I was not the only one thinking the same thing

 

[Peperino]

Besides. Use this time, because the next gen MacBooks will be perfect with many more ports.

Hopefully, they add more ports and make them user upgradable. THough, That would be after 5 years late of years of Macbooks with many problems and crappy keyboards...
So much for Apple's quality control

 

[skitidetdu]

So funny when she goes "BOOOM!" - and they don't show any screen shot...just some tacky ad on sound fx as if they are actually playing a game.

 

[TiggrToo]

Touch screen on laptops have been around 10 years? I think the writing is on the wall now. The majority of PC/Mac users do not care for it. We even buy non touch machines to save some money.

I remember last year (pre pandemic) telling one of our managers that they had a touchscreen laptop because they apparently had had it for a year and never realized.

"Why do I need that again?" was her response.

 

[Slartibart]

Sure, let's compile some GCC code, use ffmpeg transcoding some videos from H265 to H264 and download/upload some clips from the NAS. All in the sametime. Oh, plus do some skype calls with camera on in the background.

While compiling concurrent with video encoding is for sure something which most people would agree is a niche application. Probably in general. But by using GitHub Codespaces, video converter.js, FileBrowser Professional and Facetime I could do that even on my iPad Pro 2020. Still silent. Somehow not just a “big iPhone”. 🤓

but then again, what about developing this RAWs in a comparable time frame in silence on a different hardware?

And here we are. I think that every reasonable person can agree that the M1 is powerful. Yeah, there are scenarios like “exporting a pdf from outlook” where some recent CPUs from other companies seems to be faster - and if that would be something I have to do on a daily basis a lot, well, I would buy these.
Hammer for nails, DuPont Nr. 5 forceps for neurosurgery.

Which btw. leads directly to: every reasonable person would admit that for your scenario there is a better OS choice. There simply is. Funny enough the one you prefer you probably do not so much on technical but personal preferences.

And so we’re are back to hammers and neurosurgical forceps... can I do something particular on a Zimbutsu 2000? Probably.
Do really enjoy it? Probably not as much as theoretically possible.

And that‘s why there is choice without compromise in speed, noise and power usage when it comes to the M1. It just does it all. You only have to decide which “package” serves your personal needs best.

EDIT: this might mess up personal expectations on “what is important when it comes to choosing a device”. Suddenly one can concentrate on profoundly personal preferences like color, or how does it feel.

Most people do not choose between BMW, Mercedes, Porsche or Aston Martin because of horse power or torque, at this point it is no longer relevant.

It’s personal.

Welcome to Apple Silicon. 🤓

 

[mrr]

Even AirTags require a dongle to attach them to anything.

 

[ScholarsInk]

It's a little funny how offended people are by the existence of PC vs Mac commercials given the whole "I'm a Mac" campaign "our" side had.

 

[MBAir2010]

okay class
Microsoft like any other company, hires an ad agency to promote their products.
they sign yearly contracts and hopefully Microsoft terminates this relationship very soon.

 

[mi7chy]

Dongle requirement on the Macbook Air isn't nearly as bad as AirTag that requires a dongle loop to even attach to something.

 

[alexandr]

Yes, I never used an SD card as the only backup. I started doing this a while ago because an SD card is much more portable than a hard drive. And it protects against user mistakes, hard drive crashes, not against loss or theft obviously. That's why you need a second backup. BTW. A 256 GB Sandisk SD card is less than £35.

well i guess it's up to whether or not future macbook pros will have this slot!

 

[oneMadRssn]

I have a Windows 10 laptop with touchscreen as my work computer. I have yet to ever touch the screen or want to touch the screen.

 

[Putzi360]

My kids have two Surface Pro 4, both developed a really annoying screen flickering when getting warm.
My even older iPad Pro works like a charm, so there will probably never again be any add that convinces me to buy another MS surface.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

So have all of these fanboys (and fangirls) criticising the ad for comparing naming the macbook, suggesting they are desperate etc, forgotten the MASSIVE "I'm a Mac" and "I'm a PC" campaign by apple?

No, pretty much everyone agrees Apple was desperate then, and, as a result it made sense. The incongruity is in that Microsoft… ISN’T desperate? I mean, unless they are? And if so… why? Why would they THINK themselves desperate? Or, I guess, why would they act desperate?

I’m sure in the next few years, we’ll be able to see this in 20/20 hindsight and go “OHHHHHHHHH, THAT’S why.”

 

[Mousse]

Different strokes for different folks. Dongle I hate. OTOH, no touch screen on a laptop is a good thing, for me. I hate having to clean my phone screen every day...er...hour. Having to clean off that bit of Krispy Kreme🥰 glazing ain't an easy task.😃

 

[Ethosik]

I was surprised to see that they have some models with AMD processors in them now. This is good news.

 

[HVDynamo]

Touch screen on laptops have been around 10 years? I think the writing is on the wall now. The majority of PC/Mac users do not care for it. We even buy non touch machines to save some money.

As someone who doesn't like smudges on my monitor, I don't have any interest in a touch screen laptop.

 

[HVDynamo]

hm, yea it can work for that i suppose. i've had the worst luck using time machine — it corrupted several drives that i had(not permanently — i wiped them clean). i guess using a dedicated sd card is a good method. of course if you lose your macbook — you lose the sd as well.

Also consider that on a laptop where you can't add additional storage internally you can just permanently buy an SD card to leave in it to add local storage. Before they removed it there were companies that made them nice so they would sit flush with the edge of the case with a clip or something you could use to remove them.