Microsoft to Respond to Apple's 'Get a Mac' Ads

[Quillz]

You're apparently incapable of missing the point, too. The hardware is very similar (not quite the same because of EFI vs BIOS, but similar). But the OS is very different. The OS is what determines usability - and the difference between Mac OS X and Vista is huge.

Huge in what way? Obviously for you, you prefer Mac OS X. And you know what? That's great. It really is. You should always use the OS that works best for you. But for millions of other people, it's Windows Vista that works better for them. And again, that's great.

Yes, the hardware is very similar, and yes, the OS absolutely makes the difference. But you know what else makes a huge difference? The end user. Here's a quick example. I have an iMac in my house. When I use it, I can get my work done quickly and easily. But when my sister uses it, she isn't as quick on it. And she's told me that she prefers Windows because she likes the way it works better.

The point is that at the end of the day, there really isn't one end-all, be-all, OS. The OS that works best for you is the OS you should be using, and that's what makes people perceive one OS as "better" than another.

And I guess that's the point I've been trying to make all along. Some will see Vista as a dud, others will not. I don't.

 

[rhpenguin]

I have a Core Duo (not a Core 2 Duo) MacBook and it's a great machine. Feels like a PowerPC Mac to me and well built. Two years old and still runs great.

I still don't understand this assumption about why if a Mac is built in some factory in China where PC machines are made too then it's crap or low-quality?

Good stuff! It's nice when hardware runs as expected.

I think the iBook and PowerMac I had were terrible quality. The iBook had seven logic board replacements before it was stolen and the PowerMac had one logic board replacement inside the first six months of ownership before I sold it on ebay. Maybe I'm a little biased.

I am saying there is no difference in quality between generic laptop and the Apple laptop when it comes down to individual components such as GPU, Northbridge/Southbridge, audio chipset, NIC chipset, etc. They all come from the same place.

You're apparently incapable of missing the point, too. The hardware is very similar (not quite the same because of EFI vs BIOS, but similar). But the OS is very different. The OS is what determines usability - and the difference between Mac OS X and Vista is huge.

Dude, I run MacOS on my computer alongside Vista. I use MacOS X about 80% of the time! BUT, look at my signature, I use generic hardware to run MacOS. I also have an Intel board downstairs in my MythTV box that supports EFI and BIOS. EFI is not something "special" just for Apple computers.

 

[P.S.Starlight]

I'm A Mac, And I'm A PC.


it's almost like:

I'm A White And I'm A Black.


I got a Mac, but I hate the ads, and I hate the attitudes. I think we should be glad that Microsoft is gonna put some ads on television that aren't annoying.

I hope Microsoft takes the high road, and just says about how good Vista is and not try to say that Mac isn't this and Mac isn't that.

Vista is a fine operating system. And I plan on buying it, to put it on my Mac. And I will be using it almost as much as I will use OS X, and we have that option. So let's be glad we can use 2 good operating systems on the machine and just shut the heck up about this stupid fanboy crap.

By the way....anyone excited for Dark Knight?

 

[kabunaru]

I am saying there is no difference in quality between generic laptop and the Apple laptop when it comes down to individual components such as GPU, Northbridge/Southbridge, audio chipset, NIC chipset, etc. They all come from the same place.

EFI and Mac OS X are the only things that make an Intel Mac little bit different than an average PC?

Edit: I like to talk about this stuff. I could talk all day about this if I wanted to.

 

[seashellz]

well, if its anything like their ZUNE campaign which was a total flop-then APPLE has no worries-in fact I think MS is in its Cretaceous period...the mighty dinsosuars go down whole the mammals take over

 

[jragosta]

I'm a little surprised that most users expect some magical hardware inside their Mac. It's all the same OEM parts like everyone else.

Except for the OS.

It's the "Macs suck" crowd who are so proud of the fact that the hardware is similar. Mac users are smart enough to know that usability comes from the OS, not the CPU.

Why is that simple concept so hard for people to get?

 

[kabunaru]

Why is that simple concept so hard for people to get?

Some people have nostalgia for PowerPC because PowerPC hardware made Macs more different than PCs and the "Macs suck" crowd won't be proud that the hardware is similar.

 

[AtariKee]

There was a long article in FastCompany about Alex Bogusky and the MSFT account some time ago.

Wow. What a megalomaniac. That guy makes Steve Jobs look like a humble, down to earth sort of guy.

Should be interesting.

 

[rhpenguin]

EFI and Mac OS X are the only things that make an Intel Mac little bit different than an average PC?

Edit: I like to talk about this stuff. I could talk all day about this if I wanted to.

Not EFI... Gateway was the first (or one of the first) PC manufacturers to use EFI in a consumer class production machine. The only REAL difference is OS X. I'd say TPM, but that's becoming more commonplace in generic business class PC's as well.

We're getting way off topic here though. If you'd like to chat about this at length PM me for my AIM/MSN address.

 

[AppleNewton]

Hi, I'm a Vista PC
Hi, I'm an XP PC


XP: soooo vista, still trying to prove yourself after all this time?
vista: yep appears so.
XP: thats a shame im still holding out after 6 years, good luck.
Vista: thanks, if its not you their downgrading [sic upgrading] to its Mac.


lulz


maybe instead of spending all that money on viral marketing they could use it to spend on producing a decent OS.

 

[khunsanook]

Here's an interesting article about MS's new ad campaign...cool? good luck

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/126/believe-it-or-not-hes-a-pc.html

 

[Quillz]

Hi, I'm a Vista PC
Hi, I'm an XP PC


XP: soooo vista, still trying to prove yourself after all this time?
vista: yep appears so.
XP: thats a shame im still holding out after 6 years, good luck.
Vista: thanks, if its not you their downgrading [sic upgrading] to its Mac.


lulz


maybe instead of spending all that money on viral marketing they could use it to spend on producing a decent OS.

Or what about...

Mac: Hi, I'm Tiger.
Mac: And I'm Leopard.
Mac: sooooo Leopard, still trying to prove yourself after all this time?
Mac: yup appears so
Mac: That's a shame, I'm still holding out after three years
Mac: Thanks, if it's not you they're downgrading to, they're moving to other platforms

lulz

 

[sharp65]

Hi, I'm a Vista PC
Hi, I'm an XP PC


XP: soooo vista, still trying to prove yourself after all this time?
vista: yep appears so.
XP: thats a shame im still holding out after 6 years, good luck.
Vista: thanks, if its not you their downgrading [sic upgrading] to its Mac.


lulz


maybe instead of spending all that money on viral marketing they could use it to spend on producing a decent OS.

Works fine for me.

 

[AtariKee]

i read an article a while back which was about microsoft hiring this marketing genius who has the reputation of turning companies around. forgot the name and don't have the link. he was supposed to come up with something that would make microsoft appear cool. and he has that reputation. of the listed companies, the one i remember is burger king. there were a couple more whose fortunes this guy had turned around.<snip>

But notice, the article also mentions a few failures by this ad agency...

Enough of this "Apple needs a mini tower" crap. I don't want a bunch of Cheap Geek Pikers anywhere around my platform.

No worries. It'll never happen. Two thousand whining, crying geeks hardly make up any sort of market for a cheapass "headless" Mac or mid-priced mini-tower.

In other news Apple announced today that they would stop their famous "get a mac" ads and move on to a new campaign.

Way to take your time M$.

i was thinking the same thing. That would be the perfect response to MS' new ads.

Isn't this what Vista was originally promoting before it was release? In other words, they're upgrading their upgraded security..but this time it's "for real."

Yes. Nice of someone to actually state the facts. It's just pathetic that those who cannot counter arguments with facts have to resort to childish labeling (i.e. "fanboy"). Anyone out of high school should have enough sense to know that immature name calling has ZERO effect, and just makes the poster's arguments look weak.

No matter. No amount of dick tossing from either side will convince anyone to change their platform of choice. So it's pretty pointless.

Agreed, but those days are gone.

Not for me. All of my Macs are still PowerPC, and the newest is eight years old and running Leopard (albeit with memory, USB, and video card upgrades). I have no need for an Intel machine as of yet, but I'm sure I'll pick up an eight year old Intel Mac someday

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Or what about...

Mac: Hi, I'm Tiger.
Mac: And I'm Leopard.
Mac: sooooo Leopard, still trying to prove yourself after all this time?
Mac: yup appears so
Mac: That's a shame, I'm still holding out after three years
Mac: Thanks, if it's not you they're downgrading to, they're moving to other platforms

lulz

hardly anyone downgraded back to tiger after upgading to leopard when leopard was brand new. I can't imagine that there are still any deal breaker bugs that are keeping people on tiger.

 

[Quillz]

hardly anyone downgraded back to tiger after upgading to leopard when leopard was brand new. I can't imagine that there are still any deal breaker bugs that are keeping people on tiger.

So what you're saying is that some people did downgrade to Tiger. I also can't imagine that there are still any deal breaker bugs that are keeping people on XP.

 

[Balty]

difficult choice

hmm..... it's a difficult choice
and don't forget the OS

 

[Quillz]

< snip >
hmm..... it's a difficult choice
and don't forget the OS

You're right... The OS does make all the difference.

 

[indiochano]

as much as i like apple products, i cannot help but hate their entire marketing campaign of "im a mac and im a pc" thing... pisses me off how apple nitpicks on its competitors publicly instead of proving its results solely on customer satisfaction. im glad microsoft hasnt gotten to the level of fighting like little pus#ies...

 

[dejo]

$3999 for the iMac? Well, I'm glad to see there's no exaggerating going on.

 

[DMann]

I'll include Jim's explanation...

As part of one of Microsoft's on-going lawsuits, a piece of email that I sent to Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates recently became public. It was a rant encouraging a change to the way we were building Windows at the time. In the email, I made a comment for effect about buying a Mac if I was not working at Microsoft. Taken out of context, this comment could be confusing. Let me set the record straight:

This email is nearly 3 years old, and I was being purposefully dramatic in order to drive home a point. The point being that we needed to change and change quickly. We did: We changed dramatically the development process that was being used and we reset the Windows Vista development project in mid-2004, essentially starting over.

2-and-½ years later, Windows Vista has turned into a phenomenal product, better than any other OS we've ever built and far, far better than any other software available today, in my opinion.

It's going to be available to customers on Jan 30, and I suggest everyone go out and get it as soon as you can. It's that good. The spirit of being self-critical continues to flourish at Microsoft. Within Microsoft everyone considers it their duty to always put their convictions and our product quality ahead of everything else. That was the intent of my mail to Bill and Steve, and I consider it a great example of how this company can focus and do what's right for customers.

jim

Thanks for that, I have read it. Great job of him covering his own ass. Very bold, indeed, with his sales pitch op: "Windows Vista has turned into a phenomenal product, better than any other OS we've ever built and far, far better than any other software available today, in my opinion. It's going to be available to customers on Jan 30, and I suggest everyone go out and get it as soon as you can. It's that good."

While I question: "Within Microsoft everyone considers it their duty to always put their convictions and our product quality ahead of everything else," I do admire him for sticking it out up until the launch.

 

[Quillz]

Thanks for that, I have read it. Great job of him covering his own ass. Very bold, indeed, with his sales pitch op: "Windows Vista has turned into a phenomenal product, better than any other OS we've ever built and far, far better than any other software available today, in my opinion. It's going to be available to customers on Jan 30, and I suggest everyone go out and get it as soon as you can. It's that good."

While I question: "Within Microsoft everyone considers it their duty to always put their convictions and our product quality ahead of everything else," I do admire him for sticking it out up until the launch.

How convenient that you forgot to bold the part where he said in my opinion. But of course, by leaving that out, you misread his statement as him making a blind fact.

 

[Zer0]

as much as i like apple products, i cannot help but hate their entire marketing campaign of "im a mac and im a pc" thing... pisses me off how apple nitpicks on its competitors publicly instead of proving its results solely on customer satisfaction. im glad microsoft hasnt gotten to the level of fighting like little pus#ies...

+1
I've owned a mac for over a year and totally love it! But that ad campaign makes me root for windows! It makes the PC guy look like a 'victim' and the Mac guy look like a punk!

 

[Quillz]

+1
I've owned a mac for over a year and totally love it! But that ad campaign makes me root for windows! It makes the PC guy look like a 'victim' and the Mac guy look like a punk!

I know, it's strange. Between Boot Camp and iTunes, QuickTime and Safari for Windows, it's as if Apple is catering more to the PC crowd than they are to their own users. They seem far more obsessed with PC users than anyone else. Of course, from a business standpoint, they are targeting the correct market. No one would deny that Apple's marketing works, plain and simple.

 

[Mac'em X]

Since I'm a person just like you are, I've officially disproven your statement that "The real foe is the fact that once people try Vista, they don't like it."

I don't believe either of us has proven we're people.

In any case, "people don't like Vista" doesn't mean "ALL people don't like Vista". "People don't like Vista" simply uses a plural that could mean as many as 6.x billion people, or as few as 2 people.

So, how many people is it? There's no way to count, but enough people have a poor view of Vista that MS has a problem on its hands. There should be no disagreement on that point; after all, it's the MS Vista Veep himself pointing it out!