New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices

[chris7777]

I came out at a discount as well.

back in 2005 I decided to get my first laptop.

I had been with windows since 95 (3.1 at the time at work), and my desktop was 98.

every year it became more and more cluttered with things I did not want, nor need, that just seemed to be flash that slowed performance down.

I was ready for a macbook then.

But the $1000 price of admission stopped me cold.

Well I looked for a while, and found a compaq that based out at $399 on the tax free weekend. (speaking of which can I get a refurb from the apple store on tax free weekend, but I digress)

Well by the time I added blue tooth, a card reader a faster processor, and the extended warranty , my grand total was $1150 or so.

But I was coming out cheap after all.

I have come to tolerate xp, but I have no intention of ever paying for vista. I would be willing to try it if the entire laptop were given to me entirely free of charge. But I would want to option to uninstall the OS and go with something else if I could not grow to tolerate it.

Needless to say My next computer will be a mac, what I wished, over and over again I had done in the first place.

I would have had to have bought what and external card reader?

And not had to put up with the numerous windows issues I have seen others mention, O I did get some games until COD caused the paq to begin running hot.

My next game(machine) will be a standalone system.

It is like others have said you get what you pay for.

 

[tMac85]

Kia vs BMW



( no offense to anyone who drives a kia.)

 

[dwd3885]

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longer
2) Apple doesn't bash Microsoft as harshly as Microsoft bashes Apple
3) Apple doesn't directly mention "Microsoft" in any of their adds that I've seen. I have only seen them talk about PCs.

You do pay for what you get. If you get a $700 HP, it will only be worth about $100 in a few years and a $2700 MBP will still be worth over $1500. If you buy a PC, you will have to buy a new one every couple of years to keep up with technology and if you buy a Mac, you won't have to buy one nearly as often. SoldierKnowsBest has a great video on YouTube comparing his new 24" iMac to all-in-one PCs. THE IMAC IS LESS EXPENSIVE AND MORE POWERFUL THAN THE DELL XPS ONE 24!

really? Apple doesn't bash Microsoft hard? The entire last 3 years of the I'm a Mac, I'm a PC ad campaign for Apple has been bashing Microsoft.

It's insane that people think you don't have to buy a Mac that often. Of course, people say this because they spend $2700 on a machine, so of course they will want to keep it longer! But when you only spend $700 on a computer, then you can afford to buy another one two years down the road, while those with Macs gloat about keeping their two year old hardware.

 

[Michael CM1]

Yeah, and here's the HP for the same $700 that actually has the same specs as the Dell only with a 17" screen and accelerated graphics chip:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&type=product&id=1218041148373

Tony

I did some looking at the model last night, and the first thing off the bat you should notice is the resolution. It may be a 17" screen, but the resolution is 1440x900, not the 1920x1200 that the Apple screen's have.

There are a million sneaky ways manufacturers can trim quality from a computer without you even knowing it. Motherboard quality was the king of that for ages since nobody ever touts those specs past the bus speed.

All I know is I have had my MacBook Pro for almost two years, and it has given me far far far fewer problems than the $700 HP notebook or the $1300 Dell notebook I had before. The HP went down to 90 minutes of battery life after a month and a half, and that's AFTER I sent it in to get fixed.

 

[Tallest Skil]

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longer

Better? Completely wrong; it's the same stuff.

Last longer? Absolutely right.

2) Apple doesn't bash Microsoft as harshly as Microsoft bashes Apple

Ballmer lunges, Steve jokes.

"glass of ice water to someone in Hell" vs. "I guess I'm just not cool enough."

 

[Tones2]

The display will show the exam same as they are the same resolution.

I would rather have 1280x800 in 13" and 5lbs than 15.4" and 6.4 lbs.

But a bigger screen size, which is also not a trivial thing even at the same resolution. HOWEVER, there are MANY MANY 13" PC choices as well that are much lighter than the example I gave if that's important. Yes, PC users hae CHOICES - literally thousands of them.

Tony

 

[rjohnstone]

1) Macs are only more expensive because you are paying for way better hardware that will last longer

Proof?

 

[evilyankeefan]

Someone needs to tell Lauren to visit the refurb store.

 

[NightFox]

Did anyone notice that "Lauren" never really enters the Apple store? The pedestrian that's walking by is in both shots of her "entering" and "leaving" the store. You think they would have caught that in the edit.

Ahem, I think you mean the "Mac Store".

Shame they didn't go in there with "Hi, we're just filming an advertisement for Microsoft, OK?"

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I'm a PC?

Are PC's cheaper, out of the box? Yes.

Now add all of the 'features' that Apple provides with that overpriced hardware and compare them to what you would pay for them for the PC.

Stuff like DVD writing software, real usable movie creation software, real usable photo management software...

I see the makings of a much older Apple commercial that I remember from years ago... Show the cost of the out of the box systems, then show the cost of the items that the Macintosh has that the PC user has to purchase extra (not to mention the much smaller virus footprint)...

But still, this is a great commercial for Microsoft. They can't beat Apple on technology so they hammer them on the perceived benefit of being 'cheaper'. And how...

Put that aluminum MacBook against that cheezy skeezy HP for durability and 'fit and finish'... Oh, plus OS X doesn't crash like a wino out on a bender either like Vista does...

 

[jb1280]

Yeah, and here's the HP for the same $700 that actually has the same specs as the Dell only with a 17" screen and accelerated graphics chip:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166635&type=product&id=1218041148373

Tony

But the hardware specs are not equivalent.

This 17" has a resolution of 1440x900, significantly less than the 17" macbook pro.

It weight nearly 8 lbs, is nearly 2" thick and has a battery life of 2 hours and 30 minutes.

When we are looking at portables, usability is an important factor, ie. the ability to actually move the computer and use it out of an office.

Resolution, weight, thickness, and battery life must be taken into consideration when comparing specs of portable computers.

It's a balancing act between performance and usability, and apple is best in class in the latter.

 

[Goona]

They should have talked that it comes with that crap Vista, look at it's satisfaction ratings:

 

[dwd3885]

Kia vs BMW



( no offense to anyone who drives a kia.)

that's a stupid argument too really. But whatever.

 

[Ubuntu]

I believe in "You get what you pay for"
I've owned several PCs and after I "paid double" for a Mac I decided never to go back. They are built better than PCs, offer more hardware and flexibility than PCs, and not to mention the wonderful customer support I have received from Apple. Not like HP...I mean HP India.

This ad sucks, get original Microsoft.

And the apple ads... what were they, exactly? Childish. As someone mentioned, its a good ad in this economy. As much as I love Apple, the macs are very expensive at the moment, my dad was looking at buying me a MBP as a University present, but not anymore, and I can't blame him.

Kind of lame to take advantage of the down economy like that.

Sorry, but how is that lame? Unless a company is only up and running because it wants to commit financial suicide?

 

[libertyforall]

Ya know, it is true -- Apple needs some lower priced options, just like the Mini for 17in. laptops -- options are good. Apple quality is better, but they have got to drive prices down too...

 

[wavelayer]

I think it's a good ad, especially-as others have said-during these financial times.

 

[Marlor]

$500 for a PC
+$500 in IT service costs the third month


+ $500 in IT service costs the sixth month
+ $500 in IT service costs the eight month
+...

Nonsense.

Most people just beg a computer-savvy relative to fix the issues.

I know that, because that's how I end up spending at least one weekend each month.

 

[Bubba Satori]

LOL I've probably sold a hundred of those 1245s. Nice deals.

 

[Ubuntu]

I saw the ad last night and overall I find it slight annoying, but it definitely is a much better campaign than the Seinfield ads and "I'm a PC" ads. Those were just obnoxious.

Once again I find myself asking what the Apple ads were. This advert is quite hostile (although I do agree with it), but personally I see it as more effective than the Apple ads, which just seemed like immature attacks. This advert actually focuses on the crazy pricing of Macs at the moment - an issue many have frowned upon recently on these very forums.

 

[neutrino23]

Clearly I don't agree with the conclusion, but kudos to MS, it is probably good marketing. Of course it doesn't account for the windows tax, all the money you need to spend on anti-virus, anti-trojan, anti-malware and the time it takes to run that stuff and keep it up to date. And the time it takes to delete all the crapware that comes installed on the computer. Nor the money you need to purchase applications that come free with the Mac. Nor the time wasted with windows as using windows is less efficient than using a Mac. But from a superficial point of view, probably a good ad.


PS: To those complaining about Apple's price for memory upgrades, this is a long standing issue. It was never officially announced but the conventional wisdom is that Apple does this as a way to encourage resellers. You can't get a discounted Mac but a reseller could throw in some memory and sell the package for less than Apple does. I guess the tactic works. Look at all the stories of people so pleased with themselves because they found a better deal for memory than what Apple charges. They were happy to pay Apple's price for the computer because they saved X hundred dollars on memory.

I'm an amateur student of marketing and find this fascinating. How you package things and present them so that people will decide to spend their money to buy your stuff is wonderfully complex. There are huge asymmetries in how people get along with each other. Marketers figure out how to offer an inexpensive favor or benefit in return for receiving a very valuable benefit from the customer. Like offering free balloons for the kids so the parents come in and drop $50 on a family meal.

 

[tMac85]

that's a stupid argument too really. But whatever.

actually it fits perfect.

its called build quality.
its called you get what you pay for.
and its called, apple is considered a luxury, just like bmw

 

[Eidorian]

Are PC's cheaper, out of the box? Yes.

Now add all of the 'features' that Apple provides with that overpriced hardware and compare them to what you would pay for them for the PC.

Stuff like DVD writing software, real usable movie creation software, real usable photo management software...

Vista Home Premium has this. You also get a TV tuner support from Windows Media Center unlike Front Row.

actually it fits perfect.

its called build quality.
its called you get what you pay for.
and its called, apple is considered a luxury, just like bmw

My cheap car won't last 200,000 miles? Tell that to my Geo Metro.

Bad example.

 

[dwd3885]

Are PC's cheaper, out of the box? Yes.

Now add all of the 'features' that Apple provides with that overpriced hardware and compare them to what you would pay for them for the PC.

Stuff like DVD writing software, real usable movie creation software, real usable photo management software...

You should try Windows Live Photo Gallery. It's very good. While I agree Movie Maker stinks, how many people actually edit videos anyway?

It makes sense if you are in the creative content business to use the bundled software, but if you are in that business, you're paying for Final Cut or Premiere anyway, so it's a wash because Adobe suites are in both system.s

 

[Small White Car]

A Dell Laptop at $700:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9166564&type=product&id=1218041148773

The $1000 Macbook:

http://store.apple.com/us/configure/MB881LL/A?mco=MzE2NjMyOA

Processor: Both are Intel Core 2 Duo running at 2 GHz.

Screen Size: Dell 15.4"; Mac 13"

RAM: Dell 4GB DDR2; Mac 2GB DDR2

Hard Drive: Dell 320 GB at 5400 RPM; Mac 120 GB at 5400 RPM

'Nuf said.

Good move, leaving out specs that makes the Macbook look good. It's sure easy to "prove" your case when you only state the facts that are in your favor.

Or does it not matter to you that:

The Dell weighs 42% more

The Mac system bus is 33% faster (meaning the processor will get work done quicker)

Likewise, the Macbook has 50% more memory in the processor's cache

The Dell's 15" screen is the same resolution as the Mac's 13", meaning it's not as sharp

The Macbook has a 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9400M video card while the Dell has integrated graphics using shared memory

I would consider a faster machine with better graphics and a sharper screen to be worth $300 more.

 

[apearlman]

Yeah, this ad didn't work out. Okay, here's my take. Microsoft is advertising "price" rather than overall experience. It's cheezy and says nothing about the customer more than, "Hey I'm a cheapskate ". What's not being "cool enough" have to do with not finding a Mac in her price range? Stupid...

"Good selling" is when you sell the experience and not the price.

Companies use price as a sales tactic all the time, and many are very successful with it. Even services like hotels will point out that they have clean rooms and comfy beds and they cost less than their competitors. It works.

And the "cool enough" line is dismissive. She is saying that the cachet of the Apple brand is not worth considering. Again, lots of people here may disagree, but she is trying to say, "I want a big screen and a comfortable keyboard and an attractive looking computer, and I don't care about brands." That's an appealing marketing message. You may think this ad isn't selling the microsoft "experience", but it's clear that the woman is having a great time buying her windows computer. What a great Microsoft experience she's having!