I hope loads of people do fall for these adverts, and we should want people to, that way Apple will change their very limited laptop lineup because nobody would be buying them.
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New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices
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I'd say this ad brought out ALL the fanboys. The Apple Mac ads really aren't any better. I own several Apple & Windows-based machines so I don't get the fanboyism at all.
The reality is, at the end of the day do you really care what kind of laptop "Lauren" buys?
I sure as hell don't.
Wait until she has to upgrade the system to do what she wants it to do
PCs are cheaper, but become more expensive in the long run because of Windoze software. You only get a bare minimum with a PC.
PCs are cheaper, but become more expensive in the long run because of Windoze software. You only get a bare minimum with a PC.
OMG! They used an actress for an ad! What's new? <---
Fair enough AppleMatt did point out this in his post. The point I really want to make here is that worthless apologetic comments (see arrow for an example) are flourishing lately. If you complain about Mac Pro's going from 21000 SEK (Sweden) to 36000 SEK without any substantial increase in performance you get: "So they raise prices 'cause they make a good product" (it's 33% up for a botched update, what are you "the even-tempered lady" at Fox News!?!) or if you say "I think they're trying to hausse their economic 'pi' (see any entry level book on economy) by misuse of price elasticity due to recent marketing prowess with little or no substantiation in actual consumer hardware in combination with the failure of Windows Vista and in doing so abuse the unwritten rule of trust between Apple and the so called Apple Community" then you get "they're a company, so what did you expect?". (or perhaps a "you misspelled hose, learn American you bastard" depending on the forum)
The xMac is what I expect. A machine with the power of a regular PC, a reasonable price, a superior OS and in time a 30% market share due to it's "it just works" easy to use approach in conjunction with the ongoing decline of Windows as the de facto standard computer plattform as illustrated amongst others by the increase in Apple's market share and the increase in devotion from major software corporations to create software for the mac.
Why is this NOT far fetched (except perhaps for the somewhat speculative market share projection) ? Because both the original iMac and the Mac Mini where computers designed to increase Apples market share by providing real value. As many have said before there is a gap to fill with a reasonable headless mac, not a severly crippled Mac Pro (8Gb max ram, you're joking) at the price of two fairly powerful PCs.
Mmmm. I can't speak for "fanboys." My Mac is part of my livelihood. Just like some PC owners who absolutely need a PC because their job demands it. I cannot defend other's Mac purchases, and I will certainly not defend my own: for me there is no decision: I need a Mac for my work, and I own two of them: a desktop and a laptop: photography at home, entertainment business on the road.
For me, it is about the OS. Plain and simple... if I did not need a Mac for work, I would still buy one just for the familiarity and experience: that does not make me a fan boy, it makes me an informed and intelligent consumer.
Your post sounds a lot like a guy who was busting my balls for owning a BMW at a bar not so long ago. I tried to explain my PERSONAL reasons for my purchase, but he would not listen. After he had a few drinks in him, he turns to me and says: "dude, I'm just f*****g with you... your ride's sweet. Wish I had one."
Again, I am not speaking for all members here, and I have been a member of this forum for seven years, but some of us actually demand quality and know what to do with it: price is relative over the life of a product... and there are so many other factors.
As long as Apple keeps making quality products, and developing a great Operating System, I will select them as my choice for computing. I am not defending a company, or a lifestyle, I am merely stating that we have good reasons for buying Apple Computers... just like PC customers have their reasons for buying PC's.
Most people on this site know that Macs are a better value overall at almost any price, but I do think that in this current economic downturn, Apple is ripe for criticism and derision for its current pricing scheme, which clearly did NOT take the world economy into consideration.
I hope this is a wakeup call to Steve Jobs and Apple.
If Microsoft can successfully make fun on you, you're in trouble.
If Apple doesn't do something to have a cheaper laptop or that mythical midrange tower, Mac market share and sales will quickly fall IMHO.
I hope this is a wakeup call to Steve Jobs and Apple.
If Microsoft can successfully make fun on you, you're in trouble.
If Apple doesn't do something to have a cheaper laptop or that mythical midrange tower, Mac market share and sales will quickly fall IMHO.
Doesnt make sense
Is this an Ad for Microsoft or HP?? FTW???? Booooring
I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person
i saw this during the games tonight too. what do you guys think? of course macs are cooler...
Is this an Ad for Microsoft or HP?? FTW???? Booooring
Plenty of people are buying Apple laptops, that might actually be a part of the problem. As long as people keep buying Apple can keep on crippling their machines forcing people to pay for more and more things that where once considered a natural part of a computer. Once upon a time Apple laptops had discrete graphics and firewire and all the adapters you needed where included in the box. Now you have to buy "pro" to get two out of three.
The thing isn't that she could have known ahead of time, the point is that they did NOT give an unbiased person the opportunity to get a $1000 17" laptop for free.
Also, the difference between a MacBook Pro 17" vs. the computer she got is more than worth the price. Buying a computer that cruddy is just asking to pay twice the price in repairs each year. I have not yet seen a PC laptop older than 5 years that can run the most recent Windows OS, but my iBook is still chugging away, and our Pismo (running Tiger) is almost a decade old now.
Macs keep better, and save you way more money in the long run, like energy efficient bulbs, or brick houses (as opposed to ones made of sticks or straw you cheap little pigs
).
It's a pro-choice ad, from Microsoft. In this ad, Lauren chose an HP system. Expect the "buyers" in future ads to find other tier 1 Windows hardware vendors.
Premise is that Apple is high priced with one closed vendor, Windows has many vendors and lower prices.
Smart of Microsoft - the "Apple Tax" makes for a prime target in this economy.
And soon, they'll be showing Windows 7 vs. OSX - and things will be very interesting.
The point is completely valid and not cheating. The point is the customer has a budget and a vague idea of what he or she wants (ie, 17 inch screen, processor speed, whatever it may be). And the customer goes out to find a system that meets those needs.
Apple does not have the variety or the selection to give the customer just what they want. Im not saying its good or bad, its just a reality. With Apple you have to pay more money and get something that you dont necessarily need because you have no choice in the matter. That is what this add is showing.
So the point is the customer has a budget, and with the microsoft option, has the ability to find products on the market that can meet the customer's demand. Apple on the other hand fails to meet this demand. And this is why more people use Microsoft, myself excluded. Ive been fortunate to have money to buy the laptop i needed based on the OS alone. There are many out there who are not in that position.
Its only a matter of time before there will be major change with Apple, they will either start loosing tons of money when the market provides a very simple turn key method of installing OS X on any laptop or computer or Microsoft finally provides a comparable OS.
It is inevitable, the market demands it and there will always be someone willing to supply that demand. I hope it comes sooner than later.
Apple does not have the variety or the selection to give the customer just what they want. Im not saying its good or bad, its just a reality. With Apple you have to pay more money and get something that you dont necessarily need because you have no choice in the matter. That is what this add is showing.
So the point is the customer has a budget, and with the microsoft option, has the ability to find products on the market that can meet the customer's demand. Apple on the other hand fails to meet this demand. And this is why more people use Microsoft, myself excluded. Ive been fortunate to have money to buy the laptop i needed based on the OS alone. There are many out there who are not in that position.
Its only a matter of time before there will be major change with Apple, they will either start loosing tons of money when the market provides a very simple turn key method of installing OS X on any laptop or computer or Microsoft finally provides a comparable OS.
It is inevitable, the market demands it and there will always be someone willing to supply that demand. I hope it comes sooner than later.
Im not bashing people like you. You have a legitimate reason for spending 2x the market standard for hardware. Some guys here feel they need to defend their mac like they will explode into a ball of fire if they cant rationalize spending so much money.
The point the commercial is trying to make is 100% valid. Macs cost more. Sure, your BMW costs more, but you bought it because you wanted the extras that came with it compared to a Focus. This doesnt mean the Focus is a worthless piece of junk, it just means it doesnt work for you as well as the BMW. Some apple fanboys here have to call all non-mac computers junk so they can rationalize it in their mind. You dont have to call anthing junk because you actually have a reason for using a mac other than the "omg its shiny" factor that so many sheep follow.
Fail to realize
What Microsoft fails to realize is that you can't compare these two products. They are misleading the public to believe that this woman has found a similar computer for less. It's like going to a Porsche dealership with $20,000 and thinking you can drive away with a 911 Carrera, not going to happen. Another component that is not seen is customer service. You will never get the care provided at the Apple store anywhere else, let alone from a geek squad! How many Mac's have you seen at their place waiting to get fixed? Bottom line you get what you pay for, good luck with the add guys... sticks and stones love!
What Microsoft fails to realize is that you can't compare these two products. They are misleading the public to believe that this woman has found a similar computer for less. It's like going to a Porsche dealership with $20,000 and thinking you can drive away with a 911 Carrera, not going to happen. Another component that is not seen is customer service. You will never get the care provided at the Apple store anywhere else, let alone from a geek squad! How many Mac's have you seen at their place waiting to get fixed? Bottom line you get what you pay for, good luck with the add guys... sticks and stones love!
Damn this ad was pointless...I'd pay $2K more so not to ever use Vista...
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You should tell your signature that
!!Are you using Windows 7 yet?
Well hopefully. If I recall from Vista the only thing they touted as a feature was that aero interface and what alt-tab invoked. It looked good on systems that could run it, but was pretty pointless.
I'd look forward to actual features being touted. More than 1.
Damn this ad was pointless...I'd pay $2K more so not to ever use Vista...
But you have that $2000 more, she obviously doesn't. (Although I have read she's an actor, so she should, but for the point of this ad, she wasn't meant to have more than that).
PC price? Check. Hardware reliability? Check. Hype? Skip.
Wake up people. After all, everything hardware related, is made in China. And to be frank, if one can't use Ubuntu 8.10 or XP SP3 given an amount of time to adjust, then he shouldn't be near a computer.
Love Apple, love OS X, hate the hype.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/26/rescuecom_report/
Wake up people. After all, everything hardware related, is made in China. And to be frank, if one can't use Ubuntu 8.10 or XP SP3 given an amount of time to adjust, then he shouldn't be near a computer.
Love Apple, love OS X, hate the hype.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2009/03/26/rescuecom_report/
I think my initial response was why the heck does she even want a 17" laptop with the specs she is looking for. Does she even know what the right choice for her really is?? Especially because 17" screen increases cost and decreases performance. And at almost 8lbs and at that size where the heck is this girl transporting this computer? But then I realized all these things don't really matter because its what the consumer wants. And that is when PC wins its battles, they offer computers for those who want a 17" notebook under $1000. Apple wins only when the consumer is unsure of what they need and then Apple tells them exactly what they need and why their computer costs more and is better. That's Apple's game is to let them decide what you want and need. That best buy just let the girl pick a computer she'll end up not even liking. I dont know that for sure.
the bmw is more comfortable but both are s*#)*# under the hood
i think its more like Acura vs Kia
BTW, I completely agree
There's a reason PC's are cheaper: they're not as good. The hardware and software on the machines in the ads don't measure up to what offers. It's like comparing 's and oranges!
offers. It's like comparing 's and oranges! Sure, a PC generally costs less...at first. Then start adding in the cost of down time and constant troubleshooting, dealing with viruses, crashes, hassles with printer drivers and more Not to mention the depressing prospect of life without Apple's award-winning customer service when you run into a problem. I hope Apple's response to Microsoft's "cheaper is better" argument is: When you buy a PC you get exactly what you pay for--sometimes less.
Although Microsoft sucks, i am not gonna envy them for their money when they earn it. Money making has many factors to it. Being open is one ($MS), try to make quality products is another one.
Understanding customer needs.
Allowing others to take part in the business to expand
I am convinced.
If Microsoft werent a great company, they would not hold their position as largest software company for decades. So to say with IBM in their fields. What do we know about IBM products? probably nothing, Yet they make much more money than apple. They understand what people want.
I like apple, but once it comes to customer needs. Apple is rubbish. Apple will try to get the customers to believe on what it is doing. It rarely believe on what customers need. Apple is not open to third party organizations.. I hate this.
is another one.Understanding customer needs.
Allowing others to take part in the business to expand
I am convinced.
If Microsoft werent a great company, they would not hold their position as largest software company for decades. So to say with IBM in their fields. What do we know about IBM products? probably nothing, Yet they make much more money than apple. They understand what people want.
I like apple, but once it comes to customer needs. Apple is rubbish. Apple will try to get the customers to believe on what it is doing. It rarely believe on what customers need. Apple is not open to third party organizations.. I hate this.
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