New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices

[ChrisA]

I think its lame (comparing apples to bananas) but in this economy a pretty smart ad

No it's not. Saying "our stuff is cheap" is not good for your brand image.

Not even Walmart runs adds that say "I'm poor, this is the only place I can afford to shop."

What Microsoft is saying is "I don't have enough money to buy what i really wanted so I settled for this". Not a smart long term ad strategy.

 

[Consultant]

Another analysis on it.
http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2009/03/27/microsoft-to-attack-mac-pricing-in-new-series-of-tv-ads/

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.

While I love Apple and their products, Microsoft does make the point that Apple could lower the prices on some of their products to better compete. While I'm not expecting them to anytime soon, competition is always better for the consumer so we'll see how Apple responds to the ads.

But I did find the "I guess I'm not cool enough" thing to be a little funny.

Not the same product. Here is a price comparison.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/675665/

 

[ppdix]

virus subscriptions and PC repairs...

not only u have to pay and update your virus detection software yearly but how much do Windoze users have to pay for repairs, fixes, virus removal, system optimization... Not to mention all that crappy DEMOware software the u have to purchase after a few days of use.

My girlfriend hasn't been able to use her Dell laptop in a month cause there is a virus in it and it erases every file she tries to download to her computer.

Who wants the hassle and the steep learning curve to be able to operate such a complicated and problematic operating system?

<------ Proud Mac user since 1987...

 

[dwd3885]

And I'm going to be recommending my dad a new computer to get since his old laptop is too slow for him now after 5 years (pc by the way). And there's really no Mac laptop in his price range.

He wants a big screen, but it's stupid to pay $2000 to get that, especially when you can get a really nice and long lasting HP or Dell for $1000 that'll be a great computer and better spec'ed than an Apple.

 

[Jphillippe]

I used windows for 9 years...worst experience ever I lost my work so many times with random restarts, blue screen of death. I bought a sony before I bought my mac and the computer was pretty and pretty expensive but 11 gb was dedicated to self installed programs that lasted 30 days. The computer was so sloooooow and windows vista? full of insecurities. "are you sure you want to continue" press ok, "are you positive", press ok "ok its at your own risk"...I ****ing hate PCS I hate that there are about 1,000 models out. I hate how bulky the computers are....especially dells, toshibas, they're so ugly. I had a toshiba and I dropped it once...nothing happened to the computer, but the tile in which it fell on, BROke...

on the other hand I love my mac, it actually brings alive the name "Personal computer"...its so uncomplicated, so smooth, beautiful. I'm a fan. I'd rather spend 999 on a 13" computer. 899 with education discount...then spend 400 dollars on a pc that i would replace after 1 or two years of failure.

 

[Tallest Skil]

I wonder what Apple will respond with or if it will at all.

Advertising, advertising, aaaadvertising...

Make Windows 7 good.

Advertising, advertising, aaaadvertising...

Make Windows 7 good.

They preemptively responded, remember?

Back when the Jerry Seinfeld ads first came out, they were already spoofing how much money Microsoft was wasting–and CONTINUES to waste–on ineffective advertising.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is the 17" MBP not the thinnest, most powerful, lightest, most energy efficient laptop on the market?

Sure? You still can't use whatever graphics card you wish in the Mac Pro (the GT 120 is a farce), can't easily upgrade your hard drive or add a second to the iMac or Mac Mini, and have no means of expansion on any computer below $1,999.

 

[petermcphee]

This will likely be the most effective MS advertising campaign yet. It's drawing the attention of the consumer to something that they really care about: their bottom line. As opposed to screen resolution, specs of the machines, etc, which some folks might disregard as unimportant.

 

[Spock]

I really think these ads are kinda pointless, really the only thing this is going to do is make the Microsoft fanboys feel good and giggle a little bit. My girlfriend got a new HP abou a year and a half ago and the battery lasts 2 minutes after a full charge. My 6 year old PowerBook lasts 15 minutes on a full charge that's just one example.

 

[Stridder44]

The comparison is not a true Apples to Apples (no pun intended) comparison.

Sure you CAN get an HP laptop for $700-but it does not compare to a MBP in terms of spec or software.

How much $$ is your time worth? The time you won't have to spend on a MBP getting rid of crappy software that comes preinstalled on the HP that you will NEVER use?

How much time will you save by not having to deal with Windows BSODs?

How much money will you save by not having to buy anti spyware, anti-virus, and anti...?

Once again, M$ presents only 1/2 the story. I guess I expect nothing more from them.

Oh wow you're so clever with the way you replaced the "s" in Microsoft with a dollar sign! So original!

 

[xnu]

Looks like a great opportunity for a "I am cool enough for a Mac" T-shirt!

 

[PoitNarf]

offer more hardware and flexibility than PCs

More hardware? Maybe the only store you go to for computer stuff is the Apple store? Last I checked the amount of hardware options for a PC far exceeds that of a Mac.

 

[pbassham]

until

"I got just what I wanted"

until you try using it....

 

[Roniniku]

Page 1?

yeah, real Mac Rumors

Agree 100%......what is this doing as a page 1 story?

 

[Eraserhead]

This is smart dumb, those who say it isn't are just Apple Microsoft fanboys.

FITY.

Of course its just an opinion so really both are invalid.

 

[falcon99]

Game on...

 

[Jphillippe]

And I'm going to be recommending my dad a new computer to get since his old laptop is too slow for him now after 5 years (pc by the way). And there's really no Mac laptop in his price range.

He wants a big screen, but it's stupid to pay $2000 to get that, especially when you can get a really nice and long lasting HP or Dell for $1000 that'll be a great computer and better spec'ed than an Apple.

you're in the wrong forum darling...once you go mac you never go back...you pay more but the quality is incomparable.

 

[Eidorian]

Times are tough.

My landlord's husband bought a 17" HP laptop last year on clearance at Staples for $699. It's tough to pry him off of it now since they just got broadband.

 

[apearlman]

Yes, I also noticed she drove a VW. (Beetle convertible, it looks like.) My guess is that Apple & VW have a lot of overlapping customers, and this car was a deliberate choice. After all, it would have been easy to make the car and the steering wheel logo disappear.

Advertising is very interesting sometimes.

I also noticed she's driving a VW...looks new...maybe she should sell that and buy a cheaper car while she's at it. Let's see if Ford gives her 20 grand to buy a new car.

 

[Prof.]

Very very true. You get what you pay for.

$699.00 PC Laptop = 1-3 years.

$1499.00 MacBook = 5+ years.

I'll take a MacBook.

 

[bori]

I'd prefer a balloon over 600 diapers.

 

[macintel4me]

I wonder why Ms. PC was so concerned about getting a 17" laptop if resolution didn't matter. I wonder what an equally powerful, equipped used MacBook or PowerBook would cost doing real apples-to-apples comparisons.

Netbooks are flying of the shelves and Microsoft shows off buying an 8 pound hunk-a-junk. Gheez.

 

[Pika]

Funny how they're stating that Macs are the ''cadillacs of personal computers''.

 

[jbussiere]

"Im a PC and I touch myself at night"

 

[Enigmafan420]

Oh wow you're so clever with the way you replaced the "s" in Microsoft with a dollar sign! So original!

Yep I was trying to be original all right!

 

[petermcphee]

So? What if she wants a 17" notebook because she's a student who wants the biggest screen possible in her dorm, but still some sort of portability for when she travels home in summer?

There are plenty of reasons why people would buy these machines.

Microsoft are advertising to consumers - they do not care about gigabit ethernet or Wireless N. They don't care about screen viewing angles. They don't care about shared graphics memory either.

Now we're on that, doesn't Apple sell a computer with a smaller screen, lower resolution, poor viewing angles, shared graphics memory and rubbish battery? Yeah. And it costs nearly double what this girl paid for her computer.

This post highlights the likely effectiveness that these ads will have on consumers. No die-hards or tech-heads will be converted, but the average consumer will likely find something in the ad that resonates with them.