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New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices
- Thread starter donga
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Microsoft screwed up, but in a completely different way than you think. If Dell sells a laptop a lot cheaper than Apple does, and people still buy Apple gear, what is the reason? What is the difference between the Dell and the Mac? It's not the Dell sticker vs. Apple sticker that makes people pay more for Apple. It's Windows vs. MacOS X. Microsoft's problem is that Microsoft software doesn't add any value to the computer, while Apple's software does.
Oh, I know -- I work in software development -- but the argument seems to involve the notion that Windows and whatever bundled software you get with a PC comes from an EZ-bake oven, or that PCs somehow ship naked and the price discrepancy between PCs and Macs could be explained by the included software. I'm not sold on that argument.
First off, the inclusion of software such as iLife is a relatively new thing. 10 years ago, a Mac shipped with *nothing* other than the basic OS because they didn't develop any software. There was no iTunes, no iLife, not even basic mail or a browser -- for a short while there, Apple actually turned to M$ for that (some Macs in 1999 or 2000 shipped with IE and Outlook Express out of the box). At the time, Windows shipped with Media Player, IE, Outlook Express, MovieMaker and some rudimentary photo gallery type thing. While certainly no iLife, it held a lot more value than Apple's offering at the time, which was nothing at all. But the price gap between Macs and PCs was exactly the same as it is today, and Apple didn't jack up the prices once they started including more software, so forgive me if I have a hard time buying the software argument.
As for MS including iLife-type functionality, you have to realize that they've been targeted by so many anti-trust suits on various continents that they've been forced to take all that stuff out. Windows 7 will ship without a browser and a media player in some countries, you have to download that stuff later, and they've moved a lot of the software to the Live platform. So it's not quite as black and white as Apple being generous and Microsoft being lazy and cheap. If someone would start hammering Apple until they were forced to remove Safari, iTunes and iLife from the machines, we could start comparing the two.
As do I. I wasn't going to be sucked into the forum vortex this weekend, damn...
So using your philosphy the idot won't be able to tell the difference between $700 or $1000, correct?
Windows hasn't crashed more often on me than I can count. Actually, it hasn't crashed more often on me than I could count when I was six years old. I guess I was pretty good at counting even at a young age.
The term "Microsoft tax" was invented by customers who were deeply upset that they were charged for Windows on a computer even when they wanted to buy a computer with Linux, due to outrageous and anti-competitive contracts that Microsoft forced its OEMs to sign. The term "Apple tax" was invented by Microsoft's marketing department. If you repeat the term "Apple tax", that just proves that you are falling straight for Microsoft's marketing and can't think for yourself.
Seconded. The value is much better in Apple's laptops. But the thing they were going after here is that Apple has *nothing* for people on a budget. It's worse on the desktop side, granted, but they have no real consumer product line at all, except maybe the white plastic MacBook, but like "Lauren" said that's a 13" machine and she wants a 17".
Also, until AppleCare recognizes the iMac as a bona fide desktop computer, I will refuse to do so too. The AppleCare contract explicitly states that it covers on-site repairs of "desktop computers" (it used to say Mac Pros only), but if you try to get your iMac repaired on-site they will refuse because it somehow doesn't count. Believe me, I tried. I also tried to make them explain how a 24", 30-pound behemoth with a table stand, no battery and no built-in keyboard could possibly be anything other than a desktop-class computer, and all I got in response was "ummmm..."
So she drives about in a $30,000 VW Bettle convertible and decides on a tiny $1,000 budget for a laptop...
She has her priorities all wrong.
She has her priorities all wrong.
You know I hear this argument more and more in these forums like notebooks are that bad anyway. We're not talking about 1999; this is 2009 and I consider my MacBook Pro Uni to be able to go toe for toe with 90% of PC's out there performance wise. You talk about these components like they're slow bottlenecked junk and they aren't.
LOL I'm sure Apple appreciates the free advertising. Way to go MS.
The fact that MS even feel the need to do this will give Apple more legitimacy in a lot of people's minds.
There is a general rule about not naming your competition in an ad for a reason. Even Apple uses the generic term 'PC'.
The fact that MS even feel the need to do this will give Apple more legitimacy in a lot of people's minds.
There is a general rule about not naming your competition in an ad for a reason. Even Apple uses the generic term 'PC'.
Alas, the term "Apple tax" was coined by end users who looked inside a Mac, found generic PC components and asked why they cost 25% to 500% more just because there's an Apple on the enclosure. Microsoft's marketing department probably wishes that they coined it though. They're nowhere near as clever as the Apple guys who coined the phrase "think different" to sell a product that reeks of conformity and de-individualization, commie style.
I think Apple should respond by an ad saying, "You're right Lauren, you aren't cool enough to buy a Mac." Then have a short video with celebrities using Macs.
You mean like when Apple namedropped the Pentium processor in their "Pentium toaster" campaign, or when they used a Dell machine in a side-by-side comparison with an iMac to show that the iMac requires fewer cables, or in the myriad of PC vs Mac commercials where they namedrop "Vista" to no end, or when Steve Jobs dragged a Dell machine onstage to showcase audio performance in Logic (they had recently acquired Emagic) and described the Dell in exact details, not merely by brand name but right down to the specs?
Yeah, Apple is really good at following your general rule there, dude.
Yes, you wouldn't want to be one of those "retarted" people, would you...?
Technically speaking apple doesn't make desktops. The Mac pro has server parts and the mac mini and imac have laptop parts.
Another lame ad by MS. MS has done two things with this ad.
Implied that their users are:
1. cheap
2. losers
It's so obvious that Lauren wanted a Mac, she just couldn't afford it.
This ad merely reinforces MS' bargain-basement image. The Wal-Mart of the tech world. And they drag poor HP into the mix.
Implied that their users are:
1. cheap
2. losers
It's so obvious that Lauren wanted a Mac, she just couldn't afford it.
This ad merely reinforces MS' bargain-basement image. The Wal-Mart of the tech world. And they drag poor HP into the mix.
They use first class components (for the most part) in the MBP Uni, no doubt. The only real bottleneck is the form factor's dubious handling of excessive heat, it's like a furnace in there. If you go for Dell's Precision M6400 which is their high-end 17" notebook, you do get a considerably thicker enclosure, but on the other hand it handles dual HDDs in RAID config, up to 16 gigs of RAM, quad CPU, and cooling the likes of which an MBP is physically incapable of even in theory.
Well, that's the target demographic here so I'm not sure how the ad was a failure. Who do you think is taking the biggest hit these days, Wal-Mart or Gucci? You appear to be making the mistake of assuming that it was addressed at the Apple faithful and insecure people who buy Macs for the cool factor, when in fact it was addressed at people who loathe both of the aforementioned categories. Some ads aim to bring in new customers, other ads aim to make existing customers feel better about themselves. In this economy, hatin' on the rich and self-appointed cool is solid gold in terms of marketing potential.
Weak. Nothing new. Absolute nothing.
Everybody knew even before that expensive ad that Macs are more expensive at the first glance than PCs. And everybody knows like before that you get much more for the money. The value is higher.
And it wasn't even a Microsoft ad but for HP and Best Buy. They pay the ads for other brands. Silly. They are keeping the word "Windows" out of their campaigns. More than weak.
As weak and boring as their products.
Everybody knew even before that expensive ad that Macs are more expensive at the first glance than PCs. And everybody knows like before that you get much more for the money. The value is higher.
And it wasn't even a Microsoft ad but for HP and Best Buy. They pay the ads for other brands. Silly. They are keeping the word "Windows" out of their campaigns. More than weak.
As weak and boring as their products.
in reply to whoever said "You get what you pay for" - LOL
As a previous owner of the 15" unibody, and 17" unibody, both of which I paid ALOT for, I can hardly say it was worth it.
My 15" was replaced 3 TIMES because of the amount of physical faults that went wrong with it, so I replaced it with the 17" when it came out, and got the faulty 9600gt.
Maybe buying a $700 laptop will mean its not as good on paper as a $2799 laptop (SURPRISING THAT!), but at least you won't feel completely ****ing robbed when it breaks more than your old pc EVER used to.
face it fanboys, macbooks are overpriced, but i don't mind paying the extra if it works PERFECTLY, the fact ive had 4 macbook pros (unibodys) that have ALL shown faults, there not worth it; thank god there customer service is so good.
As a previous owner of the 15" unibody, and 17" unibody, both of which I paid ALOT for, I can hardly say it was worth it.
My 15" was replaced 3 TIMES because of the amount of physical faults that went wrong with it, so I replaced it with the 17" when it came out, and got the faulty 9600gt.
Maybe buying a $700 laptop will mean its not as good on paper as a $2799 laptop (SURPRISING THAT!), but at least you won't feel completely ****ing robbed when it breaks more than your old pc EVER used to.
face it fanboys, macbooks are overpriced, but i don't mind paying the extra if it works PERFECTLY, the fact ive had 4 macbook pros (unibodys) that have ALL shown faults, there not worth it; thank god there customer service is so good.
I'm surprised how many people are going after her car. She's driving a friggin' VW, which seems about right for her. Based on her behaviour in the commercial and her clothes, she's too young and edgy and "individual" to drive a Honda or Camry. VW's are just the right sheep mindset car for her. I'm only surprised it isn't a Prius.
All that said, she sounds just like the type to buy a MacBook. She must really need that 17-inch screen. Odd.
All that said, she sounds just like the type to buy a MacBook. She must really need that 17-inch screen. Odd.
You got just what you wanted
"I'm a PC and I got JUST what I wanted"
BS. She wanted to be cool. Who does not?
Things she didn't wanted:
Stability
No Virus
No Spyware
Ease of use
Quality Hardware
Beautiful Industrial Design
Awesome Screen Savers
A Dock
Time Machine
Spaces
Mail
...
And the most important: THE APPLE STICKERS
"I'm a PC and I got JUST what I wanted"
BS. She wanted to be cool. Who does not?
Things she didn't wanted:
Stability
No Virus
No Spyware
Ease of use
Quality Hardware
Beautiful Industrial Design
Awesome Screen Savers
A Dock
Time Machine
Spaces
...
And the most important: THE APPLE STICKERS
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