New Microsoft Ad Campaign Targets Mac Prices

[DELLsFan]

...Myself, I liked it better when less people had macs. Sure the more money they make presumably that better stuff they can come up with and the more people using the same OS the more compatible things will be. But what can you do?

Disagree with you here. It's not necessarily money only that begets innovation. Competition does this quite effectively as well. Now that Microsoft is done wasting millions on Seinfeld, I'm looking forward to bear market advertising and the incentives and improvements that will follow.

 

[DeepIn2U]

I know I'm late on this thread to comment but ...

This whole ad, and response reminds me of that movie ' Pirates of Silicon Valley ' where the Bill Gates played by Anothony M. Hall tells jobs ... "It doesn't matter!" in response to Jobs saying "We're STILL the best". This was Microsoft's plan all along ... Offer similar basic funcationality & growing complexity at a cheaper price. Make HUGE amounts more on contracts of licensing and technical support.

With Vista's failures in the marketplace - compared to Win2000/XP in sales and being shipped on PC's in their time - has allowed Mac OS X to be the consumer OS of choice, while WinXP/Server 08/Win2000 remains the corporate OS of choice (majority).

Lets hope this girl gets that 17" MBP from that dude that wrote in to engadget.

 

[rumz]

they use the same effing parts

you are just paying more for the shiny enclosure

I think that's why Apple went all glossy on their displays. I was remarking today at how shiny everything was in the Apple Store, hahaha. Alas, Apple users find there are intangibles (things outside just the physical components that are more easily quantified) that make Macs worth the added expense to them, and there's nothing you can do to debunk those intangibles.

 

[-hh]

RE: "My office is a 100% Windows shop and we're paying $1,400/year per employee."

On what? Repairs? Internet subscriptions? You need to be more specific.

Its been roughly 10 years since I've seen an actual cost breakdown. At that time, it was roughly $1000/year and was nearly equally split between "network & file servers" and PC desktop repairs...call each segment roughly $500/year each back then.

They abolished the Macs and within 3 years, the price jumped up to roughly where it is now. As such, its safe to say that the split is still roughly 50/50, or $700/year for PC services, which would include software install, since they've taken away Admin rights from 90% of the nodes. Personally, I probably have an IT service call around once every 6-8 weeks...need to make one again, since MS-Word has corrupted its 'Normal' template.

Now do note that this doesn't include the actual purchase cost of the PCs themselves - - we have to budget for that on our own. After the hardware arrives, it goes up to IT for all of our local 'custom' installs...which in of itself can take 6-8 weeks. Never shorter, sometimes longer.


-hh

I suppose I often overlook number one, because as a computer savvy person I would never need to consult or pay to have someone fix that for me. It is a good point though.

True, one may be talented enough to DIY your own troubleshooting and repairs. However, that's still an hour (or more) gone from your life that you could have been doing something else far more enjoyable.

Thus, how much is your free time worth?


-hh

 

[kenrobin]

I rather like that Microsoft have given a few little jabs back at Apple, who have previously been taking jabs at PCs for years.

I like it too. Hopefully these types of criticisms will push Apple to be more competitive from a pricing standpoint. It can only help us consumers.

 

[sushi]

Wow this thread has quickly become the 2nd most replied to news thread on all of MacRumors. The only thread to beat this was the one on the removal of firewire on the Macbook 13" Unibody.

Emotions seem to run high in these two areas.

Love it or hate it, that ad worked.

Have to wait and see.

A lot of people are talking about it or having massive flame wars about it, hah!

That much is true.

 

[rumz]

True, one may be talented enough to DIY your own troubleshooting and repairs. However, that's still an hour (or more) gone from your life that you could have been doing something else far more enjoyable.

Thus, how much is your free time worth?


-hh

This really is something that was a catalyst for me becoming a Mac user, whereas I used to be in the same camp as the general "I can build a faster PC for less" crowd. I got really tired of the maintenance and troubleshooting I've had to do on PCs over the years. I don't even want to think how much time and money I wasted fixing things on my own PCs. (Yeah I know, there are PCs that are rock solid and Macs that have problems. But my experience has been overwhelmingly positive). I also became increasingly impressed with the UI / software experience on Mac. As soon as I could get an Intel mac and thus run windows, I was sold.

 

[3282868]

I know I'm late on this thread to comment but ...

This whole ad, and response reminds me of that movie ' Pirates of Silicon Valley ' where the Bill Gates played by Anothony M. Hall tells jobs ... "It doesn't matter!" in response to Jobs saying "We're STILL the best". This was Microsoft's plan all along ... Offer similar basic funcationality & growing complexity at a cheaper price. Make HUGE amounts more on contracts of licensing and technical support.

With Vista's failures in the marketplace - compared to Win2000/XP in sales and being shipped on PC's in their time - has allowed Mac OS X to be the consumer OS of choice, while WinXP/Server 08/Win2000 remains the corporate OS of choice (majority).

Lets hope this girl gets that 17" MBP from that dude that wrote in to engadget.

Careful, you'll get flamed by deniers as being a "fanboy"

 

[Anuba]

All those can you trust this application, Your computer is not fully protected messages freek me out.

They put those there primarily to cover their own butts, not out of genuine concern. The fact is that the whole virus and malware scare is waaaay overinflated, perpetuated not only by Mac fanboys but by the forty-twelve different companies that make their living off 'paranoia software'.

The fact this that an experienced Windows user would have to work pretty hard to get a virus onto a Vista machine. It doesn't just somehow magically contract viruses from merely sitting there, you have to actively walk straight into certain traps, and boldly dismiss every warning you get along the way.

It all started with Windows 98, where two factors coincided: The internet boom really took off, and Microsoft naively made the system an extension of the internet and incorporated Internet Explorer all over the system, but with little to no security built in. This left the door wide open for hacker wannabes who wanted to create headlines worldwide about the latest scary "worm" that will "take down the internet".

After that, antivirus programs spread like wildfire (faster than the viruses themselves), and Microsoft spent aeons and aeons plugging up the various security holes, a project that spanned across Win98, ME, Win2K and XP, XP SP1, SP2... then came Vista, which is a whole other ballpark in terms of security. Simultaneously, the virus kids have grown up, and for the new generation there's just no fame and glory in it anymore, no headlines to make. As 99% have either Vista, or antivirus software, or both, there's no snowball effect, a virus release is just a fart in the wind and the only publicity it may get is some puny side column notice on symantec.com. Basically, you're drenching yourself in sunblock 2000 in a dimly lit room.

Also, in case you haven't noticed, Leopard gives you similar warnings about trusting an app downloaded from the web.

 

[needthephone]

they use the same effing parts

you are just paying more for the shiny enclosure and osx. osx is the ONLY reason i have a mac. however there is a tipping point for me

Are you sure?

Well you still need to engineer the parts together effectively.

When I first started buying computers I always got "No Names" your local PC shop who would buy it all in stick it in a beige box and sell it to you for a few $100. At first it all went swiimmingly but then it started to go bad. Things over heated as no thought was given to air flow or cooling, hard drives crashed, connectors lost their compression and wouldn't work.

Yes the components looked the same but they were the lowest quality.

I then went to HP but my new laptop (a HP Pavillion zed4300) would overheat and cut out. It then kept crashing.

I know have imacs. They are like using solid relaible granite. They are unflappable.

They have been ENGINEERED to work. Yes you pay for image and shiny cases buy R&D effort must also be costed in. apple is for me a sound business choice.

NO never again will I buy a pure PC-yes I will run MS on Bootcamp but never again a pure windows machine

 

[gnasher729]

- Compared to an iMac, this is a pretty decent system.

You'd have to be a complete idiot to buy a Psystar computer.

1. It's just as illegal as building your own Hackintosh. The difference is: Apple is mightily pissed off about Psystar, and they will eventually get their hands on Psystar's customer list and then they will do what they can to hurt you. With a Hackintosh, Apple doesn't know who you are and where you are.

2. You can create your own Hackintosh for less money, with hardware from any number of reputable companies that are able to accept credit card payments, and that will be still around should you have any warranty problems.

 

[Damballah]

Ok here is why this ad is a total failure:

1. It lets us know that Macs are expensive. No ****.
2. Lets us know that there are fewer models to pick from. No ****.
3. Makes a comparison in a market segment where Apple doesn't even try to compete: Cheap ass 17" notebooks with ****** specs.
4. It actually frames the PC as being for the "broke and uncool" You never have your advocate position themselves in a negative light, advertising 101.
5. When you are the ones with the 90%+ market share, you NEVER EVER mention a lower share competitor. Ever. Again advertising 101.
6. Lauren obviously didn't go into the Mac store anyway.
7. Based on all of the above, the only people the ad speaks to are people who were going to buy a PC anyway.

I guess the ad was successful in getting people talking, but that's about it. I actually don't think this ad damages Apple at all. As long as Apple continues to provide a superior user experience for the vast majority, they will continue to grow. Due to Apple and Linux, Windows will never, ever have 98% market share again. They are going to have to find other ways to be profitable.

I tell you this: this ad reeks of desperation. I have never seen a company with this kind of market share in anything act so defensive, and act as though they were losing. The whole premise of MS spending all this money lately is not to extol what Windows can do, but to convince people that it doesn't suck, and that Apple isn't all that, which is not a good premise to have.

Heres reality: MS market share across OS, Browser, Office, Phones, Media, etc. are all going down. Very slowly, but down nevertheless. Their business model relies on them having a massive installed base. In this day and age, that is getting increasingly much tougher to do, and they know it.

 

[3282868]

You'd have to be a complete idiot to buy a Psystar computer.

1. It's just as illegal as building your own Hackintosh. The difference is: Apple is mightily pissed off about Psystar, and they will eventually get their hands on Psystar's customer list and then they will do what they can to hurt you. With a Hackintosh, Apple doesn't know who you are and where you are.

2. You can create your own Hackintosh for less money, with hardware from any number of reputable companies that are able to accept credit card payments, and that will be still around should you have any warranty problems.

Thanks for calling me an idiot, be careful with your word choice. I never stated I would buy one, I simply was surprised you could buy one. For "idiots" that do not know any better and do not know how to build their own system, this may be a better choice. Lastly, legally purchasers are not susceptible to any anti-trust laws, solely the manufacturer/seller.

 

[Beerfloat]

The fact is that the whole virus and malware scare is waaaay overinflated

..

As 99% have either Vista, or antivirus software, or both, there's no snowball effect, a virus release is just a fart in the wind and the only publicity it may get is some puny side column notice on symantec.com. Basically, you're drenching yourself in sunblock 2000 in a dimly lit room.

Heh yeah yeah good ole Conficker's just a figment of everyone's imagination, and it's such a relief that Vista has solved buffer overflows once and for all, so we can just kick back and relax now.

 

[mikeinternet]

so how many comments away is this from most commented thread?

 

[3282868]

Ok here is why this ad is a total failure:

1. It lets us know that Macs are expensive. No ****.
2. Lets us know that there are fewer models to pick from. No ****.
3. Makes a comparison in a market segment where Apple doesn't even try to compete: Cheap ass 17" notebooks with ****** specs.
4. It actually frames the PC as being for the "broke and uncool" You never have your advocate position themselves in a negative light, advertising 101.
5. When you are the ones with the 90%+ market share, you NEVER EVER mention a lower share competitor. Ever. Again advertising 101.
6. Lauren obviously didn't go into the Mac store anyway.
7. Based on all of the above, the only people the ad speaks to are people who were going to buy a PC anyway.

I guess the ad was successful in getting people talking, but that's about it. I actually don't think this ad damages Apple at all. As long as Apple continues to provide a superior user experience for the vast majority, they will continue to grow. Due to Apple and Linux, Windows will never, ever have 98% market share again. They are going to have to find other ways to be profitable.

I tell you this: this ad reeks of desperation. I have never seen a company with this kind of market share in anything act so defensive, and act as though they were losing. The whole premise of MS spending all this money lately is not to extol what Windows can do, but to convince people that it doesn't suck, and that Apple isn't all that, which is not a good premise to have.

Heres reality: MS market share across OS, Browser, Office, Phones, Media, etc. are all going down. Very slowly, but down nevertheless. Their business model relies on them having a massive installed base. In this day and age, that is getting increasingly much tougher to do, and they know it.

Shhhh, careful, that is too much common sense and will enrage many.

 

[Anuba]

I know have imacs. They are like using solid relaible granite. They are unflappable.

Cool, can I trade any of these "unflappable" iMacs for my iMac 24"? 'Cause it died after a year (power management failure) and AppleCare doesn't include on-site repairs, so it's been sitting in its box since January as I have to drag the beast to the train station and travel 60 miles to have it repaired.

Honestly, "granite"...? Have you looked inside an iMac? I would rather refer to it as a "cranium", because much like the brain, with the cranium gone the parts will just spill out all over the place.

 

[dukebound85]

so how many comments away is this from most commented thread?

um alot, the really big threads have multiple parts...

who really cares anyways?

 

[gnasher729]

Not yet. Maybe after I egg those Adamo losers.

I'll predict they will be hard to find.

 

[3282868]

s 99% have either Vista, or antivirus software, or both, there's no snowball effect, a virus release is just a fart in the wind and the only publicity it may get is some puny side column notice on symantec.com. Basically, you're drenching yourself in sunblock 2000 in a dimly lit room. .

It doesn't matter what you state about viruses. I would rather have an OS that is less susceptible to viruses than using a virus prone machine without protection. Would you screw anyone without protection just because you can? I wouldn't.

 

[Tallest Skil]

um alot, the really big threads have multiple parts...

who really cares anyways?

I care. 47 more posts and this thing can be officially CLOSED for being too long!

 

[cjm3113]

Here is why I disagree.

Ok here is why this ad is a total failure:

1. It lets us know that Macs are expensive. No ****.

2. Lets us know that there are fewer models to pick from. No ****.

Plenty of people do not know that. Not every body spends their time on Macrumors. There are thousands and thousands of people who could not tell you anything about the products Apple makes.

3. Makes a comparison in a market segment where Apple doesn't even try to compete: Cheap ass 17" notebooks with ****** specs.

Exactly, therefore proving that they are right for that market segment.

4. It actually frames the PC as being for the "broke and uncool" You never have your advocate position themselves in a negative light, advertising 101.

Sarcasm. Look it up sometime.

5. When you are the ones with the 90%+ market share, you NEVER EVER mention a lower share competitor. Ever. Again advertising 101.

Advertising 101, did you ever take it? This has nothing to do with "mentioning" the lower share competitor. They only mention Apple because of hundreds of Apple ads that put Microsoft in a bad light. It is a Microsoft v. Mac world. It is not just "the little guy" and "the big guy."

6. Lauren obviously didn't go into the Mac store anyway.

Well, she clearly did, be it for just a few seconds. Not like she would need to do much shopping to find out that they had no 17 inch screen for her price range.

7. Based on all of the above, the only people the ad speaks to are people who were going to buy a PC anyway.

Which is almost everybody. Apple is the one who needs to "pull people away."

 

[Macmaniac]

Honestly this thread is making me a little sad.

I have been an Apple Devotee for many years, and I have hung up my zealotry hat. There is no reason for it.

It all comes down to what you do.

I am a student, I major in Television, and I need to edit video a lot. I use Final Cut Pro because it is the editing tool that I work best with and it requires me to use a Mac. I own a powebook for my Final Cut editing.

I am also a gamer, I love quality games, and almost none of them work on the Mac. I don't have the money to get a Mac Pro and Boot Camp it, so I built my own PC. It runs my games.

Honestly people should get what works best for them.

 

[GenNovE]

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...

Wow I will never let my girlfriends or anybody i care about have a virus infected computer for 1 MONTH.

If anything your statement clearly depicts that mac is of no help t oa persons knowledge on computers.

WOW! a whole month what kind of a man are you? Would you let her car have a oil leak for a month? i MEAN COME ON.. MAN UP.. DROP THE MAC AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...

 

[3282868]

Cool, can I trade any of these "unflappable" iMacs for my iMac 24"? 'Cause it died after a year (power management failure) and AppleCare doesn't include on-site repairs, so it's been sitting in its box since January as I have to drag the beast to the train station and travel 60 miles to have it repaired.

Honestly, "granite"...? Have you looked inside an iMac? I would rather refer to it as a "cranium", because much like the brain, with the cranium gone the parts will just spill out all over the place.

You keep talking about your one Mac that died, and complaining that you didn't activate your AppleCare in time (how much more time do you need besides one year?). As many have stated, N+1 doesn't make any significant statistical difference.

You then state your other mac (a Mac Mini) is simply used on your TV for a media hub, and that any computer can do that without issues. For someone who claims to like Macs, you complain a great deal about your Mac experiences .