“As usual, the truth lies somewhere in between. But a little whining from Apple isn’t going to stop Microsoft from running the ads.” Looks like Devin was right, as he often is. Microsoft has updated the “Laptop Hunter” ad that had annoyed Apple, and now it’s much more benign.
This is the ad as it appears now:
(The original version isn’t available anymore.)
You’ll notice that the lines have changed somewhat. In the original version, the lines were, “This Mac is $2,000, and that’s before adding anything… Why would you pay twice the price?”
Now the line is, “”It seems like you’re paying a lot more for the brand.”
The brand isn’t mentioned by name, of course.
Microsoft had this to say, as to why it edited the commercial:
We slightly adjusted the ads to reflect the updated pricing of the Mac laptop shown in the TV advertisement. This does not change the focus of the campaign, which is to showcase the value and choice of the PC.
Our long national nightmare is over.
No one in their right mind would choose a dell windows vista pc over a mac if you can afford a mac. Maybe microsoft should stop advertising it’s old software now considering that windows 7 is set for release and will likely erase many of the windows vista woes anyway.
Why was it that microsoft was doing dell and HP’s advertising for them anyway? Aren’t they the hardware manufacturers?
Only Fools like you choose Apple OS X, a 10 year old OS with 10 paid Updates.
Atleast Windows is far better.
Dell & HP are worlds best PC manufacturers.
Apple sucks big time (i m a user of orignal apple Power Book G4 since 2003)
Way to string those four double spaced sentences into one coherent, powerful, and intelligent argument. Bravo.
lmao
5 paid updates (Snow Leopard for $29, coming this fall), all of which are FAR cheaper than the cost of one Windows revision. Vista was crap and it cost three times as much as Leopard and 10x as much as Snow Leopard.
Yes, OSX is almost 10 years old, but its been completely transitioned from PPC to Intel to multi-core processors and now complete 64bit processing. Besides the interface layout, its been completely evolved.
Vista 64 is one of the most crash prone OS’s i’ve ever seen and Windows 7 is really SP3 for Vista, so enjoy that crap.
Dell and HP are worlds best PC manufactors LMAO yeah okay. if anything, the best PC maker is ASUS… cheap, but decent quality. Dell has terrible quality issues.
The aluminum chassis of the macbook is worth the premium.
“5 paid updates (Snow Leopard for $29, coming this fall), all of which are FAR cheaper than the cost of one Windows revision. Vista was crap and it cost three times as much as Leopard and 10x as much as Snow Leopard.”
Except that these updates are about equal to a SERVICE PACK in Windows, not an entirely new OS, which are free for Windows users by the way.
You are paying the price of a new OS for what is esentially the service pack. Don’t bring the “b-b-b-b-but new features!” argument in here either, they add about as much changes as a typical Service Pack does, you are paying for a damn disk full of patches.
I love the Service Pack argument. Microsoft generally releases fixes in Service Packs and updates to the various frameworks. Some Microsoftie made a “Service Pack” jab at Snow Leopard and you cling to that?
Oh and then we aren’t allowed to discuss the new products and functionality being delivered by Snow Leopard because that would win the argument? You might want to go look up Grand Central or the fact that the new OS is 64 bit. Wait Microsoft shipped a whole OS itself for their 64 bit offering. Try doing your homework.
And before you start jumping on Snow Leopard as a Service Pack you might want to take a look at Windows 7. Its a rushed product release to erase the Vista disaster and if it doesn’t sell there will be layoffs at Microsoft. count on it.
“Some Microsoftie made a “Service Pack” jab at Snow Leopard and you cling to that?”
Nope, ive been saying that long before that “Microsoftie” said it.
“Oh and then we aren’t allowed to discuss the new products and functionality being delivered by Snow Leopard because that would win the argument?”
Of course you are, after all, the Service Packs added such functionality and products as well.
“And before you start jumping on Snow Leopard as a Service Pack you might want to take a look at Windows 7. Its a rushed product release to erase the Vista disaster and if it doesn’t sell there will be layoffs at Microsoft. count on it.”
You seriously need to do your research before ranning on Windows 7, you are pretty igonrant if you think that is what Windows 7 is.
bring out your trolls!
—
I say none of this happened in the first place.
You must be a lawyer, am I right?
Use Windows Vista where Microsoft warns you about installing there software. lol.
That is not a well-formed haiku.
TROLLIN, TROLLIN, TROLLIN… stop spreading the BS!
its not ‘TROLLIN’
macfanboys are sensitive to people knocking apple, because apple is most often the sole aspect of their life they feel is at all stylish or cool
You do realise that the codebase of windows vista and even windows 7 hasn’t changed much since Windows NT 4 right? Its part of the reason why you keep hearing of the “Windows Bloat”, they keep adding to it but changing very little of the core in order to keep as much backward compatibility as possible, but that backward compatibility is costing Microsoft in the long run as they are having to support many many methods and workarounds to old software which is all part of the whole Vista fiasco, I could see it coming when XP was introduced with its compatibilty mode that was hardly compatible. Until they re-write windows from scratch they will not be able to compete on Innovation with Mac OS X which has transitioned seemlessly from PPC processors to x86 Intel, and now from a 32bit/64bit hybrid to FULL 64bit support, with native support for 32 bit. Microsoft had to release separate 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows and the 64bit drivers where horrifically bad for a long time, its taken them 3 versions of windows to finally get it right (hopefully) with Windows 7
You do realise you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, Leon?
You might want to look up kernel structure for a start.
Idiot.
http://widefox.pbworks.com/Kernel-Comparison-Linux-vs-Windows
Im not gonna stoop to your level, if you have a problem with what I said then prove it, tell me where, show me a source of info, thats what “Debate” is all about, the above link and lots of other things I’ve read over the past show that the kernel of all the windows systems since Windows 2000 is based on the original NT 4 kernel, they’ve added bits and pieces here and there, but it hasn’t changed anywhere near as much as people would think. Microsoft itself realises it needs to start from scratch and even had/has (unsure at this time if it being continued) a project in the works called Midori http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midori_(operating_system) which is a plan to create a completely new operating system.
Granted, I may not be a kernel programmer, but what I have read and understand tells me that everything I have said is the truth, if you have any faults in it to point out please do so in a constructive manner.
Nicholas, you are an idiot aka apple fan boy.
They did that because they are not evil and don’t want to spread b/s (like apple does with mac vs pc ads), not because of some pressure.
Of course someone wouldn’t hesitate to choose a Mac if they can affort to. That is precisely the problem. Macs are just outside the budget of most folks and the cost of ownership is high in that you need to purchase all new software for it.
“Of course someone wouldn’t hesitate to choose a Mac if they can affort to. ”
Tell that to the people that build $1000-3000+ rigs.
Any serious computer user does NOT use Macs.
Define a “serious” computer user. I use my Mac to design and build websites for companies, graphic design and desktop publishing for businesses, e-mail and general office work and as a digital sketchbook, I also quite happily play games and do other non “serious” things.
If your definition of a serious computer user is a person who builds 1000-3000 dollar “rigs” then a mac is not the choice for them because they want to “BUILD THEIR OWN” computer, an off the shelf PC would be just as poor a choice for this type of person.
For every Mac user who uses a system in a professional environment I can find you 100 that do not and would not.
MACOS lacks support for just about any high-end production application that is not graphics or video based, and even then the PC apps are preferred by most.
On top of this, I also meant people who would need a powerful system, Macs only allow you a very limited set of hardware choices, which can be easily outperformed by PCs.
Sorry but the cost of software argument is pure FUD, a new Mac actually comes with more software with a smaller TCO than almost any similar specced PC (iLife suite), I say similar spec because Apple does use higher quality and higher performance parts, it’s what gives them their longevity, but it also means you cant compare a Mac to a budget PC using cheap parts, so in the long run buying a Mac may cost you less. As the computer you get will last you longer without having to shell out for upgrades.
Of course there will always be cheaper PC’s, there is budget hardware out there that apple doesn’t touch simply because it won’t stand up for more than 6 months after its purchase when Microsoft comes along with it’s latest “Service Pack” bolting on yet more bloat in an attempt to compete, inflating the size of windows even more, when Apple is actively taking steps with Snow Leopard to reduce its footprint and increase performance.
Can you please substantiate your TCO claims? I use a Mac and I don’t believe that TCO is lower. I do, however, believe that it is a better product.
http://www.networkworld.com/best/2006/022706bestbreaker-schwartau.html?page=1
Admittedly this is an old article, and it’s business focussed, I’m trying to find the article I read about home users… it took into account Antivirus subscriptions, antispyware subscriptions, software and hardware support, hardware upgrades, time spent installing updates/latest drivers etc…
The mac does come with a suite of apps that will do most things any home user will need, windows comes with some apps that are not nearly as usefull or comprehensive, but Windows 7 might change that
@David
What do you think about HP with Vista.
I have two of them. One of them crashed last year though, but HP service was prompt enough and I had all my backups.
I may buy one 24″ iMac All in one next year.
wait till chrome OS is released. then there will be no reason to buy a mac.
(p.s. i hate default mouses that have no right click*)
Obviously you haven’t clicked on a MAC mouse in the past 4 years. They all come with a default right click. Welcome to today…
Except if its a laptop.
Hell, some of them don’t even have a SINGLE button.
I guess I’m just a fool then. If I could run ProEngineer and SolidWorks on a Mac, then I might actually have a choice. But I don’t. And I’m really pretty happy with my Dell Laptop and Desktop Running XP Pro.
Okay, neither is superior.
OS X is made on top of Linux, so Apple fanboys have to agree, Linux is superior.
Best servers are run with Linux, so Microsoft is not stable enough and too expensive.
If the IT guys where a bit smarter, companies would go for Linux, but that would involve a learning curve for them and we know those pizza eating IT nerds, dont we?!
Personal computing, well thats an akward position since nearly every PC is sold with Windows, so why change. People who do, mostly dont come back to windows.
Question is:
Why buy second best if you can have the premium for nothing but a download?
Hello Dumbass… Mac OS isn’t built on Linux. Linux is based off of Unix, Mac is BSD based Mach kernel based.
Haha you are such a fool.
If you dont like windows, cut your crap.
Go and buy a mac, pay for updates, cry when you dont find compatible softwares. Cry when you find it hard to use.
Just go and google,
“Mac sucks” .
Once you go mac you never go back! :) It’s worth the extra money.
Nope, sorry but it’s not. I am a network/computer professional and have plenty of friends with macs, I have shown them all the light, one after another. There is nothing thier money pit mac can do that any of my pc’s cannot do.
The fact of the matter is, this whole “macs are better” simply is not true and comparable to a drunk old hippie screaming that nobody will ever be a better buitarist than Jimmy Hendrix, when in reality, he has been supassed a long damn time ago.
Hendrix and mac freaks, just shut up will ya
I agree with you, but is it really necessary to throw Jimi Hendrix in there, too? Geez dude… being a better guitarist is not the same as being a more beloved or pioneering guitarist. To each their own…
I don’t mean to offend hendrix fans, the guy was a pioneer, but he has been surpassed. The comparison is that people get their mind set on something and they spout it the rest of their life whether there is fact to back it up or not.
How about open a .PSD file natively? (also, generate .pdf files natively)
This is the dumbest post yet. Open PDF or PSD natively? So what, those are just two file type of millions. I Have never had use for a PSD, nor will i ever. And I do TONS of graphic work professionally. PDF’s, yeah if someone sends one, i open it with foxit reader, so?
What do you do if someone sends you a wav file? You open it with whatever supports wav on a mac, even thought wav is not “native” to macs. Dumb ass post dude, just ignorant.
Dang it! It was a bunch of network/computer professionals that influenced my move to a Mac! Sheesh… I must have been surrounded by a bunch of incompetent IT pros. I do love my Mac though. :)
Eric….What kind of professional graphics work could you possible be doing without ever needing a .PSD file?
I’ve been a PC user all my life, and still today I’m on XP & Win7 RC. I like Windows a lot.
I think PCs can do everything a Mac can as well. But there’s no denying it, there’s a lot of software for Macs only that doesn’t even compare to similar Windows software.
Coda, Expresso, Textmate, CSSEdit, Adium, TextExpander, Things, and a few others look 10x better than the Windows comparisons. It seems like the Mac software developers put much more time and thought into creating their apps, where a lot of Windows apps just look & feel incomplete..
think PCs can do everything a Mac can as well.
Not without Cygwin, and even then it’s pretty fuckin’ janky. But I get your point. If all you ever do is mouse-jockey application stuff, the selection of COTS is similar.
“There is nothing thier money pit mac can do that any of my pc’s cannot do.”
Lets see, I can legally run every OS on my machine without haking or virtualization/emulation. “PC’s” can’t do that.
Yea whatever I’ll argue later, I gotta reboot, do an antivirus scan and then defrag.
“Lets see, I can legally run every OS on my machine without haking or virtualization/emulation. “PC’s” can’t do that.”
Errr, that was the dumbest comment I have read in this thread. It is because Windows ALLOWS you to install their OS on your mac that you can do it. The ONLY reason you can’t run OSX on a pc is that apple does not allow it. Apple has the most restrictive policies ever when it comes to using their software/hardware. Eg, I can’t legally update my ipod with anything but iTunes, I can’t legally use a song that I didn’t download through iTunes as my ringtone on my iPhone. The list goes on and on….
I went Mac. And then went back. It’s a very dated system. Couldn’t find the upside. Kept feeling like it’s a decade ago.
I got a Mac.
Guess what? I went “meh” and went back.
Better luck next time.
apple needs to lower mac prices significantly or they will always be niche (sub 10%) products globally. and likely much smalller niche products after windows 7 release.
Sorry, I disagree.
I have been using MacBookPro’s for last 4 years as my work machine. I have 3, all Intel based, two 15″ MBPs (one 3 year old and another 1 year old) and 1 17″ (4 month old).
I love them, no doubt, but the only reason I have those is because my company purchased those for me.
I will not spend that much amount of money if it was coming out of my pocket for my personal use.
If I really hated Windows, I will just install Ubuntu.
Fanaticism of any kind is bad, and policy wise Apple is worse than MS. I shudder at the thought of what the world might have been like if Apple had been the monopoly instead of MS.
granted i am not done reading all the comments and people are debating personal preferances and technical things that kind of go above my head, but i will try to find out (i understand half the stuff i read on this website…well more than half but i clearly know it’s not my league), but i agree with your comment the most. i use a mac at school for art class and for my work, working with an arts company, but everywhere else and personally i use windows and i prefer windows even if apparently i can never get the quality conditions or programs while using windows, which i don’t think is all that true because there’s ways of getting around everything, just like there’s ways on mac’s to get around some of the stupid roadblocks set by the company and the op system, but i perfer windows because i don’t get asked for updates all the time. if you know how to use your computer it won’t crash like how mac users always say windows systems are frail and weak and suseptible and crash all the time. also i can switch from windows if i want to and use another system. i can always use a convertor if need be. i don’t find trying to figure out my windows system a hardship…but a mac is twice as difficult for someone who isn’t adept in techknowlege.
I’m a gamer…I’ll never go mac.
I have to agree… I choose the PC.
I’m computer literate. In fact, I’m in IT. I’ll also never go Mac.
Woo! Mac guys/gals are being pushed back across their granny smith lines!
wow, you’re in IT?! can i have a new mouse? my computer seems slow.
These ads have been very successful for Microsoft, and Apple complaining about them just proves that they are working. Just another example of Crispin Porter’s genius.
Even though Microsoft changed the ad, the damage has already been done. People will remember that the ad originally said the Macs cost double the price. Plus, look at all this press that Microsoft is getting for this. The truth is, I never saw this particular ad until Apple complained about it.
“These ads have been very successful for Microsoft, and Apple complaining about them just proves that they are working.”
Yes, very successful. Microsoft’s profits were down this quarter and Apple’s were up. If we are lucky, Microsoft will run many more of these ads so they can continue on this track of unheard of success.
It’s hard to become profitable when you are telling your customers to seek a bargain.
But the end-user is not a direct Microsoft customer, Microsoft makes the same amount whether you buy a $900 Dell or a $1200 HP. Bargain PCs don’t hurt Microsoft unless they run Linux.
Apple’s profits have absolutely nothing to do with its pc or laptop line and everything to do with the iphone.
For perspective, I’m writing this from an Air I picked up the week of launch. I like high quality products and will pay the difference where it matters.
Now for the real part of the story….
Apple is the biggest crybaby hypocrite company period, not just in technology. They run the Mac vs. PC ads that lampoon Microsoft and all PC makers. Microsoft fires back saying “Macs are expensive” in a creative way and Apple brings out the lawyers and cries.
I’d respect Apple much more that instead of crying about the Laptop Hunter ads that they fired back with a new Mac vs. PC commercial that shows the $699 laptop, then PC starts piling on all of the other stuff, $49 for AV software, $299 for an office suite, $29 for an external mouse (since PC laptop touchpads are generally horrible), etc. — It could be darn funny.
2 reasons apple won’t do it. 1) apple will never get into the price conversation 2) you’d have to buy software for mac too. (and even if you buy iwork, apart from keynote, numbers and pages are complete bs)
Crybaby? Did you read this story? Because of Apple legal threats, Microsoft altered their tv ads.
Perhaps Apple had valid points?
Nah, it’s like giving candy to a 4-year-old: it just shuts them up until something else to cry about comes around.
re “Microsoft fires back saying “Macs are expensive” in a creative way and Apple brings out the lawyers and cries.”
No one has offered one shred of proof that this actually happened.
“No one has offered one shred of proof that this actually happened.”
Other than everybody reporting that this is exactly what happened.
Do you refuse to believe that Elvis is dead too?
As I said, no one has offered one shred of proof that this actually happened. You haven’t offered any credible proof. “Everyone reporting” is simply repeating what Microsoft said – a dubious source at that. :)
well the lines are “we haven’t looked at the Macs yet … a lot for the brand”. Not like they don’t mention Macs at all… that’s probably as far as apple’s lawyers can go.
anyway you wouldn’t call that ‘bowing down’… the message is still clear.
TALK TALK TALK
LET THE NUMBERS DO THE TALKING
Apple Inc. (Public, NASDAQ:AAPL) Watch this stock Find more results for apple
Dow 9,013.59 -0.61%
Nasdaq 1,940.71 -1.67%
Technology 0.03%
AAPL 158.08 0.16%
158.08 +0.26 (0.16%)
Real-time: 11:09AM EDT
when Microsoft numbers do what apple ’s do in this economy then they can say something
Microsoft Corporation (Public, NASDAQ:MSFT) Watch this stock Find more results for microsoft
Dow 9,013.81 -0.61%
Nasdaq 1,940.68 -1.67%
Technology -4.09%
MSFT 23.14 -9.49%
23.14 -2.42 (-9.49%)
Real-time: 11:14AM EDT
You are an idiot and obviously don’t know how the stock market works.
Wow Mat, you are a moron.
Thank you though, gave me quite a laugh.
Please keep investing.
Umm …
When was the last time you bought a product by looking at the stock prices of the company? Duh!
Microsoft is into tonnes more stuff than Apple is. And I mean tonnes! Apple doesn’t do even 2% of the things that MS does and you are talking numbers?
Grow a brain!
no no, because obviously numbers is why people go out and buy a mac or a pc, and that’s exactly why i approve of ms targeted apple couterad because anything apple is TOO EXPENSIVE. and this is coming from an average person, who can buy anything apple wants to hock, and as much as i like the ads i’ll stick to my ms systems and my pc’s. i refuse to spend that much money on something that i will have to go out and upgrade or repurchase in a couple months. i mean as much as i like apple and i like what they are doing for technology and advertisement, i kinda think that they don’t ever think they are over saturating their brand…granted there’s a huge market in the world, some untapped, so there’s lots of hope for apple…although when people expect people in the third world to suddenly become like the first world is a bit beyond me. my cousin from the back of nowhere emailed me to bring him the new 3G iphone…and i was like wth is this kid. i wouldn’t spend my paycheck on an apple product whether it ws $99 or $outrageous amount of money. it doesn’t matter to me. i agree that their aesthetics and their softwear seem to have a lot more thought behind them and work really great…but i’m not an apple user.
Ok Apple whines when MS strikes back at them, but when Apple puts out the “I’m a mac/I’m a pc” ads and portrays the PC with a fat doofus guy who stumbles all over his words while the mac guy is dressed nicely and has a refined stature, this is ok?
Whinning apple dorks.
I will put any of my 10+ pc’s against a mac, anytime, anywhere, any task.
Ok so it takes 10+ PC to equal a Mac? I agree!
I guess you should go back to school and learn reading comprehension.
I guess you should stop going to school and learn humor comprehension.
@eh you mean to say ‘failed attempts at humor comprehension’ right
HAHAHAHA!!!!
re: “I will put any of my 10+ pc’s against a mac”
It would take at least that many :)
it’s all in the language isn’t it.
Commodore 64 is the best computer by far. They have noty had to update anything in the OS for over 20 years.
LOL, nice one!
Bravo!
Love my Commodores! C64 / Amiga 2000 !
I’ll take my custom built gaming PC running Windows 7 64 bit over a Mac anyday.
Who the hell sets a budget of $1,700 for a pc nowadays? Good God.
People that buy Macs.
I love that answer. Though I can see where some people who rely heavily on their laptop for speed and computing power might set that high of a budget.
Yeah, but not some blonde bimbo that’s barely out of high school and all she needs a computer to do is access Facebook.
Igor, do you really be such a mysoginist as well as immature? Geez, this is about a commercial, product positioning, and ethical advertizing practices. The conversation doesn’t have to sink so low that you need to be all sexist about it.
or like the gamers above who said they would run their custom built upgraded windows pc against a mac anytime/anyday, always.
I’m really bored of all your Mac vs PC childness, grow up, buy something that suits the work / leisure you will use it for, don’t tell me that what i use is better / worse than what you use because its not, I bought what I bought because it does what i need it to and it does it really well.
About damn time when somebody sets the word straight.
Why does it have to be one or the other people. Can you not work on both? I do web dev on my mac and check all my pages on IE, because it is stubborn.
Me too. I’ve got a Windows XP box set up with RPD so I can check all windows browsers.
Another BS post on TC. What is happening guys, is this your way of generating ad revenue?
Primadonnas at Apple couldn’t take what they give, so they whine and complain, and MSFT does a good thing by listening, and you make it sound like MSFT bowed down?
If you guys @ TC had more respect for people’s time, you wouldn’t write such posts. There’s a responsibility that comes with journalism, and you guys consistently prove that you DON’T get it.
Last Mac v/s PC post I’ll ever comment on @ this blog.
I want the 30 seconds of my life back for reading your hater comment… boo hoo. dont’ read it then.
Pohleeeese
Because Ballmer & co. are such nice people?
Apple & Microsoft are two gigantic rival companies, they don’t play nice with each other.
The seemingly goodwill are almost always forced for business or legal reasons.
If I cant right click, I dont want it.
Oh, you can right click… but that doesn’t make it a better choice.
You can also “mightymouse” it, but no matter how dumbed down the mac becomes, or how “pretty” they make it, it can never, EVER be a real computer… its just a toy.
But it sure is a fun toy! :)
this is true…coming from a pc user :P
Why is it that anything related to apple gets trolled to death?
It haz to bi the apple maniacs.
Funny any windows conversation can stay on topic with many diffrent views but anything apple always end up out of topic lol.
Apple is not a crybaby or a hypocrite for saying, “We have changed our prices and your ads need to reflect that.” Apple went after these ads because they had a legal leg to stand on – Microsoft was telling consumers that Apple products cost more than they actually do. I’m pretty sure that misleading the public about your competitor’s pricing is illegal.
At the very least, it’s a lot less ethical than simply saying “our product is better than theirs”, which is all that Apple said in “I’m a Mac, I’m a PC”. Actually, they didn’t even say that. They merely implied it, since “PC” is not a brand name.
If there was anything that Microsoft could have done to reduce the damage from that campaign, I’m sure they would have done it.
… and by “Microsoft was telling consumers that Apple products cost more than they actually do”, I mean that MS was still stating the price of the Mac at $2,000 after Apple lowered their prices.
Hellooooo, Im a MAC and Im a PC ads?
They are the very definition of hypocrite.
“At the very least, it’s a lot less ethical than simply saying “our product is better than theirs””
More like “this product is a piece of garbage that keeps crashing and doing everything wrong and ours is flawless in every way”
The I’m a MAC and I’m a PC ads are a million times worse than Laptop Hunters
Let me help you understand the difference between the ad campaigns.
The Apple ads are obvious marketing fodder, whereas the Laptop Hunter ads are trying to appear as if they are journalism and that the people aren’t actors. They are actors by the way and guess what, they don’t have a choice in what they are allowed to buy.
This “they are actors” argument was shot down in the very first Crunchgear post about the first laptop hunters ad, you might wanna take a look at that before beating a dead horse again.
In fact, the brand is mentioned in the commercial… Not sure why Nicholas is saying it isn’t.
“Looks like Devin was right, as he often is.” ???
Devin was saying that Microsoft *wouldn’t* take down (or change, it’s implied) (”they can’t cover every $50 price change”) their ad. Do you mean “Looks like Devin was wrong?”
I got both orig anal and updated version at….http://www.technopie.com/2009/07/24/microsoft-surrender-against-apples-pressurechanges-laptop-hunter-ad/
The title of the article is “Microsoft bows to Apple’s pressure, changes Laptop Hunter ad” which I find funny since Microsoft changed the commercials to reflect the fact that Apple lowered their prices from Microsoft’s marketing campaign. I don’t think the pressure is on Microsoft if Apple is lowering their prices.
hahah but you haven’t seen some of the comments above about how microsoft has lost so much money and apple just keeps rising.
i think the better answer as someone mentioned is to purchase what works best for you and to not believe the hype because they are both good systems and to say apple is great ms sucks is disingenous. same vice versa.
sorry *orignal
OK..so Microsoft actually came out and said that they changed their commercials to accommodate Apple right?
You actually received some sort of corporate communication stating this?
Otherwise this is called an assumption , Microsoft is not a little fanboi website or underfunded OSX clone maker, When Apple roars they don’t shake in their pants and change things just because.
Then again Apple has been stretching the truth for years with its switcher ads, or just out right lying and I don’t think they’ve lost any sleep over it.
So why should Microsoft be any different, and they’re actually not too far off from the truth.
What I want to know is, how much is Best Buy, Dell and HP paying M$ for the ads.
M$ is probably making money from BB, Hell and HP just by making the ads
I am not down on Apple as a company, after all their iPhone rocks and there is nothing quite like it to date. But to compare a mac to a pc is just stupid. As stated above, a mac is dumbed down and nothing more than a toy.
I have 10+ pc’s on my home network, some servers, some laptops, some desktops, 2 are in my recording studio doing more audio editing than a mac with soundbooth could possibly do. This is stupid people, if you want a mac, get one. If you want a pc, get one.
Competition breeds quality. Only the strong survive. I like this clash of the techno titans
C’mon, it’s clear what the obvious answer is — Mac OSX and Microsoft Windows (vista, xp, etc) all suck.
The clear thing to choose is linux! Go ubuntu!
Its amazing how frustrated the Microsoft zealots are these days. Times are changing and the kicking and screaming is getting louder and louder.
Apple makes better products at the moment. period. I am another one of these family / friends that are converting people to the Mac on an almost monthly basis, and guess what, its EASY.
Keep kicking and screaming, and most of all don’t actually go and use a Mac because your ignorance shines right through and renders your arguments worthless.
I am a Microsoft consultant and I use a Macbook…. shocking I know. Its just that I intelligently investigated a Mac and guess what? I don’t lose ANYTHING moving to that platform. Its the Windows platform that makes me choose. Maybe some of you will figure that out.
> Apple makes better products at the moment. period.
A list of issues I’ve had with Macs that had to be sent back to get repair or required me to buy something to fix, since July 2007:
- macbook hard drive crashed, lost all data
- macbook keyboard stopped working
- macbook battery ran out
- macbook plastic cover completely ripped by their own magnet on the lid, nice job apple…
- macbook pro hard drive crashed, lost all data
- macbook pro keyboard stopped working
- macbook pro mousepad not functional
- macbook pro video card failed, Nvidia’s fault
- macbook pro battery failure, had to buy new battery, this is WELL documented
M$ doesn’t even make PCs. Are you talking about operating system? What are you comparing it to? For same price and if I really cared about case design, give me Alienware.
I’ve never had to send my Dell to get fixed since 2004.
I can’t speak for windows vista either, it looks like crap, but windows XP on a high-performance Dell is beats mac in my book.
Wow, your lame. No wonder why such bad software is produced for Microsoft . You can’t figure out that should have a damn Windows PC. WTF!!! I give up. Quit your day job!!!!!
“Its amazing how frustrated the Microsoft zealots are these days. Times are changing and the kicking and screaming is getting louder and louder.”
When the first laptop hunter ad aired, MAc Fanboys offered the woman a $2000 Macbook if she would dump her PC.
Yes, the fanboys were willing to give her a free $2000 computer just to dump her $600 or so HP because they were so insecure about these ads.
Even Apple lowered their prices because of these and called Microsoft to cry about it.
And its the MS fans that are scared? Please.
I would not touch an Apple even if its free. Can you actually find software for Apple? Outside the US apple is dead. I dont know a single person that has a MAC. Well yes, I did, and he was so sad that nothing worked on his MAC. He could not install anything on it, not games, not software from the Internet. He got a PC on the end. I had an Apple in 1989. Wow that was crap.
Amazing how your experience of a consumer electronics device from 1989 still informs your view on the world now. That’s like saying that you had a Toshiba tape deck in 1989 and it was rubbish so wouldn’t touch a Toshiba Blu-Ray DVD player. Interesting logic spanning 20 years.
I run a business from my MacBook – it’s got Office, Photoshop and a whole load of cool Mac stuff.
The REALLY important thing is that within a few years we can pretty much say goodbye to the traditional software model as everything will be based in the cloud. Microsoft realise this too – which is why Windows 7 is edging towards Software as a Service (Saas) and they will have a battle on their hands with Google OS.
So when the OS isn’t the most important thing and the software is platform independent, it’s the user experience and the reliability of their device that will be the most important.
Wow, that was a long reply…
ps – I’m outside the US and my Apple is thriving.
“So when the OS isn’t the most important thing and the software is platform independent, it’s the user experience and the reliability of their device that will be the most important.”
This is dead on. One of the reasons the iPhone is dominating is the experience. How many years did mobile innovation stagnate under Windows Mobile. If you can even call it innovation… the Windows Mobile OS was a brutal translation of Windows onto a phone. Microsoft couldn’t even ‘think different’ for a phone.
Just wait, the next version of Windows Mobile will be a touch screen and probably a complete knock-off of the iPhone. Then the Microsoft zealots will be jumping up and down about how innovative it is…
uhm no. ms fanboys (just like apple fanboys) are stupid, but not that stupid. give them a little more credit.
am excited about google os vs ms os battles.
So now is Apple going to change their grossly inaccurate “I’m a MAC and I’m a PC” ads?
Thought so.
highly doubtable. it’s their go to gravy. although i don’t know how much money they are making from their computers in comparison to the mobile computers that seem to bringing in all the money nowadays.
i know this ad model works for apple, but i think they need a new one, or several backup ones. someone commented above about how with this change in language this ms ad is less effective/less memorable…i doubt it. i haven’t actually seen this one but i do remember seeing some ms commericals on tv debunking the mac pc commerical and i laughed because their assertations rang truer than that spoof apple has. i think anyone will recognize that the apple ads are kind of disingenous. i think ms should just do the same thing apple did to them. it’s fair game…or ms should try to one up apple with a guerilla campaign.
Smart businesses, particularly graphic arts related businesses, know a secret that apparently alludes most: Mac based businesses are less expensive to operate. It’s a huge competitive advantage. I’m constantly amazed listening to business owners agonizing over minor expenses and then choosing the “least expensive” option that ends up costing 10 times as much in time and effort. Not just computer purchases but software, hosting and other services, etc.
That should have been eludes.
Um..I’m and Apple consultant but I use a Windows 7 net book, what ever.
It’s like the difference between a Nascar and a Maseratti – PCs can be more powerful but require getting dirt under your nails to use, the Mac, while not as tweakable and fun for tech types, offers a far sleeker user experience for those who want that. That is one of the reasons the Mac vs. PC ads (and Apple’s advertising in general) is so effective – in the end, a computer is or should be a reflection of how your mind works and how you see the world. For the same reason, I would expect these new Microsoft ads to do very well with potential PC users. I must admit though, I have both, and hate when I have to turn on the PC.
I’m afraid I will always be confused on this issue as a mac user from 1988-99 who converted to the dark side later that year and havent looked back since. But cant you load the windows os on a mac? so whats the point, a pc and a mac can use the program but a pc user cannot use the os that runs on a mac (unless I am mistaken – and I have been known to be) perhaps on virtual pc? not sure.
I personally appreciate an os that at least can be wielded by both sides, and like someone mentioned, it should be pc vs mac not windows vs mac because apple provides an entire entity to you, the os and the unit. whereas, windows is just the software and like any software, its only purpose is to be installed.
i enjoy building pcs because of the fun of getting your fingers all up in there and being able to go beyond the normal structure that i felt when i was workin with apple computers. with windows in place, i felt i could do the same within the os and get my hands dirty without an icon of doom *the infamous bomb* stopping me before i even got to the goods.
as a software and hardware tech i wont turn a mac user away if they need help but i do groan a bit when they come around lol >_<
Wow, I love these PC vs Mac rants.
So, Macs are expensive because they work and the build quality is great. The point is that after you buy a $2k Mac, you don’t need to pay for extras. It’s generally all there for most users.
They play nice with other devices, even PCs.
I had five PCs from 1996 to 2006 including two Dell laptops. Some were okay, some were awful. None were as easy or as reliable as my MacBook or such a joy to use.
Paying the extra 100% – yes 100% – was worth it for the peace of mind that I can turn it on and it will just work. I’m not sure I’d say the same about a car or a TV, but when it comes to what you use to make your living, it’s pretty important.
Peace to all you PC users who never have any problems with Vista or XP – respect. I hope that you never have the blue screen of death or annoying security messages again.
Lighten up Mac fan boys – most PCs are okay and their users just don’t know what they’re missing.
For all you PC IT guys out there – you do a great job, but it would be easier if you had better tools to work with – that’s not your fault.
Love to TechCrunch for keeping us entertained, and informed.
Oh, small confession, I used Macs before PCs, but it was 1989-1995. Mac II rest in peace…
I used pc’s… switch to macs in 06… didn’t like at first… now I love but had to switch back to pc for work…. it sucks.
Wish I had a mac again… worth the price for that feeling of calm.
i have to switch from pc to mac for work too and i don’t like it. i agree with the comment above yours in that i like to get my hands dirty and the way my mind works is not structured for a mac.
i like not feeling calm. too comfortable and mundane. i’m a pc.
I like Star Trek better than whimpy Star Wars.
Well, it seemed like the flames were dying down and this is just too fun to stop :)
Lame. Lame, lame, lame, lame. MSFT really scored some points with me when they FINALLY got under Apple’s skin for once.
Now they give in just like that? Let Apple sue you. Who cares? Don’t you think the press of that alone would be brand building? I do.
By the way – the comments on this post are hilarious. They remind me about what a tool I am for caring enough about this to post something. We’ve all lost today.
Meh. If Apple didn’t like it, they should’ve lowered their prices. The only new Macs even close to my price range are the Minis, and that hardware doesn’t appeal to me at all. 6 year old PowerMacs are in my price range, so I have one, but it turns out that I like Windows better, anyway. The Mac’s just gathering dust.
Apple laptops are even more expensive. The old PowerBooks and iBooks that are in my price range now are under 1GHz. I bought a 1.8GHz Dell Inspiron 8200 with a beautiful 1600×1200 screen off-lease several years ago for $400 and it’s still going strong, running Ubuntu or Debian or Windows 7 RC. I even scored a spare 8200 off freecycle for parts, should I ever need them.
If Mercedes didn’t like it, they should’ve lowered their prices. The only new Mercedes even close to my price range are the A Class, and that car doesn’t appeal to me at all. 6 year old E Class are in my price range, so I have one, but it turns out that I like Fords better, anyway. The Mercedes just gathering dust.
Mercedes convertibles are even more expensive. The old SLKs and CLKs that are in my price range now are under 2 litres. I bought a 1.8 litre Ford Focus with a beautiful sunroof off-lease several years ago for $4000 and it’s still going strong, running Unleaded. I even scored a spare Focus off freecycle for parts, should I ever need them.
(I hope someone gets the artful comment here)
Is true that Apple is more expensive than Window, but the software that available in Apple is more awesome than window.
Window should improve their security, performance, speed and reliability and should not hunt down apple.
Apple also should lower their price. dont always use Lawyer this thing.
I use both Mac and Windows for my business, and find that having both given my line of work makes things easier. I run a Web/Graphic/Marketing/Print business, and the versatility of both saves me massive headaches.
The printing companys’ website for some reason will not function properly in Safari, so any other browser comes in handy.
Writing background music for Flash is split between two popular programs for us, Logic and FL Studio, primarily because there are more soundbanks at our disposal and therefore, more versatility for the clients’ needs.
The PC is primarily used for transfers over the network, marketing creation, and a slew of apps and programs that just aren’t available on the Mac. However, a large percentage of the graphics/media creation takes place on the Mac half of the computer, just because it integrates a bit more smoothly and the Adobe suite seems to run without as many “clunks”, I suppose.
All in all, both are good for varying things, but there are times when I just go back to the good Ol’ command line for a few chuckles.
The problem with PCs is that it requires troubleshooting and a little bit of know-how to dance around the errors, specifically with Vista.
The problem with Macs is that the market share is niche. If they spent less time branding themselves and more time selling the OS with computer bundles, they could have a better share of Microsoft’s seemingly large monopoly, when in reality, it’s not.
OS is going digital, into the “cloud”, whatever you want to call it. They’re going to be much lighter on the system, not take up so much damned space, and more importantly, be OPEN SOURCE so that people can fix the bugs if they have the know-how. I know that opens a pandora’s box on all fronts, but coming from a web background in this day and age, it seems plausible and more ideal for the next generation of users.