Microsoft is DUMB
An this is why:
From MacNN:
[quote] A MacNN reader notes that Microsoft is planning to launch a new Switcher marketing campaign geared toward Apple users, according to the email from the company soliciting individuals who recently registered a Microsoft product. (Last Fall, Microsoft posted a "Switch confession" on its Website, which turned out to be a story based on an employee of an its marketing agency and was pulled by the company).
"The marketing campaign called 'Sensible Solutions' kicks off in April and runs through the summer of 2003. Sensible Solutions will highlight computer professionals that have recently converted from Apple Computer products to Microsoft based systems. To be considered for inclusion in the Sensible Solutions marketing program, you must be a US resident with a minimum of 3 years experience as a computer professional. You must have used an Apple Computer product and a Microsoft based system as part of your work.... This correspondence is the result of information provided by the following companies or organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Adobe." <hr></blockquote>
This is incredibly stupid. Apple's marketshare is so small they are effectively no threat to Microsoft. By taking on Apple like this, Microsoft legitimizes their competition and status. It is sort of like the heavyweaight fighting champion who fights non-contenders...all he does is give them a name. Microsoft is doing the same thing. Either that or Apple is making real headway with their switcher program.
This is exactly the mistake Compaq made. For years, the golden rule of advertising was not to show the competitor's product in the ad. Then, Coke and Pepsi did away with that. The result? A stalemate. Compaq drew lots of attention the iMac with its ad. I wonder why we don't see those ads anymore. That ad basically admitted the iMac was the benchmark.
Apple has nothing to lose with its campaign. Microsoft does. They will do nothing but draw more attention to Apple. I think this is SOOOO ironic. Effectively, this is history repeating itsself, but in the exact opposite terms. Once, it was Bill Gates saying M$ was "no threat" to Apple. Now, M$ invests hundreds of millions in Apple, only to see it recover and come out fighting. Perhaps Steve Jobs is now convincing M$ that Apple is no threat.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
From MacNN:
[quote] A MacNN reader notes that Microsoft is planning to launch a new Switcher marketing campaign geared toward Apple users, according to the email from the company soliciting individuals who recently registered a Microsoft product. (Last Fall, Microsoft posted a "Switch confession" on its Website, which turned out to be a story based on an employee of an its marketing agency and was pulled by the company).
"The marketing campaign called 'Sensible Solutions' kicks off in April and runs through the summer of 2003. Sensible Solutions will highlight computer professionals that have recently converted from Apple Computer products to Microsoft based systems. To be considered for inclusion in the Sensible Solutions marketing program, you must be a US resident with a minimum of 3 years experience as a computer professional. You must have used an Apple Computer product and a Microsoft based system as part of your work.... This correspondence is the result of information provided by the following companies or organizations: Microsoft, Apple, Adobe." <hr></blockquote>
This is incredibly stupid. Apple's marketshare is so small they are effectively no threat to Microsoft. By taking on Apple like this, Microsoft legitimizes their competition and status. It is sort of like the heavyweaight fighting champion who fights non-contenders...all he does is give them a name. Microsoft is doing the same thing. Either that or Apple is making real headway with their switcher program.
This is exactly the mistake Compaq made. For years, the golden rule of advertising was not to show the competitor's product in the ad. Then, Coke and Pepsi did away with that. The result? A stalemate. Compaq drew lots of attention the iMac with its ad. I wonder why we don't see those ads anymore. That ad basically admitted the iMac was the benchmark.
Apple has nothing to lose with its campaign. Microsoft does. They will do nothing but draw more attention to Apple. I think this is SOOOO ironic. Effectively, this is history repeating itsself, but in the exact opposite terms. Once, it was Bill Gates saying M$ was "no threat" to Apple. Now, M$ invests hundreds of millions in Apple, only to see it recover and come out fighting. Perhaps Steve Jobs is now convincing M$ that Apple is no threat.
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
Comments
the mac will rise again.
<strong>But now that the anti-trust suits are effectively out of the way, why shouldn't they have the whole pie to themselves? That's how they see it anyway.</strong><hr></blockquote>
The anti-trust suits don't go away. Each time they win one, another will show up. Until now they could avoid serious measures, but if their only contender (Apple) would dissapear, then they're really in trouble. Yes, they can. Believe me. Even they.
But me, too, wonders why M$ does this. I guess their ad department felt bored ? They got plenty of money anyway.
<strong>the mac will rise again.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I read recently that Apple's largest market share was about 20% in 1984, and the largest in recent history (after which it has always declined) was 12-13% in 1992-1993. Considering all the computer companies and the widespread reach of Windows, I don't think Apple will ever achieve 10% market share again. But that's not that bad, 6-8% would be great. You have to remember that back in the early to mid 90s, many people didn't have computers and there wasn't much reason to have one except for typing, drawing graphs and spreadsheets, and storing things like phone numbers and addresses. So Apple lost back then. Now that a bunch of people already have Windows, they're likely to stay with Windows. Not many people are buying new computers for the first time anymore. Another point is that computers today are used for a lot more, and although Macs might not have been the best tool for the job back then, now they definitely are. Macs are better for the fun new stuff that people use computers for, like music, movies, surfing, etc. Even so, people already have Windows so they'll stick with it.
The Performa line and all the crappy Macs (like 5200s) in schools certainly didn't help their image among children, who have a huge influence on computer purchases in a home. Apple should take back education and get to kids while they're young. They need a more aggressive education strategy to do that.
education got apple no where. it's a good idea, but needs to be followed up by real world possibilities. there are few jobs where knowing the MacOS is any benefit whatsoever.
however, i think MS switcher commercials would be a mistake. what's the point?
<strong>whats next? Target Linux users???? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>
don't use linux, i mean with MS you can use PASSPORT...there isn't stuff like that for linux...hmmm wonder why
So either MS is doing this just to be spiteful or it's to scare new people away from evaluating the Mac. I think this will backfire because Apple can now come out and REALLY say just how bad Windows is. They could compare the experience piece by piece, error message by error message, driver installation to driver installation, and feature to feature and really show what a mess Windows is.
The one thing I hope is that perhaps MS is doing this because they have some insider knowledge that Apple has a major strategy up its sleeve, perhaps even moving to x86.
<strong>SDW2001's analysis is correct but also MS is simply doing this out of spite and to spread misinformation. There is pretty much no chance MS is going to grab any Apple customers. Mac buyers are loyal and they obviously already know that Windows is cheaper, has more software, etc.
So either MS is doing this just to be spiteful or it's to scare new people away from evaluating the Mac. I think this will backfire because Apple can now come out and REALLY say just how bad Windows is. They could compare the experience piece by piece, error message by error message, driver installation to driver installation, and feature to feature and really show what a mess Windows is.
The one thing I hope is that perhaps MS is doing this because they have some insider knowledge that Apple has a major strategy up its sleeve, perhaps even moving to x86.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Amen. Apple has the strongest and most loyal user base of any computer company. Everyone I know who has a Mac would never use a Windows machine if they could help it. I guess it's true what they say...once you go Mac, you never go back.
i understand this is largely security through obscurity...maybe if apple made a big deal of it, hackers would start writing os x viruses? i dunno.
end tangeant
<strong>i understand this is largely security through obscurity...maybe if apple made a big deal of it, hackers would start writing os x viruses? i dunno.</strong><hr></blockquote>
BINGO
its better that people expect to have problems and then be pleasantly surprised when they hear that it is not necessary to buy anti-virus software for their mac from places like this...
if you advertise it, they will come...
Edit: plus you are setting yourself up for failure because one day there WILL be a virus... not a good idea
[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: Paul ]</p>
And bear in mind that there are over 25 million macs out there in one form or another.
Both Microsoft and Apple are reaching out to persuade a PowerMac 8500 user running OS8.6, to switch to their version of X.
[quote]<strong>plus you are setting yourself up for failure because one day there WILL be a virus... not a good idea</strong><hr></blockquote>
you make some very good points Paul. We can all enjoy our secret virus free life on OS X
<strong>does anyone else not really care what mac's market share is? i want apple to stay alive and make money so i can keep buying macs. that's all i really care about.</strong><hr></blockquote>
ehh..... if I may quote: "DEVELOPERS!!! DEVELOPERS!!! DEVELOPERS!!! DEVELOPERS!!!"
you need the market-share to get people to sink the time and $$ into developing for your platform... you need the market share to ensure compatibility across platforms...
but yes, i don't really care all that much about everyone else. as long as I can use my macs for everything I will be happy.. although it would be nice to see M$ humbled.
[ 02-06-2003: Message edited by: Paul ]</p>
...and i do care about apple market share, mostly cuz i own stock but i like to see apple succeed, it makes me happy
In the rest of the market, I'm not too concerned. There is quite a bit of software out there. There are millions of users. What we have to remember is that marketshare can be deceiving. Although the percentages keep staying the same or going down, the number of users is increasing, just not at the rate that the number of M$ users are (and truthfully, plenty of places don't use that OR Apple).