True enough, but I'm kind of amazed that MS actually thinks they need to attack Apple directly, from any angle. It's as much as saying "Apple worries us, we think they're our main competitor, so we're going to go after them." For a company with the overwhelming market-share lead that MS enjoys, this strikes me as an expression of weakness, petty, a ringing endorsement of Apple's prospects, or all three.
Sure, Apple has been running its "Mac vs. PC" ads forever, but, one, Apple is the underdog and can get away with taking pot shots at the incumbent, two, Apple never mentions MS by name, contenting themselves with tweaking the whole idea of the PC, and three, they do it humorously.
Isn't there some kind of rule in advertising that you never mention your competitor by name, because it makes you look harsh and gives your competitor free publicity?
We've been hearing from people that Apple is irrelevant to Microsoft and Microsoft has 95% of the market, guess they must be feeling heat from Apple.
We've been hearing from people that Apple is irrelevant to Microsoft and Microsoft has 95% of the market, guess they must be feeling heat from Apple.
Yeah, that would actually be the smart move: "Apple has them a nice little boutique business over there and we wish them all the best. Now here's what we're doing with all our money and market share."
Instead, we get the strangely bitter line about not being cool enough to be a Mac person. Could monkey boy be taking it personally?
"I guess i'm not cool enough to be a Mac person" .. oh dear
Yeah, lets advertise being cheap! Sure the economy is not doing so well, but given Apple's sales results, people still want good, reliable computers nonetheless.
I agree, it shows that she really wants a mac but since she can't afford one, she has to settle for something cheaper. I guess that's what Microsoft wants to associate themselves with, cheap. This may actually help Apple, if people want the real thing you you go with Macs, if you want fakes, you go with PC's.
Firstly, I am neither a Mac nor a PC guy... I use computers to get my job done. At the moment I use a Mac with Leopard plus WinXP in Parallels. Perhaps in 5 years it will be a Windows only box or an operating system that doesn't even exist yet. Who knows.
Therefore I think when a company starts to compete only on price they already admitted defeat.
I really feel sorry for all those poor people going out spending their hard earned cash on a $699 laptop they selected because of price, only to find out not long after that it a) might not do what they need it to do and b) they need to spend more money to get all the right software.
The number of people I know that haven fallen in this trap already is mind boggling and it breaks my heart every time.
I agree! Apple may respond by offering more for their price. Hopefully this time without all the glitches with the displays and/or video chips.
Not very likely. Apple positioned themselves very differently in the market. Their value proposition is completely different. Quite frankly I don't think they are even interested in the "$699 laptop customer" featured in the ad.
Funny thing about this ad is, I don't think MOST people that buy a Mac are price sensitive. They are going to pay what it is.. If they wanted a POS cheap computer they would just buy a Windows based one.
It's not that they are just now more expensive, it's that the speed/ram/hd is not spec'd like other laptops. And for the price they are charging they should be.
The days of selling computers on speed/ram/hard drive are over. Heck even the Mac Mini is good for most people. For example I recently took my mom to the Apple store and the first question they asked us wasn't how much ram, hard drive, or processor we need but what ow were we looking to do with the computer, what software we need, this is how computers are being sold and not specs. When you go to the Apple store, they put more emphasis on software instead of specs. The days of buying on specs is coming to an end. Most computers available are fast enough for the majority of people.
Great marketing idea. I am now awaiting the marketing pros at Hyundai, Kia etc. to start taking the same approach and convince the on-the-fence BMW and Mercedes buyers to purchase their cheaper alternatives. After all, they will also get you from point A to point B.
Price is important, but not the only issue for the discriminating buyer.
The days of selling computers on speed/ram/hard drive are over. Heck even the Mac Mini is good for most people. For example I recently took my mom to the Apple store and the first question they asked us wasn't how much ram, hard drive, or processor we need but what ow were we looking to do with the computer, what software we need, this is how computers are being sold and not specs. When you go to the Apple store, they put more emphasis on software instead of specs. The days of buying on specs is coming to an end. Most computers available are fast enough for the majority of people.
Exactly. People are starting to have their whole life in their computers. Family pictures, movies, music, financial data.. etc. Personally, I wouldn't trust a $600 computer with my files. I already lost enough data from my older Windows PCs due to HDD failures caused by Windows hibernation and other cheap HW issues. At least with Mac and TC I don't have to worry about backup anymore.
The plastics feel like they are straight from Fisher Price and those geniuses over at HP made the keyboard almost impossible to read. Light gray lettering on slightly darker "Bronze" keys. And don't get me started of the number of problems those HPs having with the hinges failing, the plastic separates at the hinge. (NOT covered by the warranty BTW) The Service shop I work at sends at least 4 of these a week for service on failed Wireless cards too.
Comments
True enough, but I'm kind of amazed that MS actually thinks they need to attack Apple directly, from any angle. It's as much as saying "Apple worries us, we think they're our main competitor, so we're going to go after them." For a company with the overwhelming market-share lead that MS enjoys, this strikes me as an expression of weakness, petty, a ringing endorsement of Apple's prospects, or all three.
Sure, Apple has been running its "Mac vs. PC" ads forever, but, one, Apple is the underdog and can get away with taking pot shots at the incumbent, two, Apple never mentions MS by name, contenting themselves with tweaking the whole idea of the PC, and three, they do it humorously.
Isn't there some kind of rule in advertising that you never mention your competitor by name, because it makes you look harsh and gives your competitor free publicity?
We've been hearing from people that Apple is irrelevant to Microsoft and Microsoft has 95% of the market, guess they must be feeling heat from Apple.
We've been hearing from people that Apple is irrelevant to Microsoft and Microsoft has 95% of the market, guess they must be feeling heat from Apple.
Yeah, that would actually be the smart move: "Apple has them a nice little boutique business over there and we wish them all the best. Now here's what we're doing with all our money and market share."
Instead, we get the strangely bitter line about not being cool enough to be a Mac person. Could monkey boy be taking it personally?
LOL, i just watched the ad.
It actually makes people want to buy a Mac lol.
"I guess i'm not cool enough to be a Mac person" .. oh dear
Yeah, lets advertise being cheap! Sure the economy is not doing so well, but given Apple's sales results, people still want good, reliable computers nonetheless.
I agree, it shows that she really wants a mac but since she can't afford one, she has to settle for something cheaper. I guess that's what Microsoft wants to associate themselves with, cheap. This may actually help Apple, if people want the real thing you you go with Macs, if you want fakes, you go with PC's.
Apple will drop their price$ - YAY!!!!!!!
I agree! Apple may respond by offering more for their price. Hopefully this time without all the glitches with the displays and/or video chips.
Therefore I think when a company starts to compete only on price they already admitted defeat.
I really feel sorry for all those poor people going out spending their hard earned cash on a $699 laptop they selected because of price, only to find out not long after that it a) might not do what they need it to do and b) they need to spend more money to get all the right software.
The number of people I know that haven fallen in this trap already is mind boggling and it breaks my heart every time.
I agree! Apple may respond by offering more for their price. Hopefully this time without all the glitches with the displays and/or video chips.
Not very likely. Apple positioned themselves very differently in the market. Their value proposition is completely different. Quite frankly I don't think they are even interested in the "$699 laptop customer" featured in the ad.
More free advertising for Apple! Thanks, PC!
Same goes for Apple ads!
Remember Microsoft has over 89% of the market. Windows 7 will bring them back over 90%.
I am switching back to Windows when Windows 7 comes out.
I have had my fair share of Mac issues!
It's not that they are just now more expensive, it's that the speed/ram/hd is not spec'd like other laptops. And for the price they are charging they should be.
The days of selling computers on speed/ram/hard drive are over. Heck even the Mac Mini is good for most people. For example I recently took my mom to the Apple store and the first question they asked us wasn't how much ram, hard drive, or processor we need but what ow were we looking to do with the computer, what software we need, this is how computers are being sold and not specs. When you go to the Apple store, they put more emphasis on software instead of specs. The days of buying on specs is coming to an end. Most computers available are fast enough for the majority of people.
Same goes for Apple ads!
Remember Microsoft has over 89% of the market. Windows 7 will bring them back over 90%.
I am switching back to Windows when Windows 7 comes out.
I have had my fair share of Mac issues!
Microsoft should be ashamed of themselves for putting out that disaster Vista, did you see the satisfaction rates posted for Vista, what a disgrace.
Price is important, but not the only issue for the discriminating buyer.
The days of selling computers on speed/ram/hard drive are over. Heck even the Mac Mini is good for most people. For example I recently took my mom to the Apple store and the first question they asked us wasn't how much ram, hard drive, or processor we need but what ow were we looking to do with the computer, what software we need, this is how computers are being sold and not specs. When you go to the Apple store, they put more emphasis on software instead of specs. The days of buying on specs is coming to an end. Most computers available are fast enough for the majority of people.
Exactly. People are starting to have their whole life in their computers. Family pictures, movies, music, financial data.. etc. Personally, I wouldn't trust a $600 computer with my files. I already lost enough data from my older Windows PCs due to HDD failures caused by Windows hibernation and other cheap HW issues. At least with Mac and TC I don't have to worry about backup anymore.
Apparently the woman isn't EVEN a real shopper necessarily but actually an actress.
http://daringfireball.net/linked/200...-microsoft-ads
(Not that actresses can't shop, but...)
No way! MS uses actors instead of real people in their ads! Shame on them. They should do like Apple does and use people they find on the street!
Microsoft should be ashamed of themselves for putting out that disaster Vista, did you see the satisfaction rates posted for Vista, what a disgrace.
I used Vista for over 1.5 yrs. Had little problems.
I have been using Mac OS 10.5.x since August have had my fair share of issues.
They both need to be improved!
The plastics feel like they are straight from Fisher Price and those geniuses over at HP made the keyboard almost impossible to read. Light gray lettering on slightly darker "Bronze" keys. And don't get me started of the number of problems those HPs having with the hinges failing, the plastic separates at the hinge. (NOT covered by the warranty BTW) The Service shop I work at sends at least 4 of these a week for service on failed Wireless cards too.
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/conte...soft_oems.html
Microsoft is in fact kicking Apple while they are down.
When is this depression set to end again - 5 years time?
Maybe now is the wrong time to be a premium brand.
I used Vista for over 1.5 yrs. Had little problems.
I have been using Mac OS 10.5.x since August have had my fair share of issues.
They both need to be improved!
Looking at those satisfaction rates for Vista, I would say you are in the minority for Vista users.