MSFT posts "reverse switcher" story.

Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Well, this is interesting:



<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/insider/opsystems/windowsxp_setup.asp"; target="_blank">Microsoft's Story: Writer Switching from Mac to Windows XP.</a>



I like the fact that she doesn't know Office is on the Mac, doesn't know IE is on the Mac (though they they then use that to import her bookmarks) and that she saves $450 on hardware, which is then cut in half by having to buy the XP Pro edition to get the power-saving features for her portable.



The woman, also, doesn't appear to have a NAME. This implies strongly to me that she is invented--I think a real person would have more details and interesting elements to their choice to switch.



I found it very telling that THIS is the MSFT response to the Switch campaign. They don't need to respond--they have the market share. But the fact that they feel the need to invent someone indicates that they do not really understand why Apple succeeds.



How suprising.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by mrmister:

    <strong> But the fact that they feel the need to invent someone indicates that they do not really understand why Apple succeeds.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    You'd think in all the world they would be able to find one deluded individual who really enjoyed switching to the PC from a mac (and not simply forced to out of work requirements). But no, they actually had to invent this person and, as some brilliant searcher on Slashdot discovered, insert a clipart picture of her. ...



    <a href="http://creative.gettyimages.com/source/search/detail.asp?source=searchResults&imageIndex=10&hdnS ync=%22One+Woman+Only%3AOnly+Women%22+and+%22Coffe e%3AHot+Drink%22~0%2C12%2C449%2C3%2C15%2C1%2C0%2C0 %2C0%2C12287%2C0%2C1%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2 Cen-us%2C1%2C%22One+Woman+Only%3AOnly+Women%22+and+%22 Coffee%3AHot+Drink%22%2C389%2C257%2C1%2C&hdnCurrPa ge=4" target="_blank">Cipart Archive</a>



    I hope some enterprising surfer with free time hunts the model down and it turns out that she actually uses a mac.



    [ 10-14-2002: Message edited by: Nordstrodamus ]</p>
  • Reply 2 of 24
    alcimedesalcimedes Posts: 5,486member
    [quote] The key to getting hardware to work with your computer is to have the correct drivers, the software that enables your PC to communicate with your hardware. Windows XP or your computer manufacturer will pre-install most of them. If not, go to the Web site of the company that makes the peripheral you want to attach to find the most current drivers.



    I discover more treats daily. For example, Word Converters are helping me transfer old document files, Microsoft Works files, and even AppleWorks files. It will be an ongoing process, but I'm thrilled so far.<hr></blockquote>



    ha ha ha, dude, this story is either completly made up (either by her or them) or she's a retard.



    she's working on a Mac for 8 FREAKIN' years, but she's converting MS Works?!? files? how in the hell does that happen? ms works went away at least 6 years ago. who in the world doesn't look into a new word processing program in 6 years? and on top of that, why in the world didn't she ever pick up oh, say, Office?



    and as the above poster mentioned, she talks about how she didn't have internet explorer, but then when she describes how she brought "all of her favorites" over, she's opening explorer to do it.



    wtf?



    ha ha, but now she's in the exciting world of Drivers, and Reg. #'s, and Passport, and loss of privacy!



    w00t!



    i think someone just fished a turd out of the Mac swimming pool and flung it over to the MS cesspool.



    edit:



    oh yeah, even her pic. isn't real.



    <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/insider/opsystems/windowsxp_setup.asp"; target="_blank">check this out</a>





    oh man, it gets even better.



    someone on /. found this.



    [quote] Look at the article 'she' shows an example of a file open box .... obviously her real name is 'Don Funk' and quick google search shows 'her' email address is '[email protected]'<hr></blockquote>



    ha ha, poor gal. a female model named don funk.



    [ 10-14-2002: Message edited by: alcimedes ]</p>
  • Reply 3 of 24
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    Yup, all Mac users use AppleWorks and Netscape Navigator...
  • Reply 4 of 24
    majormattmajormatt Posts: 1,077member
    Being a Mac user is just terrible.



    Macs just come with a dozen or so installed applications. That's it to our software capabilities!



    /EndSarcasm
  • Reply 5 of 24
    alcimedesalcimedes Posts: 5,486member
    ha ha ha, MS just took the page down.





    i think /. fried 'em
  • Reply 6 of 24
    overhopeoverhope Posts: 1,123member
    Dammit, that's funny! Guilty consciences or what? <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
  • Reply 7 of 24
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    I noticed that, I just discovered this thread.



    Interesting how in the quote someone put up, she says, "?the software that enables your PC to communicate with your hardware?"



    If she was a Mac user for eight years, she wouldn't be using "PC" as a general term for computers. Mac users, especially longtime ones, use "computer" as a general term and Mac or PC as specific terms. PC users use "PC" or "computer" as general terms, and in the rare occasion they are talking about Macs, they refer to them as "Macs," "Apples," or "huh?"



    So obviously (as we all knew anyway), this article was not written by a recent switcher, but by a person who has long used PCs. What kind of picture is that anyway? It looks like it's from an L.L. Bean catalog.
  • Reply 8 of 24
    mrmistermrmister Posts: 1,095member
    As revealed on a Slashdot thread, her picture is actually clipart from Getty.



    Booyah.
  • Reply 9 of 24
    spartspart Posts: 2,060member
    Anyone have the original story to post? As the link is now dead...
  • Reply 10 of 24
    stoostoo Posts: 1,490member
    Google's cache is your friend:

    <a href="http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:JmwQcVoG-ucJ:www.microsoft.com/insider/opsystems/windowsxp_setup.asp++"I+discover+more+treats+dai ly.%22+site:www.microsoft.com&hl=en&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:JmwQcVoG-ucJ:www.microsoft.com/insider/opsystems/windowsxp_setup.asp++"I+discover+more+treats+dai ly.%22+site:www.microsoft.com&hl=en&ie=UTF-8</A>



    (Copy a quoted phrase and limit the domain to "www.microsoft.com")



    Saved as well, just in case it vanishes again
  • Reply 11 of 24
    spartspart Posts: 2,060member
    [quote]Originally posted buy a guy pretending to be a girl @ microsoft.com:

    <strong>Mac to PC: Mission Accomplished, Convert Thrilled





    October 9, 2002



    Yes, it's true. I like the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system enough to change my whole computing world around. Here's the bottom line: Windows XP gives me more choices and flexibility, and better compatibility with the rest of the technology world.



    Windows XP relieved my fears about switching. I can read my files, import e-mail addresses from my Palm* to the Microsoft Outlook® messaging and collaboration client, and keep my Web favorites. All the Mac hardware�including my printer, broadband cable, Zip drive, and Palm handheld�works perfectly with my Windows-based PC.



    To my surprise, the process of switching was as easy as the marketing hype had promised. I was up and running in less than one day, Girl Scout's honor. First, let me tell you more about why I converted.





    More Hardware Options, for Less Dough



    I am a freelance writer; I demand the best in mobile computing. There's a much greater choice of portable computers and features, for less money, on the Windows platform. My laptop came with 512 MB of RAM, a 15" screen, a DVD player, and Windows XP Home Edition preinstalled, for $450 less than a comparable iBook. My recommendation is to go straight to Windows XP Professional; the extra features for mobile users are worth it. See Which Edition is Right for You? for more information.





    More Software Flexibility



    AppleWorks (previously called ClarisWorks) pales in comparison to Microsoft Office XP. There's no equivalent for the versatility of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint®. Toolbars and menus customize themselves to the way I work. I wouldn't know how to function without the Track Changes and Comments features of Word. I adore the Office Clipboard, which copies multiple elements from one file and pastes them into another.



    Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 does more for me than Netscape Navigator ever did, and I am a surfing addict. Searches are faster; the History feature makes it easier to find that site from last week; and I can name and organize my Favorites any way I want.





    And Now for the How



    Now that I've given you the reasons why I converted, here's the skinny on the how.



    Step 1: Internet and E-Mail

    The first time I turned on my PC, Windows XP prompted me to set up User Accounts. I set up one for me and one for my husband. I love that we can define completely different user experiences without messing with each other's settings. It's like a Lexus we rented once; when you pushed a button, the driver's seat and mirrors all moved to accommodate my 5 foot 3 inches instead of his 6 feet.



    The New Connection Wizard then guided me through the setup of my Internet connection for browsing the Web. If you use a dial-up connection with an Internet service provider (ISP), you'll need to know your ISP's name (e.g., MSN®), your user name (the part of your e-mail address before the @ symbol), your password, and the phone number for your ISP connection.



    To make a new connection:



    1. From the Start menu, select All Programs, and then select Accessories, Communications, and New Connection Wizard.

    2. Work your way through the wizard, clicking Next after each step and then Finish when you reach the end of the wizard.

    3. To access your new account, click Start, point to Connect To, and then click the connection you set up in step 2.



    I started with Outlook Express for e-mail, because it's included with Windows XP. You'll need to know a few things from your ISP or administrator:



    � Type of e-mail server: POP3, IMAP, or HTTP (like Hotmail® or Yahoo)

    Â? Your name, e-mail address, user name, and password

    Â? Incoming and outgoing mail servers :o ften the sameÂ?for example, email.contoso.com



    To setup a new e-mail account in Outlook Express:



    1. From the Tools menu, click Accounts.

    2. Click Add, and then select Mail.

    3. Work your way through the wizard.



    Step 2: Importing Favorites

    I copied hundreds of Web Favorites from the Mac onto a Zip disk, then into the Favorites folder on the PC. Internet Explorer has an Import/Export Wizard that you can use to import Netscape bookmarks, but I found it faster to do it this way.



    To copy Web Favorites:



    1. Connect the Zip drive to your Macintosh, and insert a Zip disk with plenty of room.

    2. On the Mac, start Internet Explorer. From the Window menu, click Favorites.

    3. Press COMMAND+A (+A) to select them all, and drag them to copy them onto your Zip disk.

    4. Connect the Zip drive to your PC, and insert the disk on which you just saved your Favorites.

    5. On the PC, click Start, then My Computer, and then double-click Local Disk (C . Open the Documents and Settings folder, then the folder with your user account name, and then your Favorites folder.

    6. On the Zip disk, press CTRL+A to select all the files, and then drag them into the Favorites folder. They'll all be there the next time you open Favorites in Internet Explorer.



    Step 3: Importing Contacts and E-Mail Messages

    Both Outlook Express and Outlook will import contacts and messages from other programs. Use the Import/Export Wizard, which you'll find on the File menu.



    Importing Messages. I upgraded to Outlook when I installed Office XP. I chose Yes when Outlook asked whether I wanted to import messages from Outlook Express. Later, I had to uninstall and reinstall Outlook, but all was not lost. All you have to do is point Outlook to where the messages are saved:



    Â? From the File menu, click Open, and then Outlook Data File. Select Outlook, and then click OK.





    (click on image for larger view)



    Importing Contacts. All of my most current contact information was located in my Palm. I used the Conduit Manager in Outlook to download e-mail addresses from my Palm to the notebook PC, as well as my Calendar, Tasks (to-do lists), and Notes. To start the Conduit Manager, click the button with the picture of a handheld on the far right of the Outlook Standard toolbar (also under the Tools menu).





    A Final Note about Hardware



    The key to getting hardware to work with your computer is to have the correct drivers, the software that enables your PC to communicate with your hardware. Windows XP or your computer manufacturer will pre-install most of them. If not, go to the Web site of the company that makes the peripheral you want to attach to find the most current drivers.



    I discover more treats daily. For example, Word Converters are helping me transfer old document files, Microsoft Works files, and even AppleWorks files. It will be an ongoing process, but I'm thrilled so far.



    *Editor's Note: Now that we've successfully converted our writer to a Windows PC, we will be working on getting her to try a Pocket PC. Stay tuned for more developments!



    Â*



    Do you have an idea for a story? We'd love to hear from you. How have you used Microsoft software to make your home or work life easier, more fun, faster, or simpler? Submit your ideas, and you could get published on the Insider Web site! Submit Your Idea Today!</strong><hr></blockquote>



    [ 10-14-2002: Message edited by: Spart ]</p>
  • Reply 12 of 24
    jeffyboyjeffyboy Posts: 1,055member
    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    They <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1001-961994.html?tag=fd_top_3"; target="_blank">regret</a> the ad.



    This may be the funniest, most boneheaded thing Microsoft has ever done!



    Jeff



    [ 10-15-2002: Message edited by: jeffyboy ]</p>
  • Reply 13 of 24
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    The news about this article needs to spread! It's way too funny!
  • Reply 14 of 24
    The photograph of the person in question seems to be from a comnpany that offers "stock" photos. MacMinute reports this.
  • Reply 15 of 24
    giaguaragiaguara Posts: 2,724member
    (S)he works for microsoft



    [quote](from the site)

    While both Apple's "switchers" and Microsoft's "convert" are both unequivocal lovers of their new computers, Apple's "switchers" tend to be plain spoken. By contrast, Microsoft's "convert" sounds a bit like Microsoft's own marketing department.<hr></blockquote>



    She SOUNDS??? She IS.



    And LOL ..







    Getty images. Microsoft seems to love this clipart and photostuck up to the level to use that on their ads. <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />





    <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />



    [ 10-15-2002: Message edited by: Mulattabianca ]</p>
  • Reply 16 of 24
    Well, looks like the reverse Switch ad has drawn a lot of attention ... of the wrong sort. <a href="http://wire.ap.org/APnews/main.html?FRONTID=TECHNOLOGY&STORYID=APIS7MLLKPG0"; target="_blank">AP story here</a>.
  • Reply 17 of 24
    [quote]Originally posted by jeffyboy:

    <strong> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />



    They <a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1001-961994.html?tag=fd_top_3"; target="_blank">regret</a> the ad.



    This may be the funniest, most boneheaded thing Microsoft has ever done!



    Jeff



    [ 10-15-2002: Message edited by: jeffyboy ]</strong><hr></blockquote>



    No, that would be Winodows ME
  • Reply 18 of 24
    overhopeoverhope Posts: 1,123member
    Just another example of the contempt in which Microsoft holds customers...



    The thing that beats me is how the hell they ever expected to get away with it, especially since they left a whole bunch of clues in the supporting documentation... <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
  • Reply 19 of 24
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    <a href="http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~ceugene/microsoft"; target="_blank">http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~ceugene/microsoft</a>;



    Immortalized ... in case Google Cache is flushed.
  • Reply 20 of 24
    quote:



    "Girl Scout's honor"



    <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> <img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" />
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