Our Blog: where do you stand?

Tammy says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 12:51:pm

The commercial definately reinforces the value position of Microsoft’s laptop. It makes good business sense for them in this economy. However I prefer my (older) I-Book. Yes the screen is smaller but I’ve never had any issues with viruses or have it lock up for no reason. It downloads files in an instant and is so user friendly that when we replaced our old PC at home we bought another Mac. Additionally, my I Book is so much lighter than my work ThinkPad, making it easier to haul around. The downside? I type so much the letters are wearing off the keys. Bottom line, good marketing move for Microsoft, but please work on the mechanics a little more.

Dan S says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 1:31:pm

Cohesion and vertical integration. Mac makes the computer and the software. That is the real difference and advantage. Buy a Mac and get a bunch of really cool software. Buy a PC get Vista…. mac has long be known as the true plug and play system.

In 15 years, I have never had a virus, hard drive failure, or conflict with software. Can you say that about your PC?

Not to mention the power and speed of processing. PC is to generic to ever be cool. Dell, gateway, HP, ACER…LOL! Talk about an identity problem. PC software follows and copies Mac eg: Zune, mouse, (yes, that was Apple) itunes, ilife, iphoto, all have been copied by PC. Now let’s talk about the power underneath the operating system PC is MSDOS (which was invented by a Canadian) so you know it has problems right from the start. Mac and Linux. Say no more!

Dane M. says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 2:12:pm

Note: In Feb 2008, I bought a MacBook with a tiny little 13 inch screen and an iPhone this year. I’m cool enough to own 2 Apple products.

I think the new ads from Microsoft represent an effective deviation from their last couple campaigns (especially the Gates-Seinfeld debacle). They put the Apple Tax in a real world scenario for the first time. However, at some point, Microsoft must at least try to show that their product is better in terms of quality, not just price or screen size. How many people make the laptop decision based on screen size? Price range, sure. But, I don’t know anyone that would say, “I would rather not have a laptop than settle for less than a 14 inch screen.”

This commercial effectively removes the Apple product from contention before the comparison actually begins. Lauren’s parameters are created (intentionally, I suggest) in a way that she wouldn’t have to compare PC and Mac in performance - a comparison I’m not sure Microsoft wants her to make.

Susan Iskiwitch says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 2:27:pm

I find people in this economy are not only looking for good bang for their buck, but for a stable, reliable purchase (rather than what makes them look “cool”). Why pay a lot of money for virus software, repairs and replacements for a PC when Macs are shown to be reliable, less virus-prone with dedicated customer support?

Bottom line: Microsoft’s ads should focus on what makes them better in terms of technology, reliability and customer support (although customer support might be difficult with the large variety of PC brands) rather than insulting another brand.

Disclaimer: I recently purchased a 13 inch MacBook with which I am very happy (it’s a “downgrade” from my 4 year old 15 inch PowerBook). Not only is the new machine a widescreen, it is just as powerful as its 15 inch MacBook Pro counterpart.

Patrick Lunsford says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 2:35:pm

Ok, I’m not going to pick Mac or PC right now, but I do want to point out that it’s laughable to say Microsoft is insulting Apple by showing it’s a cheaper product. Also, I assume you’ve seen Apple’s “I’m a Mac” campaign, which I’m pretty sure is mostly built around insulting PCs (and positioning Mac as a hip, young guy and PC as an older, geeky, overweight person).

Susan Iskiwitch says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 2:38:pm

You know I have, Pat; but when things are done in jest, such as the “I’m a Mac” campaign, they are often more acceptable. (For example: South Park insults everyone under the sun and it’s somewhat acceptable, but when Mel Gibson does it, it’s not.)

Patrick Lunsford says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 2:46:pm

I really don’t see how one of these commercial campaigns is done more in jest than another. They both make points with the purpose of elevating one product at the expense of another. And again, what in the world is insulting about the linked PC commercial? She got a PC cheaper than a Mac, what’s below the belt about that?

Barbara Hutchinson says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 2:55:pm

Mac all the way.  I love the iwork programs-so much nicer that office.  Plug n play is immediate-no problems whatsoever.  As the previous IT person for my office windows network, I’ll take a Mac anyday.  Haven’t crashed, locked-up, etc. one time since I bought it approx. 8 months ago.  And I LOVE no more IE.  Internet spam significantly reduced as well.  The “being cool” is just an an extra perk.  And yes, given the reliability of the Mac, I dumped my Blackberry that never correctly synched with our network (I never could use calendar for example), and went with Iphone.  It synched everything in less that 30 seconds first try while I was still standing in store-amazing.

Andrew says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 3:09:pm

One word: Vista.

Christi says:

Tue, April 14, 2009 at 5:19:pm

Had this same conversation this weekend. We agreed to disagree. Macs can handle the big multimedia jobs without much fiddling, so if you work with those, go for it. When you need a word processor for under $500, or a mega-gaming machine…a PC should be your choice. Can’t we all just get along?

Justin says:

Wed, April 15, 2009 at 10:12:am

Lots of good discussion here, but I think many of you missed my point. I was implying that during these tough economic times, I think it’s smart for Microsoft to market itself as the more economic choice (not “cheap” as Patrick put it). So “being smart about your money” is the new cool, in a way. It’s easy (some would say trendy) to bash Vista, which I honestly don’t think is that bad beyond being slow on start-up, and other things about PCs, but why spend twice the price when all most people do is use Internet-related and word processing programs? Christi’s comment follows this line of thinking.

Waldo Jaquith says:

Wed, April 15, 2009 at 9:01:pm

Windows computers are only cheaper if you a) ignore all of the costs after you buy it and b) buy a really crappy one. Comparing components of the same quality, head-to-head, Apples are always cheaper. And once you factor in TCO? Windows machines are a loser every time. The best thing about Macs is that they retain their value, because they remain functional for a decade or more. My 1998 Bondi blue iMac is still running Mac OS 10.3, having gone from a work computer to a home computer to my niece’s computer. It’s never been broken for a day in the past eleven years. I’ll bet I they could sell it now for $150. You walk out of Staples with your $499 HP notebook and it’s worth less than that.

There is nothing cool about Windows.

Waldo Jaquith says:

Wed, April 15, 2009 at 9:05:pm

BTW, Microsoft’s biggest problem here? They’re promoting hardware they don’t make. They’re tethered to the downward spiral of crap being produced by Dell, HP/Compaq, Toshiba, Gateway, and Lenovo. These systems get worse every year as they compete to see who can sell computers of such a low price and terrible quality that they can be an impulse buy in an office supply store. Combine that with the Vista debacle, and you’ve got an OS nobody wants on a hardware platform that people are embarrassed to be seen with. The hardware manufacturers are tethered to a lousy OS and Microsoft is tethered to lousy hardware. Them’s the rules of the game in the Wintel world, and until an Apple comes along and shakes up Windows hardware, it’s only going to get worse.

Andrew says:

Thu, April 16, 2009 at 6:17:am

You can call it Vista-bashing all you want, and that’s fine. And yes, MS should market themselves based on price - that’s their strong suit since they can’t really do so based on quality. I don’t think Apple proponents are arguing that everyone should go out and buy a Mac - if you want to spend less up front and are happy with a clunky and unintuitive user experience, then PCs are fine. But Waldo is of course correct - there are different ways of measuring value. You can base it only on up front costs or you can consider actual value. You can argue that it’s cooler to spend less now, but my money says that “the new cool” is taking into consideration what you’re getting for your dollar. Call me hip and trendy all you like, but you get what you pay for.

Charles McDonald says:

Thu, April 16, 2009 at 7:15:am

LOL!!! what a great discussion. People get so passionate about a product after they buy it. They want to support their purchase decision.

You can be productive with either platform, IMO

I do like the “punch” ad

Beth Minnigerode says:

Thu, May 14, 2009 at 4:16:pm

Here’s Apple’s latest response as mentioned by Todd Wasserman of BrandFreak.com. 

http://www.brandfreak.com/2009/05/have-microsofts-laptop-hunters-ads-thrown-apple-for-a-loop.html