Microsoft's latest laptop hunters ads, where a shopper is asked to find a laptop under a certain amount of money and if they find one, Microsoft will pick up the bill have caused quite a stir. These Hunters ads are a response to Apple's "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" advertisements where Apple takes shots at Microsoft faults.In recent days, Apple has complained to Microsoft about these new Hunters advertisements, claiming the ads are incorrect and inaccurate. As of June 8, 2009, Apple has lowered the prices of their Macbook Pro and increased the RAM from 2GB to 4GB with the starting retail price of $1499.
Apple's biggest complaint is that the advertisements are misleading to consumers that could suggest all Apple machines are over the $2,000 price range. Microsoft has not stated if they will cease running these advertisements or simply create new ones, but these ads have certainly got the attention of Apple.
We could possibly see a response "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ad in the coming weeks to combat the Hunters ads, only if Apple is ready for an advertisement commercial war with Microsoft.
Microsoft's first Hunters advertisements with Laura shopping for a laptop for under $1,000:
edit: i fail, i should read comments before i comment myself lol ...
+1 fibbeh
Yeah the words Pot Kettle and Black spring to mind.
lol +1
+1
+1
And people think the Reality Distortion Field doesn't exist! LOL
Apple, infamous for it's ads bashing PC's, is bad-mouthing the relatively benign PC ads by MS - that qualifies as news in my opinion.
Lol I prefer news based off of hard evidence not just some exec spouting off at the mouth. And this goes for any company I could care less about Apple or Microsoft. Some over exaggerated comment made by some guy is hardly news.
Also known as:
Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner
Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner
Oh man that makes all the difference I'm sure he has nothing to gain by trying to make Apple look stupid, even if it means lying/joking/exaggerating. Silly me.
Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner
I don't know about you, but when I see 'some guy', thats the first person I think of..
Bad mouthing? They lowered prices and increased the RAM making the ads obsolete. If MS runs the same ads again they will be misleading because the situation is now different. That's what Apple told MS and some MS derp tried to turn it into some controversy that the trolls on Neowin eagerly snapped up.
I hate when Apple lies, and I'm a Windows and Linux user, but those Mac ads are funny and they gave MS a good kick in the ***. It's also good that Apple has been forced to lower prices because Macs WERE overpriced. Apple hardware is still overpriced, but those same MS laptop ads can't be run again, MS has to make new ones that are accurate.
Yeah I don't think they need any new ads. Apples are still overpriced. End of discussion.
I hate when Apple lies, and I'm a Windows and Linux user, but those Mac ads are funny and they gave MS a good kick in the ***. It's also good that Apple has been forced to lower prices because Macs WERE overpriced. Apple hardware is still overpriced, but those same MS laptop ads can't be run again, MS has to make new ones that are accurate.
Wow, so because Apple's ads that lie seem humorous in your opinion (which they aren't in mine), means Apple can get away with misleading ads? While Microsoft ads that are generally not as misleading, are really shameful because they're not as funny?
What a wonderful use of double standards.
I remember when adverts used to be about singing the praises of your product, not trying to diss your competition... Comparative adverts in other sectors claim "our product vs. The Leading Competitor" not like "our product vs. Apple's" or whatever... Oh well, neither of their adverts are that good... And I'm normally an Apple "fanboy" but I'm just sick of the crap between them...
Why? Companies "compete" for our business. Competitive commercials seem like an advertising imperative.
I think, any type of commercial must be allowed if content represents truth. If company lies then it must be responsible for damage. Bloodbath between competitors is good for consumers.
I did cartwheels down the hallway. At first I said, "Is this a joke? Who are you?" Not understanding what an opportunity. And so we're just going to keep running them and running them and running them."
LOL. In the present economy, prices matter and Apple can't compete it seems and now its whining. LOL.
Apple is just too funny.
$2999 minus $99 is $2900, not $2899
Not in Apple's world. LoL
lulz Apple, cry more. No they be stealing my applesssss!!!
Yeah. Because Apple's Mac vs. PC ads are always correct, accurate and never full of stereotypical nonsense.
Pot, meet Kettle.
After Apple cut prices and bumped specs on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lines (aggressively, I might add, particularly in the case of the MacBook Air, which saw a $300 base-model price drop), Microsoft continued to run the same Laptop Hunters ads with the same information they contained prior to the price drop. I'm not the only one who noticed this one little detail. As Technologizer's Harry McCracken quipped on Twitter, "Microsoft still airing ad in which shopper gripes about sub-$2K Macs having 2GB of RAM. 4GB now starts @ $1499. Wrong to keep running or OK?"
With Apple's June notebook refreshes, these ads instantly became outdated and inaccurate. For Microsoft to continue to run them unchanged was indeed misleading. I highly doubt that Apple called to ask Microsoft to stop the ad campaign completely. Apple's too smug and confident for that (or at least that's the impression Apple leaves). I do believe, though, that Apple called to ask Microsoft to stop running outdated ads. After all, what responsible business wouldn't take action against misleading ads from its competitors?
After Apple cut prices and bumped specs on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air lines (aggressively, I might add, particularly in the case of the MacBook Air, which saw a $300 base-model price drop), Microsoft continued to run the same Laptop Hunters ads with the same information they contained prior to the price drop. I'm not the only one who noticed this one little detail. As Technologizer's Harry McCracken quipped on Twitter, "Microsoft still airing ad in which shopper gripes about sub-$2K Macs having 2GB of RAM. 4GB now starts @ $1499. Wrong to keep running or OK?"
With Apple's June notebook refreshes, these ads instantly became outdated and inaccurate. For Microsoft to continue to run them unchanged was indeed misleading. I highly doubt that Apple called to ask Microsoft to stop the ad campaign completely. Apple's too smug and confident for that (or at least that's the impression Apple leaves). I do believe, though, that Apple called to ask Microsoft to stop running outdated ads. After all, what responsible business wouldn't take action against misleading ads from its competitors?
If you saw what I read above, I did read the article. However, I discarded that statement because I got a family member a laptop around $540 with 4 gigs of ram, with a decent hd (320gig) and processor(mid level duo core) just two weeks ago. $1499 for a laptop in today's economy is down right unrealistic for most people. Even the $999 and $1199 laptops that Apple present on their website for what they want in it is subpar compared to what you can actually get with a Windows Laptop/PC. People want more bang for their buck. The Windows PC market is giving that to the consumer. Apple isn't and its now biting them in the ass.
I did miss your comment above, sorry. However, the fact remains that Apple does have a valid complaint if Microsoft keeps running ads that emphasize outdated information about their products. That's great that you got such a good deal, but guess what? It is irrelevant to the fact that Microsoft is running ads that state "facts" that are wrong.
As for the "in today's economy" comment, to me the whole thing is a total load of media hyped BS. Yeah, unemployment is a little higher than usual. Credit has become harder to get (as it should be). The housing market is finally back to realistic numbers instead of the overinflated mess that it was several years ago ($250,000 for a 2-bedroom, one bath starter home? Outrageous). Gas prices are lower than they have been in nearly a decade (although they were lower earlier in the year, they are still withing "normal" summertime ranges). How exactly is the economy in a bad place right now again?
Wow... just wow on that statement you made...
I guess the feds projected 10% unemployment (we are already at 9.5%) by end of year (that was said yesterday). Last year we were at this time at 5.6%. That's not from the press btw, that from the BLS.gov.
That's a little higher than normal? Are you kidding me?
I'm going to just stop there and bite my tounge.
As for the "in today's economy" comment, to me the whole thing is a total load of media hyped BS. Yeah, unemployment is a little higher than usual. Credit has become harder to get (as it should be). The housing market is finally back to realistic numbers instead of the overinflated mess that it was several years ago ($250,000 for a 2-bedroom, one bath starter home? Outrageous). Gas prices are lower than they have been in nearly a decade (although they were lower earlier in the year, they are still withing "normal" summertime ranges). How exactly is the economy in a bad place right now again?
While your statement does have some merit, the economy IS in bad shape right now. Unemployment is far from 'higher than usual' - it's skyrocketed! Last I checked it was around 9.5%, which hardly qualifies as slightly more than usual.
The economy is in rough shape, and while the media does make things out to be worse than they are, the truth isn't that pretty either.
I'm not saying PC is the best thing ever, but the whole BSOD and all the other issues the I'm a Mac commercials address are for the most part inaccurate anymore. I haven't had a single BSOD with vista or 7, and I know that there are people that do experience this, but still... If apple's gonna play the outdated card, microsoft could as well...
I can tell you exactly what to do to get one in either. Install a Netgear WG311v3 PCI wireless network card in a 64-bit system with anything over 2GB of RAM. You are free to use either the driver provided by Microsoft or Netgear's latest. Either way you will get random BSODs while accessing the network.
Oh, and to those picking apart my comment about the economy: how much of that inflated unemployment number represents people in the real estate industry and illegal immigrants who got fired due to crackdowns against their employers? While I'm not saying that unemployment isn't high right now, but it really isn't as bad as the media and even the government make it out to be. Both have a vested interest in fearmongering where the economy is concerned.
Oh, and to those picking apart my comment about the economy: how much of that inflated unemployment number represents people in the real estate industry and illegal immigrants who got fired due to crackdowns against their employers? While I'm not saying that unemployment isn't high right now, but it really isn't as bad as the media and even the government make it out to be. Both have a vested interest in fearmongering where the economy is concerned.
so? go complain to ... wait for it .... netgear?
Can I buy some pot from you?
Last edited by SleeStak on 16 Jul 2009 - 22:45
As for the "in today's economy" comment, to me the whole thing is a total load of media hyped BS. Yeah, unemployment is a little higher than usual. Credit has become harder to get (as it should be). The housing market is finally back to realistic numbers instead of the overinflated mess that it was several years ago ($250,000 for a 2-bedroom, one bath starter home? Outrageous). Gas prices are lower than they have been in nearly a decade (although they were lower earlier in the year, they are still withing "normal" summertime ranges). How exactly is the economy in a bad place right now again?
No, Apple does NOT have a legitimate complaint. The PC add states a laptop for under $1000.00. As the initial post states, Apple's starting price is still well over that. And even if it were within cost range, the user's shoppers comments would still justify the ad when they point out RAM, HDD space, accessories, etc that out do the Apple's.
I really think Apple should look in the mirror.
Are you saying that the COO of Microsoft is lying about a phone call from Apple?
Without some kind of proof that it happened, it isn't outside the realm of possibility.
On initial contact, they don't, at least my Attorney's don't.
So what do you want, the legal team saying yes we called and complained? Do you want phone logs?
its bad being a hypocrite
I know a few people that actually got Macs because of Apple's fun poking, and they actually believed some of the information in those Get a Mac ads.
Stereotyping all PCs as having so many demented problems seems pretty much like incorrect information if you ask me.
+1 apparently some of us are, it's on thar intarwebz it must be for realz!
Sure price is a topic of the ads, but the biggest sin is that the ads have also stated they can buy faster laptops.
Even today, the HIGHEST END Apple MacBook is a full couple of generations behind the PC Laptops not only in pricing but what is technically available. Ironically, this variance in performance is mainly in the GPU of the Macs (HD, RAM, etc also are sub-par). So much for the illusion of Mac being the best 'graphics' computer uh?
Microsoft should go further on this angle, just so Apple can complain about price.
Apple hardware has been lacking for many years. How long did it take them to get a 1920x1200 display in their 17 notebooks - three or four years after it was a standard feature on high end PCs? So much for graphic designers being able to choose a MacBook for serious work.
And for the GPU, the NVida 9600M is the best you can get? Really? First having the 6 as the second digit tells you that it is a medium performance card for the class, and in performance, unless you are running Unified Sharder optimized applications (which hardly even exist on OS X), it lags behind dedicated shader cards considerably. For example in pre-unified shader benchmarking, the 9600M is about the speed of a 2005 Geforece 7950 that was offered in laptops in the 'PC' world.
This is at a time when SLI and X2 PC Laptop GPUs are common, especially when you hit the magical $1500 price range that most of the MacBooks bottom out at. Even in the $1500 range you will find QUAD core CPUs and high end GPUs that you just can't get in a Mac, let alone comparing the + $2000 class PC Laptop.
And the problem is their marketing is all over this, if you watch their ads or read their site, you would think the NVidia 9400 GPU is the best thing ever invented and only Apple has it. The stuff the Apple site mentions alone mis-informs their own customers, and then you have Mac users wondering why they can't get a few FPS out of a crap game.
The Mac Desktop offerings are just as bad with last generation Xeon processors -boasting how 64bit they are, even though OS X is still a 32bit OS. Maybe Apple assumes they can get people to buy the hardware and run Vista x64 for a real 64bit OS? (Even Snow Leopard is looking to be a thunk layer away from full 64bit, as drivers are more of an issue than Apple realized.)
If you want something 'cute' and don't care about how slow the computer is your buy a Mac. If play games or do any type of video or graphical work, you are screwing yourself a lot of computing time by downgrading to a Mac's level of performance, and ya, PCs are cheaper especially when you look at the GPU and other 'features' side by side.
Besides, maybe Microsoft should do a Netbook commercial and then Apple can try to explain how they have a $200-300 computer too and Microsoft is being misleading by telling people the facts. (Heck even smack Apple twice, do an ATT 3G Netbook ad, that shows a user getting a full computer for $49 bucks and then another user buying an iPhone for $100-200 bucks and both having the same data rate plan and the 3G Netbook user actually doing work or running Adobe Photoshop on it while browsing the web at a beach and still getting the same battery life as their iPhone.)
+1
+1
I concur. +1 and indeed pwned.
Of course the Apple fanboys excuse is, so what if it costs more. What a joke.
That's funny because we've been complaining about the inaccuracies in Apple's ads for quite awhile. Did they really expect Microsoft to just sit by and do nothing? Sheesh. Apple asked for a fight and they got it.
I think its about time more people were made aware of the simple fact that you can do anything just as good on a PC that you can in a mac, for far cheaper. And with the money i saved i passed it on to my staff and bought some new super comfy office chairs
Microsoft ads = Not funny.
Why would you prefer the non-funny ads? WHY?!!?
Microsoft ads = Anyone can proove the truth by just going to store...
Does that mean proven right? what is "unproven wrong"??
Microsoft ads = Not funny.
Why would you prefer the non-funny ads? WHY?!!?
I'd rather be told truthful reasons for buying a product, rather than amuse with a few stupid laughs.
Honestly, I thought they were funny at first, but it got tiring as the truth started popping in my head.
Especially for instance, ad called "Out-of-the-box", where PC says, "I have to download things to do that" and Mac says, "I can do anything I want, create webpage, do videos play videos" etc.
When MS start to make it out-of-box even half of Mac, then BAM! Antitrust files opens... Sad irony and makes me feel closer to unjusted
maybe if you want to have one window open. most conumsers don't do that these days. they have virus protection running, IM's, multiple windows of their browser open and probably have music running in the background too. that would put a hurting on 2gb's. 4gb's is good for everybody. an argument could be made for 8gigs, but I would consider 3gigs the min these days.
So let's get this straight.
13-20 programs running...at the same time...check
20-40 Photoshop "documents" running along with the 13-20 programs...check
Windows XP in Parallels running alongside the 13-20 programs and the 20-40 Photoshop "documents"...check
yea, I see how that is reasonable...........
Most people expect a little embelishment when talking about thier rigs but seriously...you need to step it down a notch.
and a 2001 mac with 768Mb ram that beats a Vista machine.....yea...reality distortion field in effect...
edit. never mind. I just checked your age...makes perfect sence now....
"HELLO APPLE: YOUR A MAC, I AM A PC"
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