Apple responds to Microsoft ads: "a PC is no bargain"

[cabron]

Apple has responded to the new Microsoft ads promoting low-cost generic PCs as a cheaper alternative to the Mac, stating "A PC is no bargain when it doesn't do what you want."

The comment, from Apple spokesman Bill Evans, appeared in a BusinessWeek article by Erik Hesseldahl, which examined the differences between the $699 HP notebook Microsoft recommended to its TV audience over Apple's 17" MacBook Pro, a system in a considerably higher quality and price range.

"The one thing that both Apple and Microsoft can agree on is that everyone thinks the Mac is cool," Evans added. "With its great designs and advanced software, nothing matches it at any price."

What you pay

Hesseldahl did the math to find out, noting that the lower cost HP notebook ships with a 60-day trial Norton Internet Security 2009, but requires a $50 subscription to help keep Windows from falling to the onslaught of PC viruses and malware.

Some savvy PC buyers might be aware that they can find free antivirus tools on the Internet, but between the fraudulent malware posing as free antivirus tools and the heavily promoted, multi-billion dollar security industry that staunchly defends its right to profit from adding the security that Microsoft left out of Windows, there's clearly a lot of PC buyers who will end up suckered into paying that extra $150 over the short lifetime of their PC to keep it as clean as the Mac would be without any antivirus software.

The analysis also points out that PC users who run into inevitable problems will face a $129 fee from Geek Squad just to diagnose the problem, while pointing out that Apple offers free help from its retail stores' Genius Bar.

What you get

Hesseldahl also outlined the difference in what users get in terms of usability with iLife's iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, and other software. He noted that the PC ships with some third party movie editing tools that usually cost $184, but figures that collecting a few other software titles to match what ships on the Mac would easily cost another $340. Never mind that all those PC programs don't offer much in terms of tight integration like the Mac's iLife titles.

All that missing software and the extra fees can easily double the cost of the cheap PC hardware. And as the report describes, the bargain basement HP hardware isn't very compelling, with a wimpy battery rated for 2.5 hours compared to the MacBook Pro's eight, an extra 1.2 pounds of weight in a thicker case, and a far lower quality display with much lower resolution, 1440x900 compared to the MacBook Pro's 1920x1440.

Source: Apple Insider

[Zapadlo]

Not this again, introducing nothing new, resurfacing a lot of unwanted attention.

[Linkinfamous]

Hesseldahl did the math to find out, noting that the lower cost HP notebook ships with a 60-day trial Norton Internet Security 2009, but requires a $50 subscription to help keep Windows from falling to the onslaught of PC viruses and malware.

Viruses? I thought those were one of the features that Microsoft cut out during Vista's development.

[majortom1981]

Source: Apple Insider

Notice no mention of the $200 pc's from best buy or any of the netbooks for that matter. Also no mention that microsofts moviemaker comes with a new pc also.

Also no mention that iwork is extra on apples and most pc's if not all either ship with open office or microsoft works.

Also if you install windows on the mac you will get viruses also.

Plus the non techies will not care about screen resolution. heck half of them want the resolution turned down because the text gets smaller.(yes i get this all the time at work).

Nice try apple

[Chris-Gonzales]

You wont get a virus if your a smart computer user and don't download **** you don't need or go on crazzy porn-o sites.

Notice no mention of the $200 pc's from best buy or any of the netbooks for that matter. Also no mention that microsofts moviemaker comes with a new pc also.

Also no mention that iwork is extra on apples and most pc's if not all either ship with open office or microsoft works.

Also if you install windows on the mac you will get viruses also.

Plus the non techies will not care about screen resolution. heck half of them want the resolution turned down because the text gets smaller.(yes i get this all the time at work).

Nice try apple

All good points.

This is not really a response, a real response is a new ad and no, that does not mean bring back the stupid "get a mac ads" Apple should bring back the type of ads they did in the early-mid 90s in a home or work place. Hell, they could even do it now from apple stores.

[Hell-In-A-Handbasket]

i do like the article, but no matter how you bite it, your not goign to get a close $ to $ comparison with a 699 laptop compared to a $3K mac. Alot of people have no need for the iLife suit. when i got my mac couple years ago, they considered iTunes as part of iLife.

the Viri/Spyware issue cn easily reverse if the Coders choose to target the mac.

the Genius Bar's are almost always crowded ( at least in Tysons corner ), and that Free Tech that they offer, is a trade off from time investment standing there ( but you can schedule in advance )

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

They do make some perfectly valid and reasonable points, including mention of the quality (and resolution) of the screen - and the included software packages, for example.

Apple kit IS EXPENSIVE. Only a blind fanboy would say otherwise, but the Microsoft adverts were far too black and white in terms of what one offered over the other. The full picture wasn't given.

[AltecXP]

I'm actually typing this on a Mac and I think this article is JUNK.

[techbeck]

This is funny. Apple bashed MS left and right with their "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC ads" and MS just stood back, didnt comment, and took it. Now MS is fighting back and Apple is crying like a bunch of babies.

Hesseldahl also outlined the difference in what users get in terms of usability with iLife's iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand, and other software. He noted that the PC ships with some third party movie editing tools that usually cost $184, but figures that collecting a few other software titles to match what ships on the Mac would easily cost another $340. Never mind that all those PC programs don't offer much in terms of tight integration like the Mac's iLife titles.

Not many people use the extra programs that come with their systems...FAIL

Hesseldahl is an idiot...remind me to send him a tissue so he can wipe his nose.

[Petvas]

I also own a Mac Pro but I run Windows 7 on it! Apple is really a perfect choice for people that aren't very good with computers and do not want to know how it works. A Power user cannot really like a Mac...I am saying that despite the fact that I have been using Mac OS X for the last three years. It was the better choice for me and I hated Vista but now I can return to Microsoft. Thank you Windows 7!

Apple is a very consumer oriented company and doesn't appeal that much to the power user. It took me a couple of years to understand the whole model and I have nothing against it. I actually recommend people to get Macs but for me Windows is much better...

[Deniss]

I've been using the pc for more than 10 years and recently decided to buy a macbook pro. Never thought a computer could behave in such stable and quick manner. Very pro. Thinking of buying a desktop mac too.

[ienhz]

Yeah, Microsoft tried to offer "tight integration" between their products too. They got sued.

I still think MS went the wrong way with their ads. They should've made different ads for different consumers. For example, price-conscious user buys HP, style-conscious user buys a Sony Vaio, business user buys a ThinkPad, etc.

Edited April 16, 2009 by ienhz

[Chris-Gonzales]

i do like the article, but no matter how you bite it, your not goign to get a close $ to $ comparison with a 699 laptop compared to a $3K mac. Alot of people have no need for the iLife suit. when i got my mac couple years ago, they considered iTunes as part of iLife.

the Viri/Spyware issue cn easily reverse if the Coders choose to target the mac.

the Genius Bar's are almost always crowded ( at least in Tysons corner ), and that Free Tech that they offer, is a trade off from time investment standing there ( but you can schedule in advance )

I'm sure everyone would agree macs are expensive. Yes, even the fan boys. They may not say it on line to protect their "so called "reputation" but deep down, I'm sure they will agree. If your looking for a 15" laptop, why spend 2,000 or more when you could get a HP or dell same screen size and the same specs for 300-500 less? Just for the name? Just to "be cool". Come on.

The genius bar in my area kind of sucks. They were very snotty. Told me they couldn't fix my broken optical drive on my macbook. I took it home and it was fixed. So go figure.

They do make some perfectly valid and reasonable points, including mention of the quality (and resolution) of the screen - and the included software packages, for example.

Apple kit IS EXPENSIVE. Only a blind fanboy would say otherwise, but the Microsoft adverts were far too black and white in terms of what one offered over the other. The full picture wasn't given.

Most people don;'t give a rats ass what type of software they have, as long as it works. I for one, do care, but most don;'t. Same goes for the resolution

Apple wants like what? over $200 for ram for the macbook? Just because it has a higher buss speed? Please, I bet you I could find the same type of ram at best buy or even new egg for a lot cheeper.

Keep in mind the times we are living in people,and look at what types of jobs people have,

[techbeck]

Apple has responded to the new Microsoft ads promoting low-cost generic PCs as a cheaper alternative to the Mac, stating "A PC is no bargain when it doesn't do what you want."

Generic? How is HP generic?

Apple has some balls, but not very big ones. First they go after MS...now they are insulting HP.

[Chris-Gonzales]

This is funny. Apple bashed MS left and right with their "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC ads" and MS just stood back, didnt comment, and took it. Now MS is fighting back and Apple is crying like a bunch of babies.

Because they know Microsoft is right

Not many people use the extra programs that come with their systems...FAIL

Yep. Same goes for that ilife

Hesseldahl is an idiot...remind me to send him a tissue so he can wipe his nose.

:laugh:

Yeah, Microsoft tried to offer "tight integration" between their products too. They got sued.

If apple and Microsoft could just work together like mature men, we wouldn't have this sort of problem. Hey, imagine a apple/microsoft OS. Built by both, and one clean, neat design. and SECURE

[KeeperOfThePizza]

The article is rubbish.

[Trong]

Isn't the point of the ads to show that the customers get a laptop for under the price limit that "does everything they want"? I mean, it was a freaking line in the ad...

[Chris-Gonzales]

Generic? How is HP generic?

Apple has some balls, but not very big ones. First they go after MS...now they are insulting HP.

HP has some great looking designs on their notebooks. Chrome accents with espresso black and moonlight white color choices. Apple's design is nice, but thats all you get.

and HP is not generic

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping...e=HDX18t_series

1920x1080 screen, blu-ray. Tv tuner, and more. Come on thats far from generic. May be this would have gone 6 years ago, but now its just tons of rubbish.

[Rigby]

It would be really nice if these companies would stop acting like children and go back to worrying about their own products instead.

[-Vivicidal-]

They have a point, it might be easier and cheaper for a novice to get a Mac, but if you know what you are doing, Windows is a good bet because you can get good free software and cheap hardware - you just need to know how to avoid viruses and fix problems.

[jewishornet]

It would be really nice if these companies would stop acting like children and go back to worrying about their own products instead.

Best post I have read in awhile regarding this "war"

[Chris-Gonzales]

Isn't the point of the ads to show that the customers get a laptop for under the price limit that "does everything they want"? I mean, it was a freaking line in the ad...

Exactly. They. The people. People have different tastes If someone wants to buy a cheep laptop with cheep parts let them. If they want to blow their bank account and get that $3,000 mac. Let them. They will be the ones getting the phone calls from the creditors

you just need to know how to avoid viruses and fix problems.

Like I said, don;'t download stuff you don't need, and don't go on crazzy sites like porn-os and you'll be fine.

Just be a smart computer user.

[Victor V.]

Yeah, Microsoft tried to offer "tight integration" between their products too. They got sued.

And the funny thing is that the same people usually use both arguments

a. Microsoft is a monopoly;

b. Microsoft offers no tight integration;

when they are fighting for their beloved Macs.

[JSH1284]

Gah ... Apple is so good at being gracefully desperate ... ;_; ... too bad they have nothing to base their claims on. I don't see how they can justify charging $2500 for a Mac Pro that has the same components many $800 PC's have .. with not much added in terms of peripherals or software, either. It seems to me you're paying $1000+ for a little glowing apple logo when you go to the dark side of computing and buy one of those ... things ...

[thevink]

Gah ... Apple is so good at being gracefully desperate ... ;_; ... too bad they have nothing to base their claims on. I don't see how they can justify charging $2500 for a Mac Pro that has the same components many $800 PC's have .. with not much added in terms of peripherals or software, either. It seems to me you're paying $1000+ for a little glowing apple logo when you go to the dark side of computing and buy one of those ... things ...

Why do you think they are fighting tooth and nail with Psystar? Kinda sad when their OS is running on similar spec'ed machines for a hell of a lot cheaper.