Microsoft digs Macs in back-to-school ads
The mouse works differently
Microsoft has dusted off some hoary anti-Apple chestnuts in a new "Macs-suck-we-don't" web-based ad effort.
It must be back-to-school computer-buying time — and Microsoft's marketeers aren't going to let the Mac's sales surge continue without a fight.
Redmond floats a few reasons why a Windows PC is superior to a Mac on its new "Deciding between a PC and a Mac?" web page. To wit:
- You can't get a Mac that ships with a Blu-ray player, TV tuner, memory stick reader, or built-in 3G wireless
- Things just don't work the same way on Macs if you're used to a PC. For example, the mouse works differently
- If you use Apple's productivity suite, sharing files with PC users can be tricky
- On a Mac, you have to manually set up photo sharing, manually set up music and movie sharing, manually set up file sharing, and manually set up printer sharing
- Macs only come in white or silver. PCs are available in a full spectrum of colors across a range of price points
Mac users will notice that some of these niggles are valid (no Blu-ray, for example), some are laughably overstated (Mac sharing requires a single checkbox-click), and some are merely silly (colored PCs — oh, and who popularized those over a decade ago?).
You can read the list's headlines below, or check out the full truthiness of Redmond's more-detailed critique at "DbaPCaaM?".
Having fun, simplicity, working hard, sharing, compatibility, and choice — Microsoft has opinions
To be sure, Redmond and Cupertino have sniped at each other over the years — perhaps most famously in Apple's long-running "Get a Mac" television and web-based ad campaign, which was killed off this May after a four-year, 80-spot run, and replaced on Apple's website by a soft-sell "Why you'll love a Mac" pitch page.
Then there were Microsoft's Laptop Hunters ads — one of which, "Lauren and Sue get a Dell XPS 13", Redmond was forced to edit after Apple dropped their MacBook pricing, thus rendering its expensive onscreen price tag out of date.
The Mac vs. PC debate may have mellowed over the years, but passions still run deep — just check out the avalanche of comments on a recent Reg story about Redmond's sinking fortunes. ®
COMMENTS
Astonishing Chutzpah
errata
"If most of the computers in your office or school run Windows you may find it harder to get things done with a Mac."
"If most of the computers in your office or school run a different version of Windows, or a different version of their Office products, you may find it harder to get things done with a PC."
FTFY
The arrogance...
...of both companies. I always thought Apple's "I'm a Mac" campaign was a little below the belt, but this list of Microsoft is downright crap.
Use Windows for a PVR? I thought they DRM'd most of it to the point where it can't do the things most people want.
Mac doesn't let you choose? Try walking into a computer shop and try to buy a pc *without* Windows. See if Microsoft lets you choose that.
Macs don't like to share? One of the most frustrating things i sometimes have to do on Windows, is share files with computers not on the same domain as i am. While i have no issues with using scp on the commandline to get my files anywhere i want on *nix. Yeah, the syntax takes some getting used to, but it works anytime.
And two other points on the list basically say "we have a monopoly, it's best for both of us if you just bend over."
MS making the case for standards !!!
''If you use Apple's productivity suite, sharing files with PC users can be tricky''
So you want standard file formats. Errrm, but it is MS that works hard to keep the files that it generates in an obscure format - changed every few years just for good measure (and force people to buy the latest version of their s/ware).
''Macs don't work as well at work or at school''
Well in that case, MS: for the good of your customers you ought to work to ensure that things can integrate - by the use of published standards. You don't want to? Is this because you want to make it hard for other operating systems to work with MS ones ? Why would that be ? Preserve your market share ?
''Things just don't work the same way on Macs if you're used to a PC.''
I agree -- this is why I find MS machines hard to use, I am used to Linux. A few years ago MS was saying that use of its machines was inherently easier, now it is saying that people just find them easier because they have been taught them at school -- sounds like a good argument for schools teaching kids to use many different sorts of machine. Mind you, being asked to do this this would give most teachers a panic attack.
BTW: my PC runs Linux. A ''PC'' is not just something that runs MS s/ware.
Wouldn't work anywhere else
If you consider buying a BMW instead of an Audi, you'll find the BMW might spoil your fun.
For example, you'll find that some of the seat colours available in your Audi just aren't available on any BMW.
You'll also find that it's more inconvenient to service because your current Audi dealer doesn't support BMWs.
Also, you'll find that all spare parts designed for Audis simply won't fit it a BMW.
Some of the controls you're used to just don't work in the same way either - for instance, the button second to the left from the main control panel operates the rear heated window, and not the air recirculation that you're used to.
BMWs just aren't very good at multimedia - if you bought the Audi DVD player you'll find it no longer works in a BMW.
You might find the steering wheel works differently in a BMW than in your Audi*.
*I don't understand this one either.
Convicted monopolist boasting about its monopoly
And if most of the Windows computers at the school used OpenOffice for office work, instead or MS Office, Mac users, Linux users, Solaris users, FreeBSD users etc. would not notice much difference, since it works pretty much the same on all those platforms.
In that part of the ad, Microsoft is pretty much admitting it has the office suite monopoly, and you had better go along with it, or else...
