Giampaolo looks for a high-spec laptop that's up to his standards and under $1500
Money line “I don’t wanna pay for the brand, I wanna pay for the computer”
I feel like this round of ads is helping Microsoft's hardware partners to spite Microsoft. Before Macs went to x86, I had a cheap PC in the corner, but for the last couple years, I've been buying Windows and Visual Studio for the MacBook. These commercials seem to suggest that Microsoft thinks I've wasted money on a platform that I use Microsoft products on. Insulting my major purchases is not the best way to get me to buy Windows 7.
This ad speciffically: tecnically savvy people would buy online using custom config from Lenovo/HP/whatever. Still it's only an ad :)
Line of attack selected in this campaign is perfect: from hardware standpoint inferiority of Macs compared to PCs is clear in all price ranges.
No Blu-ray and no audio via DisplayPort already end the argument here. We completely drop premium PC segment and compare Macs only with cheap PCs with similar hardware specs. And here goes the price argument because Macs are sold in premium segment.
I think the campaign should go further into the premium PC segment too where there is no competition from limited Macs. And to its extremes. Hopefully this ad campaign will culminate with a graphical designer or gamer who don't care about money but only about qulaity and thus selecting $7500 19" custom config laptop from Lenovo.
It's really sad to see you championing such nonsense. As someone who regularly talks about his Sony Vaio and Macbook Pro at home I don't know why you are supporting this.
Similarly why is Microsoft wasting money on these ads (at the same time as laying off employees).
If Microsoft really believes that quality has no bearing and price is the only reason people buy it's no wonder Vista has turned out to be such a joke, Zune a flop, Live Search a cash black hole and Windows Mobile a disaster.
Maybe if Microsoft focused on creating great products it wouldn't have to take such pathetic cheapshots at Apple.
Let's just hope Giampaolo doesn't turn out to be an Actor and that the agency didn't use Macs to create the advert (like the previous advert)
It's a sad day for Microsoft.
Repsectfully John, I'll have to disagree with you - I think the ads strike the perfect note at a time when peopel are concerned about cost.
Yes I hav a Vaio and a MacBook Pro at home but if I were buying my own new PC tomorrow, neither would be anywhere near the top of the list. much more likely would be the £320 Samsung netbook I have that runs Windows 7 beautifully. I simply coudln't justify the cost of either the Sony or the MBP.
Sure some of our products haven't been the hits we'd like and Vista is far from perfect but they're improving and I'm very happy with Windows 7 and my Zune. Nobody is perfect...not even Apple.
reading the coverage this weekend about the ads I'd say they're far from a flop and personally, I'm happy we're taking the fight to Apple
I'm with Steve, I enjoy the ads and think they're sending a clear message. Apple wants to make this "Mac vs PC" (and not "Mac vs Microsoft"), so be it. We'll focus on hardware then. It's simply cheaper to purchase a PC, period. Anyone who says otherwise is living in Steve Job's reality distortion field.
Sure, I'd love to give a Macbook Pro a shot, but I don't make six figures a year. And PC suits me just fine so far, thanks.
Apple really needs to open their OS up to all hardware. Why haven't they done that yet? Oh yeah, they're worried about losing money in the hardware sale.
The problem is the adverts don't do anything to support Microsoft except get another OEM license sale of Vista. I presume Microsoft has given up trying to actually sell Vista based on it's value and getting customers to upgrade! Maybe just getting people to buy new cheap laptops is the easiest way to increase Microsoft Revenue!
I'm also skeptical with these adverts that each time the supposed buyer (actor) has ended up with an HP machine? Are HP sponsoring these adverts - they should as they are getting the most out of them.
Giampaolo stated he wanted a laptop with portability, battery life and power yet ended up with a 16" 7.1lb monster with max 1hr 30 mins battery life?
HP also has terrible reliability and service http://www.pcworld.com/zoom?id=156450&page=1&zoomIdx=1
In the current economic climate why is microsoft spending hundreds of millions of dollars going after 3% of the market?
John's final comment is the crux of the matter - why does Microsoft feel compelled to own 100% of the computer market? Their paranoia is legendary - everything seems to frighten them - Apple, Google, Netscape, etc.
Jeff - where did we say we want 100% of the market? 3% certainly wouldn't be 100% given Apple's recent market share increases.
John - we're going to have to agree to disagree. I think the ads are serving their purposes very well. This isn't simply about 3% of the market and right now isn't even about Windows as you'll notice we don't even mention Windows in the ads.
After 2 years sat on the bench watching Apple define what a PC is, I personally think this is money well spent from a marketing point of view.
there are more ads to come in the series and I'd be surprised if HP got all the kudos...we shall see