Microsoft Attacks Apple Pricing In New Ads [Video]

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Posted March 26, 2009 at 9:42pm by Shalom Levytam

Microsoft is attacking Apple pricing in new TV advertisements directed at recession weary consumers.

Mercury News reports that Microsoft's agency, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, recruited unwitting subjects by posing as a market research firm studying laptop purchasing decisions. They placed a call for volunteers on Craigslist and sent them out with a camera crew and $700 to $2,000. When they found a computer that met their needs they could keep it.

In the first video, red-haired college grad Lauren is searching for a laptop with a 17-inch screen and a "comfortable" keyboard for less than $1,000. After entering the Apple store Lauren returns empty handed. She says the only laptop in her price range has a 13-inch screen.

Back in the car, she sighs and says, "I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person."

Lauren then heads to Best Buy where she ends up buying an HP Windows notebook for $699.

Microsoft says that none of the people they followed were told they would be in a Microsoft ad until after they selected a computer. Even the ones that had a large enough budget to purchase a Mac ended up picking a PC according to the company.

You can take a look at the first ad below...

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Dwaine - March 27, 2009 at 1:06pm

it wont even last a year, i have a friend who has an hp and the touch buttons at the top stop working after six months. and the whole system bogged down with malware. Plus they gave the criteria to find a 17inch, which they obviously knew was a top of the range macbook and would not be under the $1000 limit. microsoft are idiots.

None45 - March 27, 2009 at 11:41am

I got a mac for just 378 dollars !!!!! how ? an dell mini 9 (hacked) mac os x (129 dollars) doooohhhh and to think I could have got a HP !!!

t11chb - March 27, 2009 at 9:37am

As much as i love Apple and their products, their pricing is their only let down.

Dwaine - March 27, 2009 at 1:07pm

At least you pay for quality, that will last you a few years and thats worth paying for.

Telia - March 27, 2009 at 5:22am

This ad isn't attacking Apple pricing, their attacking Apple's limited product line! Microsoft's message is that there are more computer to choose from if you choose Windows, which is fact. However, I can't find a PC that has a aluminum enclosure and is as thin and powerful as my MBP, that is also a fact!

attnck - March 27, 2009 at 5:53am

The only fact you have just proven, is that it is a fact you didn't look hard enough. Try doing some research next time before posting a comment like that. The MSI X320 has a all-aluminum enclosure, it has more than one USB port a total of three, to be exact, which is more then I can say for the Air. VGA and Ethernet ports are built in, and so are the SD slot and webcam. The hard drive is a 160-GB, 5,400 RPM model, expandable to 250 GB. Theres no internal 3G wireless for the time being, but Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are present and its lighter the Macbook Air, kinda puts the Air to shame..., but I still prefer the tougher magnesium alloy like the Panisonic Toughbook F8, or even better the Ballistic Armor cases the Latitude E6400 XFR laptops from Dell have. And has everyone seen the new Dell Adamo? It should have a spread in Playboy, because I have to admit, I got a pretty excited when I seen it.

jdcgeovani - March 27, 2009 at 1:34pm

ATTNCK: dont be silly....the MSI X320 is not as near powerful as the MacBook air which has Core 2 Duo and the MSI is in fact thicker than the air at 1.98cm and it is only 0.1lbs lighter than the air which is hardly nothing. MSI is just an imitation, a good one i might add. the only compelling the about the x320 is that the battery can be removed.

Telia - March 27, 2009 at 2:30pm

ATTNCK: I think you were a bit too eager to argue. If you would have read what I wrote you would find that the Toughbook F8, Adamo, Latitude XXXX and X320 are not comparable to a MBP! What I said was: "I can't find a PC that has a aluminum enclosure and is as thin and powerful as my MBP". Now find a Laptop with the same specs and aluminum enclosure, then I'll stand corrected, but until then... oh, and try reading the comment next time before posting a comment like that!

Al Morgan - March 27, 2009 at 2:43am

Gee and how much does a Microsoft computer cost? Oh, that's right - they don't make computers!

aa2007 - March 26, 2009 at 11:09pm

haha take that apple, you can make a cool phone but you make people pay a heavy price for your fruity logo.

b - March 26, 2009 at 11:06pm

touche´