Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews
Microsoft has made quite an issue of the “Apple Tax,” the premium that Apple buyers pay, and that Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer says “buys you a logo.” On Thursday, Microsoft unveiled their latest series of ads, called “Laptop Hunters,” which will follow real people as they hunt for a new laptop.
In the first ad, they introduce us to a woman we know only as “Lauren” who has set a limit herself on her laptop purchase of $1,000. Microsoft gives her $1,000 and tells her she can keep anything left after the purchase. Her desired specs: a laptop that has “speed,” a comfortable keyboard and a 17†screen.
A laptop is a good choice for several reasons: laptops are rapidly becoming the computer of choice over desktops, and also, did I mention, there’s only one MacBook priced below $1,000: the old white MacBook that has been superceded by Apple’s new unibody aluminum models. Oh, and take sales tax into account, and you’ve just exceeded your budget.
Meanwhile, even without taking netbooks into account, you can find plenty of Windows laptops priced below $1,000.
It’s not like Lauren doesn’t try. She goes to an Apple Store and finds out what I already told you: only one MacBook under $1,000, and forget about a 17″ screen.
“I would have to double my budget, which isn’t feasible. I’m just not cool enough to be a Mac person.”
Interesting that she uses the term “cool.” It’s really not about cool, although people with iPhones like to think they are cool, but rather about price.
Cue Best Buy, where she finds plenty of laptops under $1,000. Eventually she settles on an HP Pavilion dv7-1245dx. It comes with an AMD Turion X2 RM-72 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, ATI Radeon HD 3200 integrated graphics, a DVD burner, and a 17″ WXGA+ (1,440 x 900) screen.
Microsoft made its point, Windows PCs are cheaper than Macs. But Apple’s never been about being the price leader. For example, remember what COO Tim Cook said during Apple’s Fiscal Q1 2009 conference call:
Our objective is not to be the unit share leader in the cell phone industry. It’s to build the world’s best phones.
That applies to computers and any other products as well. But in this recession, price has to be more of an issue with buyers, and that’s Apple’s weak spot.
I’d hit it.
And, I, as well.
At least she knows SHE’S NOT COOL ENOUGH to be a mac person.
Only Cunts buy Apple iCrap!
Let me tell you a story first to show my point.
Abercrombie & Fitch, the clothing company, decreased their prices in the last recession, but when the recession ended they went back to their regular prices but sales went down! in fact lower than before the recession!
This is because people now perceived A&F products as less valuable! So management advice number one during A recession is to not lower the prices, or associate your self with low prices, during this time companies should invest in R&D and pray that the recession goes away.
Now back to Microsoft, what they will gain when the recession ends? they want people to associate their products as cheap and nothing else!
they even did not bring the ‘value’ factor in the ad? all what they are saying is we are cheap!
While Apple during the recession are heavily advertising the right way, that is “we manufacture a reliable, cool product”. Apple marketing team are the best in the world, way to go Apple.
I’d like to see if she’s still so happy after 6 months, when it slows down to the speed of drying paint (After installing MS Office).
dd-
You iCrap lovers can have your overpriced, under performing, unreliable “cool products”…
Your comment validates the point that iCrap is overpriced and that P.T. Barnum was right – There’s a sucker born every minute!
I bet you have a house full of Sony, Boze & Monster Cables too!!!! Moron!!!!!
Would you like to buy a bridge? Hurry, I only have a few left! Tomorrow’s special is National Parks, buy one, get one free!!!!
dd-,
Don’t stress they are just computers, tools we use, go get a religion and stop worshiping Microsoft.
I question how much time she actually spent in the Apple Store when the same two pedestrians are walking past the store when she was “leaving” as when she was “entering”.
Duane blithered:
“I’d like to see if she’s still so happy after 6 months, when it slows down to the speed of drying paint (After installing MS Office).”
Dude, I’ve got MSOffice running on a netbook and there’s no problem at all. Maybe you need help loading software, Macn00b.
MacBook Pro has a resolution of 1920-by-1080. As opposed to HPs 1,440 x 900. If you do the multipication: 17″HP = 60% 17″Mac. Do you need the extra pixels or the extra $2000?
Since 1990 I’ve bought 10 or more Apple products. A Mac IIFX – ancient but still works like it did, an imac se granite, also old now but still works like it did. An ibook 13″ still use. 3 imac flat panels – 2 17″ and a new 20″ all either work or still work. A mac mini. A new macbook 13″. And 2 iphones… This dosen’t include all the ipods that also still work…. (a couple of ipods, I have to assume are still working for the criminal that stole them.)
The reason I say still work is because none of the pc’s that I have ever bought still work including the sony avio I bought 2 years ago… All long dead and forgotten… Except for the never ending grief I had with them constantly weekly if not daily… (All the pc stuff I had to buy was for the wife… she was finally convinced that mac was the way to go after years of pc’s going to the grave yard while my apples just become one of the monuments to the mac room of still working machines.)
Big fuckin’ deal – I can buy a new PC every 3 years (improving my technology with every purchase) for the same amount of money you Apple Snobs spent on on piece of iCrap!!!! Which way is better technologically – your 9 year old piece of iCrap or my never-more-than-3-year old technology???
Never mind, you obviously are not capable of comprehending that concept – you demonstrated that by buying your iCrap!!!!
No, I do not like MicroSnot either, but I sure as hell don’t like getting fucked without getting kissed first when I buy a computer! Apple doesn’t even include KY Jelly with your purchase!!!
I’ll stick with PC’s… and speaking of KY Jelly…
girls on leashes
FUN!