It should come as no surprise that Apple isn’t a big fan of Microsoft’s “Laptop Hunters” ads, but some may be surprised to learn the Mac maker’s lawyers reportedly called a senior Microsoft executive and demanded the ads be removed. The topic of the TV ads, which feature prospective buyers comparing the prices and features of Apple laptops and Windows-based laptops, came up at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans on Wednesday. Kevin Turner, Microsoft’s chief operating officer, was at the conference to announce that Microsoft was planning to open its first stores this fall, with at least some of the locations likely to be right near an Apple store.
But the most intriguing part of Turner’s speech was when he recounted a telephone call he says he got from Apple’s legal department demanding that Microsoft remove the ads. Here’s Turner’s tale, according to Microsoft’s official transcript:
“And so we’ve been running these PC value ads. Just giving people saying, hey, what are you looking to spend? “Oh, I’m looking to spend less than $1,000.” Well we’ll give you $1,000. Go in and look and see what you can buy. And they come out and they just show them. Those are completely unscripted commercials.
And you know why I know they’re working? Because two weeks ago we got a call from the Apple legal department saying, hey — this is a true story — saying, “Hey, you need to stop running those ads, we lowered our prices.” They took like $100 off or something. It was the greatest single phone call in the history that I’ve ever taken in business.”
Since Microsoft launched the ads, which are a response to Apple’s “I’m a Mac” ads, there is evidence that the campaign may be radically altering value perceptions of PCs. According to a report in AdAge, BrandIndex says Microsoft’s so-called value perception has risen steadily since the campaign began in March, while Apple’s has fallen.
Well it sounds more like a request, but still……Apple in fear of MS marketing….really?
Admit it Apple fan-boys, Jobs is one hell of a salesman.. .. You were sold a line of crap because you are to stupid to know how to use a real computer for more than playing online.
#61 has hit the nail on the head.
Jobs brainwashed these clowns into buying his pretty crap at inflated prices.
#55 No. But I’ve heard that mac has an app like that for wetbacks like me. In fact, no telling if you’re a wetback too thanks to that app.
#56 So that’s why your posts are so inane and full of innacuracies.
#58 Not as odd as mac trying to convince sheeple they’re not pc’s
#60 Doesn’t sell windows machines? Really? Hmmm, then seeing people boot windows on macs must’ve been a mirage… or an elaborate mac startegy.
Don Quixote:
“You were sold a line of crap because you are to stupid to know how to use a real computer for more than playing online.”
LOL, that’s “too stupid”. Seriously, some of you guys really need to lighten up. It’s just a computer. No one is threatening your sexuality or tossing puppies into wood chippers.
deowll, Well I’m hardly a fanboy. And my post was pretty clear that I was discussing OS vs OS, not hardware. And as far as Apple preventing other mp3 players from using the iTunes store as being ‘anti-competitive’, that’s not true. Besides, MS has the the Zune store. Too bad MS just missed the boat on the whole portable media player deal.
pedero, You can change the battery in Macs, iPods, iPhones, etc. It just doesn’t have a nice access panel. As far as getting your data back when when you get your device back from a repair…So you don’t believe in backing up your data? How is that Apple’s (or MS’s) fault?
Again, I’m not a fanboy of Apple or Microsoft. Both have shown a lot of innovation AND bonehead moves during their lifetimes. Apple is just doing a better job with software and hardware right now. MS continues to struggle. In 5-10 years we could be having the opposite discussion.
#65 Lowfreq
Stop making sense, will ya’?
#65. You can change the battery in Macs, iPods, iPhones, etc.
Sorry, but no. The average user cannot. Laptops yes, the others no.
Awww poor apple. cant handle the competition. I have to say those M:S adds are the best. they work and even apple can see this
Pedro heading to work:
http://tinyurl.com/ltjwt7
#69 Weird. It looks as convoluted as a macfan trying to change the oy!Phone’s battery
Bwaaaa ha ha ha! Apple jokes to M’Soft: We lowered our prices. Looks like you’ll have to pull those (now wrongly compared) ads of yours.
M’Soft to public: WOW! Apple deMANDED we pull our ads.
Would you buy your next OS from a tard? You voted for Bush twice…
Ahem MS fanboys. I’m singing with my laptop…
Actually I own a PC running Windows XP pro. But only because it was 2nd hand, and cheap. If I could have afforded a Mac with OSX, I’d seriously considered trying it. I hated the Win95/98/ME experience. Not until XP did I give up on my previous non-Windows PC. My next PC will probably be 2nd hand too. Just powerful enough to handle Win-7. Should it pass muster with the geeks. The problem with Apple Macs, is that it’s very difficult to find used Macs for sale. While Windows PC owners often dump a box they’ve only had for a year or two. In order to upgrade just a little, or rid themselves of all the viruses they acquired while playing online games. PC novices with lots of money, and little common sense.
My mother got a nice XP box for free, from some military supply officer that retired. But first I had to remove about fifty viruses and trojans from it. And dump the WoW style gaming software. And all I used was free AV wares.
The laptop is fine, the OS is the problem.
#73 Not to mention that once you find a used mac, chances are you won’t be able to run even soliatire on it. Remember the planned obsolecense startegy mac has.
And this is one of the reasons MS is sucking rhyno too these days, they like that mac startegy and are determined to do the same.
#74 Yup. Lukily, you can run windows (or anything else for that matter) on them.
We can never deny the competition between these two great manufacturer’s of good computer products. Despite of these competition they still provide the general public what they’re looking for in a product, same with the rental system.