Comments on: Microsoft Backs Down After Apple Legal Threats, Changes Ad

By: D Dell

D Dell — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:56:01 +0000

First let me say that I have owned PC laptops for years although, I have been considering a Mac lately. As for the ads, most of the public does not pay attention to detail. They only get the point of the commercial. And in the Microsoft ads the whole point is that you can get a PC cheaper than a Mac, and that is a fact.

I have priced different Dell and HP 13 and 15 inch laptop models to the Macbook Pro. In each case I got as close to the same specs as possible. And in every case the PC came in around $400 cheaper than the Mac. Of course the Mac owners are going to tout the build quality and many other advantages of owning a Mac. And, as usual, they are going to trash the PC and Microsoft and probably me after reading this. Yet, I have read many reviews on both types of computers and found many of the same complaints and problems that are in common with both formats. Oh believe me, I have had my problems with my laptops too. Even professional reviewers have said that there are pros and cons on both. Neither is perfect. However, I do believe that Apple makes a better quality product and tends to correct problems more quickly than Microsoft. Example: Windows XP (forget Vista) to Windows 7 took how many years?

Getting back to the commercials, the fact is they do not lie about getting a cheaper PC and they seem to be working.

By: MattF

MattF — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:05:43 +0000

I think you’ve got it backwards. Apple Legal made a credible threat, and Microsoft knew it had to back down– so Microsoft gloated before backing down in order to minimize the damage and confuse the issue.

By: Andy Lee

Andy Lee — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:10:43 +0000

I’d say they both scored victories of sorts. This could be interpreted as Apple cutting prices because the effectiveness of the ads forced them to.

By: stuke

stuke — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:22:41 +0000

I agree…give it up Microsoft. You’ve lost. Call RIAA and ask them if you can borrow the Roseta Stone that convinced them DRM was dead. It might still be warm.

By: Jeffrey L Miller

Jeffrey L Miller — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:18:53 +0000

I call BS on the whole phone call from Apple legal department thing anyway. Sounds pretty much like a made up story with zero evidence to back it up.

I also wonder how bubbly Turner was after seeing Apple’s increased profits and the hit Microsoft took.

By: Brian Hogg

Brian Hogg — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:07:09 +0000

Interesting that Microsoft actually updated one of its commercials to be more factually accurate. More interesting that it’s as a result of Apple’s complaint, considering, you know, the whole Mac vs PC commercial campaign.

By: Shelby

Shelby — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:25:26 +0000

Seriously… I love the ones where the guy is broke and looking for a $700 dollars computer and buys a POS dell or something with 4gigs of RAM but a slow processor. And is happy. Apple should find those people in the ads like 6 months later and ask them about their computer performance.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:08:12 +0000

Y does microsoft even try? The only good thing they’ve ever made is the xbox ;)

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:43:43 +0000

Yawn. Hasn’t this competition dragged on long enough yet?