I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person:
I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person:
Apple's Macintosh computers may be cool, but Windows PCs are easier on the wallet. That's the recession-sensitive message Microsoft Corp. is pushing in a new series of commercials that debuted Thursday. The ads also continue Microsoft's work to reclaim the "I'm a PC" catchphrase from Apple Inc. and undo the stodgy image its competitor has bestowed on the Windows operating system.
To shoot the ads, Microsoft's agency, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, recruited unwitting subjects by posing as a market research firm studying laptop purchasing decisions. It picked 10 people who answered a call for volunteers on Craigslist and other Web sites and sent them out with a camera crew and budgets ranging from $700 to $2,000. If they found a computer that fit their criteria, they could keep it.
In the first 60-second spot, a red-haired recent college grad named Lauren is on the hunt for a speedy laptop with a 17-inch screen and a "comfortable" keyboard, all for less than $1,000. She strides into an Apple store; then, the scene jumps to her walking out empty-handed, telling the camera that 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, an office manager and actress, heads to Best Buy next, where she ends up buying a Windows notebook made by Hewlett-Packard Co. for $699. And she wasn't alone. While some might have been able to find an Apple computer that fit the budget, Microsoft said none of the people they filmed picked a Mac.
Brad Brooks, a Windows marketing executive, said the soon-to-be-stars weren't told they might appear in a Microsoft ad until after the shopping excursions, which all took place in Southern California. When Lauren found out, he said there was "screaming, yelling, jumping up and down, high fives, thumbs up."
Apple has been churning out ads that portray Macs as cool and creative, while pigeonholing PCs as nerdy copycats that never quite succeed.
Last fall, Microsoft kicked off a $300 million campaign to rehabilitate the Windows brand, which had suffered further after Vista's troubled launch.
The first installments, starring Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and comedian Jerry Seinfeld, were criticized as odd non-sequiturs. But since then, the software maker has pumped out endearingly earnest and upbeat commercials showing all sorts of people — from self-help guru Deepak Chopra to a 4-year-old cutie named Kylie — proudly proclaiming, "I'm a PC."
Microsoft hasn't emphasized the Vista brand in its ads, but most PCs on the market today run Vista. Meanwhile, the next version, Windows 7, is officially due out in less than a year. Brooks said the Redmond, Wash.-based software maker hasn't decided whether it will offer free or discounted upgrades for people who go ahead and buy a Vista computer now.
"I want to make sure in this environment that we're thinking about ways of making that upgrade experience true to principles around affordable and accessible," he said. "We're thinking about that in the background."
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- Posted on March 27, 2009
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One of the arguments that Mac people use against PC's is the ever favorite, "I'll just get a virus!". This comment does not make sense. Viruses aren't some magical fairy that sits in the wall waiting for your computer to be plugged in. A virus can only be gained on your computer by a few things:
1. Visiting... less than reputable websites.
2. Illegally downloading programs and music can lead to viruses.
3. Not using an anti-virus program to protect your computer.
4. Downloading files from Facebook, MySpace and other websites.
5. Downloading and opening attachments from unknown email addresses.
When your PC gets a virus, it is almost always the USER's fault. Not the machine's fault. And the only reason Mac's don't have as many viruses as there are for computers is because of the fact that Windows is absolutely decimating the Mac OS-X in terms of market share. Just remember that every time you buy a new mac, someone out there is going to be more inclined to develop a virus for the Mac operating system. Oh and by the way, Apple even admitted that Macs can get viruses, and they recommend getting a virus protection program even for Mac. So don't think you're invincible and can do anything you want on a Mac just because there are "no viruses" for them.
Hello, m,y name is aaron, and i own a mac. May i start my argument with 1 simple fact. Getting a virus on a pc is inevitable without anti malware spyware and anything else you can imagine. I owned a pc for 5 years and over the time my virus blocker blocked of 2000 viruses, i know that had i not payed 129.99 a year for norton antivirus i would have been dead meat. with my mac i dont have any problems. The reason mac is immune is for one simple reason. windows viruses are made by macs. The scriptors are immune to this because they make the code not target mac osx because they would kill their own computers. see the logic? they are able to do this by a program called unix that makes the mac osx and windows and possibly linux(not for sure) operating systems. so now u know. Stop ranting about mac owners.
-Aaron
PCs are good, but I prefer Mac more. The only annoying thing about PCs are that the programs sometimes mess up and don't function properly, on the other hand Macs have better functioning programs and are more up to date. PCs are good, but Macs are better. That' s why I prefer Macs more.
I have a Windows 7, but I really want a 17 inch Mac Book Pro. But, they are too expensive. I literally hate Windows and Microsoft and anything having to do with it, but that’s all I can afford. The only reason Windows are cheap is because they are made of plastic and get way too many viruses. You’ll spend more money on cleaning the viruses than actually buying a Mac. I don’t have a Mac, but I’m not a PC person.
Im a mac, not a pc. Pc's really seem to break down and get lots of viruses. While on a mac, they may be a bit more expensive, but they'll definitely last longer and work quicker. Most things i have are from apple. Apple is the sleekest, most innovative and efficient computer out there.
►PC for life since I don't really know about Mac. Soon we should get Mac computers for school but for now I'm a PC person. I don't know why but I like it better.◄
I am a mac fan, rather than a PC fan. Though Mac computers are a little bit more expensive than PC's they are totally worth the price! The computers last longer, they come with more software, and you never get spam. So what if you have to spend $200 dollars extra. when you think about it, to buy all the software for a PC, such as microsoft office, and spyware, along with other softwares to keep your computer safe, you have already spent more than buying a Mac. I just don't think people get the whole Mac thing yet. So many people are to used to PC's that they are not willing to give another brand which is much simpler a try.
I am definitely a Mac girl. One, PCs are CONFUSING! They definitely have more problems then Macs! Second, I have been using a Mac for 5 years so I feel more comfortable with them. I love Macs!
Or so I thought.
My Mac has been acting TOTALLY WORTHLESS! I had to replace the case because it was cracking, then after they fixed it, it started breaking again. Soon after that, I had to replace the battery that cost $130! (My sister's PC's battery broke but the company sent her a new one. For FREE! Plus her PC cost less then my Mac!) Soon, it happened to other people in my class. Also, my tab key doesn't work! So I guess I am undecided.
That really sucks about your Mac. That shouldn't happen, though. Macs are PERFECT! I haven’t met one person that owns a Mac and had it broke. So, I couldn’t believe that when I read your post. I'm so jealous of people that have Macs. I wish I had one.
I'm a MAC. I love macs. I know they're expensive, but they have so many better features. Everything is organized and up to date. PCs are slow and have more viruses. My teacher had 27 viruses all at once. MACs are more reliable. Yes they are VERY expensive and I wouldn't be a mac if I had to pay for it but everything is awesome about the MACs. I tried to do a little experiment when my internet was horribly slow. I clicked one sight on both mac and pc, i went to go outside for a split second, when i came back my mac was all ready to go but the pc hasn't even got off the last sight. I really don't like the pc because of the battery. I take my laptop with me to school and it never dies on me. I've tried a pc but every time I only get a few hours in and then it dies. When your in college you want a computer that doesn't crash and doesnt lose things, and a mac does just that. Which is why I am a MAC.