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Apple to Microsoft: Stop with the ads (Apple look like losers while MSFT laughs)
Seattle Slimes ^ | July 15, 2009 | Sharon Chan

Posted on 07/17/2009 2:43:34 PM PDT by max americana

Apple to Microsoft: Stop with the ads

Posted by Sharon Pian Chan Seattle Times

Microsoft said it received a call from Apple saying Microsoft needs to stop running the laptop-hunter TV ads that harp on Apple for expensive computers. Why? Because Apple has lowered its prices.

That's according to Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner, who said he took a call from an Apple attorney. two weeks ago. He initially thought it was a practical joke, then said he found out Apple had cut prices on its computers.

"It was the greatest single phone call that I’ve ever taken in the history of business," Turner said in a presentation at the Microsoft Worldwide Partners Conference in New Orleans. "I did cartwheels down the hallway."

I have a call in to Apple.

The television ads feature people shopping for a laptop and comparing prices on PCs and Macs. According to Microsoft, PCs have gained market share since the ads began running.

The ads were a response to Apple's relentless "I'm a Mac" ads teasing Microsoft mostly aboutproblems with Windows Vista. Click here to read about the Microsoft laptop hunter ads and check out the ad below:

(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: apple; mac; microsoft
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To: max americana
linuxman2
21 posted on 07/17/2009 3:55:27 PM PDT by Nateman (If liberals aren't screaming you're doing it wrong.)
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To: max americana

Apple to Microsoft: “Quit portraying our overpriced crap as overpriced crap!”


22 posted on 07/17/2009 3:58:20 PM PDT by Trod Upon (Obama: Making the Carter malaise look good. Misery Index in 3...2...1)
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To: max americana

As a 20+ year-long fan of the PC I finally opened my mind a little, bit the bullet and bought a used iMac from my daughter. It sure is pretty ... but I hate the damn thing. If all I wanted to do was surf for porn and download iTunes it might be OK. But I could have picked up a really decent netbook for what I paid for it.


23 posted on 07/17/2009 4:03:35 PM PDT by LiberConservative (I think 'Rats are idiots and I VOTE!)
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To: max americana
I just decided to check this out for myself. I am in the market for a smallish, but powerful laptop.

I wrote down the specs I wanted, including 4 MB ram, at least a 300 GB hard drive, 3 year protection plan, 13” screen, productivity software, etc., and went to the Apple store and Dell online.

After loading up both machines so that they are as feature identical as possible the score was:

Dell: $1397
Apple: $1497

Would I spend an extra hundred bucks to have a stable machine that is much less prone to viruses and spyware? Would I spend an extra hundred bucks to not have to periodically verify the “validity” of my copy of windows?
Would I spend an extra hundred bucks to be able to run Windows (if I want to) and OS X?

You becha.

24 posted on 07/17/2009 4:07:38 PM PDT by Crusher138 ("Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just")
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To: RobRoy
You can get a Linux laptop for 300$.
25 posted on 07/17/2009 4:10:26 PM PDT by Nateman (If liberals aren't screaming you're doing it wrong.)
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To: Nateman

bttt


26 posted on 07/17/2009 4:24:05 PM PDT by ConservativeMan55
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To: Crusher138

You can get an 18 inch HP lappy/desktop replacement for 950 with coupons available over at slickdeals, add a 500 gb drive and 3 year protection for 339 = $1289 free shipping and upgrade to Win 7. Better specs better price.


27 posted on 07/17/2009 4:27:55 PM PDT by cabojoe
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To: DevNet

> It appears that apple is just like most of its supporters :)

You mean like close-minded Obama voters? Just kidding, guys. LOL the MAc-MS threads are almost as vicious as any Obama thread.


28 posted on 07/17/2009 4:33:01 PM PDT by max americana
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To: cabojoe

NO! NO HP!! They’re the worst in customer/tech care. If you love being on the phone with a tech guy from India for such a long time, get an HP.


29 posted on 07/17/2009 4:34:32 PM PDT by max americana
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To: max americana

I’ve never had to call a tech guy...LOL. Thanks for posting, there is another more complete article here: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=15708


30 posted on 07/17/2009 4:38:16 PM PDT by cabojoe
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To: Crusher138
I don't know, I guess it all depends on how you built it. I just configured a 13” fully loaded (sans extra software) With a Dual Core Duo, 4 Gb ram, and a Bag for about $1,000. I priced a 19” Studio One loaded for about $1,300. I;m not sure which Dell you are looking at.
31 posted on 07/17/2009 4:54:21 PM PDT by Woodman ("The law is a funny thing")
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To: Crusher138

Oh and I might add that I have a few thousand dollars worth of software I currently own that I would need to buy for the MAC.


32 posted on 07/17/2009 5:00:25 PM PDT by Woodman ("The law is a funny thing")
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To: max americana
It’s like APPLE can dish it out with their “I’m a PC” ads but CANT take the criticism.

So far, no one has been able to confirm that Apple's legal department made any such phone call. In fact, Apple generally sends letters when something legal is involved such as false advertising.

I do note that last night they repeated one of the MS ads and they had dropped all pricing comments including visuals that had been present in the previous version of the same ad.

33 posted on 07/17/2009 6:29:28 PM PDT by Swordmaker (remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: BattleHymn
Maybe Microsoft should lay off of the adverts, though. Do they really want to have to bail out Apple again?

AGAIN?! It never happened, Battle.

I will, for the umpteenth time, debunk the "Microsoft bailed out Apple" myth. Microsoft did no such "bailout." Although Apple had experienced a single quarter of posting a loss of $67 million, at the time of the so-called bailout, Apple had been operating in the black for two quarters, had more than $1.2 BILLION in cash and liquid assets, and had never been in danger of insolvency. There was no "bailout"... what happened was something else entirely... a settlement of cross complaint lawsuits involving intellectual property that Microsoft had misappropriated from Apple's Quicktime, without removing the serial numbers, so to speak, to create their own media player software.

Microsoft paid Apple $150,000,000 for some restricted, non-voting, preferred stock as part of a lawsuit settlement which Microsoft basically LOST. In addition to the stock purchase, as part of the settlement agreements, MS had to continue development and marketing of MS Office for Mac for an additional five years, they had to license certain software patents FROM Apple for an additional undisclosed yearly amount for five years, and, in addition, license TO Apple, in perpetuity, certain software patents that MS owned at NO COST to Apple.

For its part, Apple had to issue 10,000,000 shares of stock (i.e. printed up a stock certificate), license the software patents to MS (and made a profit), and install Internet Explorer along with Netscape Navigator on new Macs (but not make it the default browser) for five years.

This settlement was published in the contemporary computer and business press at the time it occurred The three interlocking agreements implementing the settlements, and the Judge's dismissal of both Apple's and MS's lawsuits in light of the settlement, are available on line for those caring to seek them out.

34 posted on 07/17/2009 6:48:38 PM PDT by Swordmaker (remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: MarineBrat
The laptop-hunter ads are well made. Somebody somewhere at some ad agency did some job.

Yup, they did... and they used Macs to do the editing.

35 posted on 07/17/2009 6:50:21 PM PDT by Swordmaker (remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: Woodman
Oh and I might add that I have a few thousand dollars worth of software I currently own that I would need to buy for the MAC.

No, you'd need to buy either Parallels Workstation, or VMWare's Fusion, and use your own full install disk of any Windows version. Cost? $49 on numerous discount websites.

36 posted on 07/17/2009 6:59:21 PM PDT by Swordmaker (remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: Swordmaker

*rolleyes*


37 posted on 07/17/2009 7:06:03 PM PDT by Doohickey (I try to take my days one at a time, but occasionally several days attack me at once.)
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To: max americana
Did Apple recieve a call from MSFT lawyers about their "mean" "I'm a PC and I'm a Mac" ads?

As to veracity of the claim, this claim about the call is taken from a quotation from the SAME Kevin Turner who originally, while bragging about the new Microsoft ad campaign to reporters, claimed that the laptop hunter ads were "unscripted" and performed by "real people, not actors." Both have been proved to be falsehoods. Judge to veracity by the veracity of his previous statements.

38 posted on 07/17/2009 7:06:10 PM PDT by Swordmaker (remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 50mm; 6SJ7; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; Aliska; aristotleman; ...
Did Apple legal department call Microsoft and tell them to stop airing the "Laptop Hunter" ads? PING!


Apple Advertising Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

39 posted on 07/17/2009 7:09:37 PM PDT by Swordmaker (remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: max americana

lol. Apple has skin as thin as wussybama’s.


40 posted on 07/17/2009 7:12:07 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Dear Leader? No, Queer Leader.)
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