Microsoft ad site falsely compares MacBook Air to netbooks

Electronista ^ | updated 09:35 am EDT, Thu May 5, 2011

[Swordmaker]

Microsoft comparison tries to scare Mac buyers

Microsoft has revealed the pressure from Apple on PC market share with a newly posted Canadian page trying to steer buyers away from desktop and notebook Macs. The "Do the Math" site tries to play on stereotypes of Macs always costing more by showing Windows 7 PCs that are supposedly either cheaper or offer more features for a comparable price. Some comparisons are valid, though the comparisons ignore like real-world battery life, where Apple usually comes out on top, and the greatly reduced need to use security software.

The comparison, however, openly tries to deceive buyers when comparing the MacBook Air. It pits the 11-inch Air against netbook-class systems that are much slower and bulkier. While they have advantages in price and raw storage capacity, the comparison deliberately sidesteps performance, including graphics and the impact of the SSD in the Mac. The HP dm1 is the closest and has comparable graphics but still uses a weaker processor.

Side-by-side looks for the 13-inch Air and the iMacs are also unusual in comparing the high performance processors and storage of the Apple lineup against cheaper but much slower Windows systems.

Windows systems can often be more affordable in an absolute sense by letting those who don't need performance or features opt for a cheaper system. The price gap would pay for vacations or other things users want, Microsoft argues. The Windows developer has nonetheless repeatedly tried to exaggerate the difference in the past using misleading tactics, such as comparing on-sale Windows systems or showing the price of a more expensive Mac alongside the image of a lower-priced model in a TV ad.

The company usually only rolls out such ad campaigns when its market share is being clearly hurt by Apple. Differences in growth were particularly acute in early 2011, as Mac shipments grew 28 percent year-over-year where IDC had expected the Windows-led industry to shrink by three percent. Sales of iPads have been weighing down key PC builders like Acer, but Macs as a whole have themselves been growing quicker than the industry. [via WinRumors]

[Swordmaker]

I was talking about the ad, but OK.

OK, I'll accept that. Microsoft is running this on a Canadian website. (wink, wink). However, strangely, the prices being quoted are in US dollars. (is that a tic in Balmer's eye?)

[Swordmaker]

Well put about the OS. I have a 3 year old Quad core system now. It’s still good but it was the absolute best when I bought it. On average it takes me 3 minutes to shut down and about 7 or 8 minutes to fully boot up. The Mac’s I’ve played with would have to measure it in seconds.

They do, if we bothered to shut them down. Macs run best if just allowed to go to sleep. They do housekeeping tasks in the background after sitting idle four a couple hours. Waking from sleep to fully functional is a couple seconds. The Macs at my office run 24/7/365.

[Swordmaker]

Dell XPS 9100
24” Monitor (Apple has larger monitor)
2.8GGHz I7 Processor (actually faster than the 3.1ghz I5)
9GB RAM (more than twice as much)
2TB hard drive (twice as large)
Blu-Ray player with DVD/CD burner capability
Radeon 5970 Graphics card with 1GB of GDDR5 (Better card, cost twice as much, don’t let model number fool you)
$1850

Well, it's a nice PC... but to match both the Dell and the iMac, you need to add a few more things to both Computers. The Dell monitor, as you noted is smaller... and it is not an IPS monitor. The angle of view is lower. The iMac boasts 179º, this one specs at only 160º horizontal, good, but not IPS So drop $259 and ADD ~$1099 for a Dell 178º UltraSharp U2711 27-inch Widescreen Flat Panel IPS Monitor. The Dell lacks a built in HD front facing Camera and microphone (so add $40), and no WIFI (add $40), the default Windows7 Home Premium is not up to the OSX that comes with the iMac, so upgrade that to Windows7 Ultimate, (add $150), your Dell comes with basic consumer keyboard and mouse... and the iMac comes with wireless magic mouse and wireless keyboard so drop $20 for the so-so keyboard mouse combo and add $50 for the Dell Wireless Keyboard and Mouse combo. Add $200 to bring the iMac to 8GB RAM, up both Dell and iMac processors to the 3.4GHz I7... for close equivalency between the two machines. The iMac lacks a BluRay drive, so we have to add an external USB Bluray drive... that's $100. Let's add a 3 year service plan to both... these are expensive enough we need to protect our investment. $79 for Dell for the computer, another $79 for the monitor, $169 for Apple (includes everything).

So, where does all THAT bring us, matching as close as possible?

The iMac 27
27” IPS monitor
3.4Ghz I7 processor
8GB RAM
2tb hard drive
Superdrive (DVD/CD burner)
Added on Blu-Ray Player External USB DVD RW Laptop Burner Drive
Radeon 6970 Graphics card with 1GB of GDDR5
Wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse
Built in iSight camera and microphone
Built in WIFI N
Built in Thunderbolt
Added AppleCare 3 year protection plan
$2,818

The Dell XPS 9100
27" IPS monitor
3.4GHz I7 Processor
9GB RAM
2TB hard drive
Blu-Ray player with DVD/CD burner capability
Radeon 5970 Graphics card with 1GB of GDDR5
Added HD camera
Added WIFI N
Upgraded OS to Windows7 Ultimate
Upgraded to Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Added 3 year protection plan for Computer
Added 3 year protection plan for Monitor
$3,737

[Melas]

Thank you. I honestly didn’t understand the difference in the monitor technology. That’s the piece of the puzzle I wasn’t getting.

[TheBattman]

I take that as another stab at swordmaker.....

[TheBattman]

Real-world performance - the Windows-based machine will take a hit from security/anti-virus software that will result in an i5-level performance right off the bat. Even the most “efficient” malware software results in a full-time performance load (despite the statements to the contrary).

The only thing that irritates me about Apple right now (and what is missing in their hardware) is BluRay support. I realize their reluctance to jump in (and their stated reasoning of the standards are still not set and are constantly changing). But updates to take care of the ongoing development of BD technology isn’t hard. But otherwise.. I bought a new laptop in January. Price was a factor for me - and I did investigate Windows 7-based hardware. But when the dust settled, I still opted for my MacBook Pro (13”) that I am typing on right now.

[Melas]

Nah, antivirus software isn’t going to bring an I7 down to I5 level. That big cache and hyperthreading is big when running the right software. Like most gamers, I run a utility that disables the av and about 30 other processes with a mouse click, when I game.

Swordmaker filled in the final piece of the puzzle for me. I now understand why the Apple display looks so much better than the other monitors I’ve been looking at.

I’ve done my research and made up mind. Come October, there is going to be an iMac27 on my desk. I think the only upgrade I’m going with is the 3.4ghz I7 processor. Looks like 4gb of memory is plenty with the mac, and the 1gb video card should handle most games with ease.

I’ll have to let you know how smooth the transition goes.

[PreciousLiberty]

The major benefit of IPS monitors is that they can display the full gamut of visible colors, unlike the entry level flatscreens. Those often exhibit banding in subtle gradients, for instance.

[Swordmaker]

I’ve done my research and made up mind. Come October, there is going to be an iMac27 on my desk. I think the only upgrade I’m going with is the 3.4ghz I7 processor. Looks like 4gb of memory is plenty with the mac, and the 1gb video card should handle most games with ease.

The good news is that you can install Windows7 or XP on your new Mac, boot into it, or run it Virtualized, and run any Windows software you feel you need to... including games that may not yet be available in an OSX version. You get the best of BOTH worlds. Enjoy, Melas. Most who plan on doing that find themselves using the Windows install less and less. You are right about the 1GB card... and I would do the 3.4Ghz upgrade. . . or which ever is available in October.

Always check out what is available in the Refurb store at Apple... you can save up to 15% and you get a new warranty, same as with a brand new computer. Most of the "refurbs" are just returns from people who bought, and returned them. Nothing wrong with them. The only thing you don't get is the "new" box... you get a brown box instead. I always buy refurb.

For example, they are selling a refurbished iMac 21.5-inch 3.06GHz Intel Core i3 processor 500GB HD, 4GB RAM, right now for $929, $170 off new price... 15% savings. New warranty... Hecka deal. Not what you are looking for but one that you want WILL be there. You just have to watch and jump on it. They also are offering a Refurb MacBook Pro for just $899...

[Swordmaker]

Hmmm... the HTML tag for italics got dropped on your quote in my last post. Strange... Oh well, you understood.

[Swordmaker]

Hmmm... the HTML tag for italics got dropped on your quote in my last post. Strange... Oh well, you understood.

[Swordmaker]

Seems there’s something sitting in middle again between posters and FR that echos the posts and sometimes adds errors or double posts? Odd...

[Swordmaker]

The major benefit of IPS monitors is that they can display the full gamut of visible colors, unlike the entry level flatscreens. Those often exhibit banding in subtle gradients, for instance.

Yup, IPS monitors list "billions" of colors. Best the non-IPS monitors is "Millions" of colors. Of course, my old eyes are not good enough to distinguish either of those... all I know is that the IPS look a LOT better than the others... no matter who makes them, Apple, Dell, Samsung (I think Apple's are made by Samsung.)