Red-Faced Microsoft Pulls Controversial Ad (woman in ad who switched from Macintosh was MS PR woman)

KMBC ^

[chance33_98]

Red-Faced Microsoft Pulls Controversial Ad 
Spot Featured PR Agency Employee

POSTED: 9:28 p.m. EDT October 14, 2002

WASHINGTON -- Red-faced Microsoft executives have pulled an ad that purports to show a free-lance writer who switched to Windows from rival Macintosh.

There were questions about whether the woman actually existed.

It turns out she works at a public relations company hired by Microsoft. The Associated Press tracked her down by examining personal data hidden within documents that Microsoft published with its ad.

She says, "It was me. I made the switch."

Microsoft's ad was apparently a response to a national campaign by Apple that features names, photographs and testimonials from people who began using Macintosh technology because they were frustrated with Windows.

[sigSEGV]

personal data hidden within documents that Microsoft published with its ad.

[Paul Atreides]

You mean there isn't truth in advertising? GASP!

[templar]

A PC is a computer. Mcintosh is a religion.

[Cicero]

The clintonoid press, still out to get Bill Gates because he didn't kick in enough to clinton's re-election campaign.

[ikka]

It turns out she works at a public relations company hired by Microsoft.

MSFT and Democratic party - two organizations that will say anything, do anything to keep the power they have.

[Woahhs]

A PC is a computer. Mcintosh is a religion.

It is spelled Macintosh... infidel ;)

[Lunatic Fringe]

I wonder how many of those people in the new Mac commercials *really* switched from a PC to a Mac.

[The Shrew]

I wonder how many of those people in the new Mac commercials *really* switched from a PC to a Mac.

You can darn sure betcha that there will not be the fervor from AP to investigate the participants in the MAC ads.

Regards,

TS

[Jon Geb]

Macs are kick butt computers. The problem is that theres about .000001% of the software availble to them compared to a PC.

[ChiefKujo]

I'm a convert myself

Actually, I switched in the opposite direction (Mac to PC)in AUG, 1997 when I bought my first PC (Sony) after years of loyal Mac use (first machine was a Mac SE with TWO floppy drives!)

I just finished building my fourth PC (2.53, Ti4600, etc) for WAY cheap.

The catalyst was the lack of software and price of peripherals.

[afz400]

Microsoft Word stores your name, your computer name and the location where the file is stored on your hard drive in every Word document created in Word. To look at this hidden info:
File open:
Files of type
Recover text from any file
They also keep interesting web info in the index.dat file in the cookies directory that can only be deleted by exiting to DOS.

[better_dead_then_red]

After owning a half dozen PeeCees I switched to Mac and I couldn't be happier. By comparison, every windows computer I have ever owned simply sucked. My computing life got much less stressful quickly. So I guess I got the religion, and damn glad too. Life is too short to waste on "doing windows."

So, put me on an ad...I'll tell 'em.

[Woahhs]

Chief,

Call me. We need to talk.

Love
Bill Gates

[Lunatic Fringe]

I myself am an MCSE and a Windows network admin. I guess through experience I have been able to build my own PC at home to be very stable and reliable. I run an AMD 1800 on a Soyo Dragon MB, and I have to say... my first experience with a non-Intel chipset has been wonderful.

[chance33_98]

In the field myself. Have you seen the new Tube board that actually uses a vacuum tube on it?

[chance33_98]

Tis no Joke either, here is the pic - web site under pic:

Here is a link to the website

[Nick Danger]

It turns out she works at a public relations company hired by Microsoft.

I don't think this is true. Someone earlier posted a link to the same photo... it's a stock photo anyone can buy at gettyimages, which is a big stock photography house.

[Utopia]

Macs are kick butt computers. The problem is that theres about .000001% of the software availble to them compared to a PC.

The latest rev of the Operating System - Jaguar has been a failure (at least from a Developer's point of view). I'm not a happy camper.

[nhoward14]

But... but... but... the people in the Mac/MSFT commercials look so genuine! (sarcasm off)