As we all know, the constant battle between the OS industry’s biggest players, specifically Microsoft and Apple, is a never-ending saga. Microsoft’s recent advertisement campaigns promoted the idea that PCs are a better bang for your buck and Macs are just too expensive.
Laptops under $1000; “You find it, you keep it”
Kevin Turner, Microsoft’s chief operating officer, apparently received a call from Apple’s legal department requesting to have the ad pulled out, giving the reason that they had lowered their price by $100.
And you know why I know they’re working? Because two weeks ago we got a call from the Apple legal department saying, hey — this is a true story — saying, “Hey, you need to stop running those ads, we lowered our prices.” They took like $100 off or something. It was the greatest single phone call in the history that I’ve ever taken in business.
Does a difference of $100 really make the ad irrelevant? My opinion – No! I failed to see any legal or sensible reasoning behind their request. In fact, I found myself slightly amused after reading this. “All is fair in love and war.” I have to admit, I’m a PC.
To balance the “fairness” boat a little; here’s a compilation of Apple ads attacking Microsoft.
Being an Asian American Advertising agency, we all know how powerful well-thought out and cleverly planned ads can promote your business and/or demote your competitors’. Advertising is a competitive industry and ads that attack the competitor is common and almost second nature. Should Microsoft pull out the ad because of a $100 price adjustment? My advice to Apple: “Get over it! Come up with something better.”
For your reading enjoyment and the sources of my info, please visit:
Article from zdnet.com
Article from pcmag.com
Article from informationweek.com
Tags: Advertising, Technology
There’s a third wheel in the Windows and Macs battle: Google’s planned OS. Would the venom against Apple or PC be as livid when that time comes? Or would its entry diminish the tug-o-war between Apple and Windows? I welcome Google. It will make these companies more competitive, trying to outdo each other, to give us better reasons to choose our own OS.
I’m a Mac…. But need a PC to configure everything for me!
I agree, Google’s OS may ruffle some feathers but I don’t see it diminishing the battle between MS and Apple any time soon. If anything, it will just up the ante a little bit. Also, let’s not forget about Linux based OS with it’s many flavors and open source platforms…there are plenty of users and system admins who swears by it.
Microsoft has reportedly changed the ad after apple’s complaint. It’s at Adage. I think Adage got the story first, it’s just beginning to trickle down to other media pubs.
They tweaked it to be vague on the mac’s pricing but the message is still the same.