Oh no! Laptop Hunter ads return
Microsoft keeps trying, and trying, and trying. The new Laptop Hunter ad [YouTube link] features Sheila, who wants to do some video editing. She has $2000US to spend. Sounds like a natural for a MacBook Pro, eh? Nope. She settles for an HP HDX 16t.She passes on the Mac because it has only 2 GB of RAM, while the HP has 4 GB of DDR2 (slower) RAM. She gets a screen that maxes out with a video resolution of 1366x768, while the MacBook Pro has 1440x900. Worse yet, she will get Windows Movie Maker instead of iMovie, and she can never run Final Cut Pro or Express, which she may want if she goes professional or semi-professional.
Of course, the Microsoft ads are pushing price, not features and quality, and there is some talk that Apple, seeing the recession take hold, is increasingly interested in some lower priced -- but hopefully not lower quality -- products to sell.
While there are certainly millions of buyers for whom a Windows PC would be a reasonable choice of computer, it's worth noting the long-standing mild irony that Crispin Porter & Bogusky, the ad agency that created this campaign for Microsoft, is (like the majority of advertising agencies) pretty heavily invested in Macs. Chances are, for this ad, the video editing that Sheila aspires to do was completed on a Mac. If you have an idle moment, check out this profile of the agency on the web and click on the office shots. I especially like the shot of Alex Bogusky's desk with two MacBook Pros sitting there. Different strokes for different folks.
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Microsoft keeps trying, and trying, and trying. The new Laptop Hunter ad [YouTube link] features Sheila, who wants to do some video...
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Resolution > Screen size. I'm glad somebody finally said it.
May 13 2009 at 5:54 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWindows 7 will rock your face off
May 12 2009 at 8:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe new MacBooks DO NOT have FireWire - which makes them USELESS for work with a movie camera - full stop. If I want to do amateur video editing and want a Mac laptop I have to fork out $3000 plus. There you have the facts!
May 07 2009 at 6:57 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply"it's got a widescreen" -- which laptop these days don't have widescreens?
hmm, video editing on a laptop, and she wants even a smaller sized laptop. yeah right. this ad is full of contradictions. before you guys say it's not bad to edit videos on a small screen -- just try, try doing a full length 10 minute short film on a small laptop.
Microsoft is selling "PC" as if it means Windows, but they also make use of the fact that the only way to get the Macintosh operating system is by buying an Apple Computer. The advantage Microsoft has in the computer market is that they don't really compete- everyone else does it for them. HP, Sony, Dell, Acer- all of them make laptops that are there to be better, faster, and cheaper than the others.
Just look at the ads:
Apple sells the OS, because people have to buy the hardware.
Microsoft sells the hardware, because people won't realize they don't have to buy the OS.
"and she can never run Final Cut Pro or Express, which she may want if she goes professional or semi-professional."
Ever heard of Adobe Premiere? Same thing, different skin. Do some research
I guess it's just Microsoft's turn to get in on the "we're-better-than-you" campaign but some of the arguments they're making aren't as ludicrous as this particular commercial but are stupid none the same.
The one where they give the girl a budge of $1,000 walks about of the Mac store saying that they only had one system that fit that budget. That argument doesn't hold water at all.
You know, the other day I wanted to buy a car with a budget of $10,000. I went into the Mercedes dealership but...
While both campaigns have their own hints of fallacies the arguments this campaign are making aren't as smart as the arguments that Apple makes.
Why is that a bad argument? It is making a point. If you have $1000, you are pretty much SOL at the apple store. I think that this is a really good point. I have a mac. I love my mac. I paid $1100 + Tax for my mac and I don't regret it. But if someone comes to me and has a budget of $1000, I can't steer them towards a mac. I just can't.
Microsoft is putting themselves up as a value proposition.
As sad as it is, Windows Movie Maker is better than that piece they call iMovie '08 and '09.
And I don't think a serious video editor is going to use either of those programs so that's a moot point.
these ads seem like there not well researched at all.... there American they dont really air here in Canada
but here I am a Television Broadcast recent graduate... all we used at school
were dual boot macs... yes they were running windows for Avid and Mac versions of Avid and Final Cut
ive been exposed to all of that professionally for 4-5 years now... I will always prefer the OSX and Final Cut Pro systems...
and you know what industry professionals are switching to macs now for editing.... this is such misleading advertising its horrendous...
im not a total mac snob i realize windows does some things better... BUT all things considered for the purpose shes serving... that HP laptop has nothing and will crash and burn...
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