"More troubling for Apple, as pointed out by Daniel Lyons in Newsweek, is that one ad in particular undercuts the hip image of the Mac user. Lauren is an appealing, very cool young lady who opines, "I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person." "

So the message is, "If you're uncool, buy a Windows machine".

Oh yeah, Apple better look out now.

If Microsoft gave me money to go buy a laptop with and I got to keep what I didn't spend... ummmm... I would be just as happy as Lauren.

This ad is as good a set up as the Mojave Experiment was.

(Caveat: I do agree that Macs are expensive.)

Considering that MSFT trails Apple by about 700% in regard to stock performance over the past five years it better start taking a bite out of something. It's odd but understandable that MSFT touts price because it really has nothing else over Apple. How soon are you going to have to replace that MSFT based machine and how much will it cost you over the life of the product? I used both and I've yet to encounter a problem with my macs. At work it's a different story with the Windows based operating system.
And kids, how about that Vista? Did they sell you that piece of crap? Here's the situation. Windows is a balkanized corporation and Apple is open and alive.
And in regard to the ads? Please. Apple ads poke fun at the stodgy closed minded corporations. And remember, the Yugo was pretty cheap too.
Innovation=Apple. Stagnation=Microsoft.

THEY ARE NOT REAL CONSUMERS!!!! Not saying that they're not good ads (long time mac-user/fan here), but lets keep it real...they are BOTH actors, the whole thing was staged, there is nothing real there.

And since April 3, 1995 Apple has out performed MSFT by 1000% Good luck go long suckers and while you're at it invest in SKF and follow Timothy Sykes.

Actors or not, they still see the same prices when they walk into a Best Buy or Apple store.
Here is a link to the Giampaolo video as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRF9-5itZA4
-Jeff
Windows Outreach Team

Is the "Windows Outreach Team" something that's legitimately connected to MSFT or do you volunteer for it? Perhaps it's an NGO funded by the IMF or maybe you get little boxes from MSFT and trick-or-treat for it during Halloween? When a family moves to the community do you stop by and drop off some soup and one of those ergodynamic wrist rests affixed with the Microsoft logo?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I would consider MACs to be an investment. You can pretty much take that to the bank. If not, MACs are in much better condition than Windows based machines and the next group of MAC vs PC ads will prove that point.

It seems that Microsoft is shooting itself in the foot, which these ads.

Microsoft is positioning itself as "cheap" -- leaving the "cool" segment to Apple.

But it doesn't matter if Microsoft gives Windows away for free -- we're about to see a surge of Linux/ARM netbooks that will cost around $200 and boost 15 hours of battery life.

So we will have:

A) Windows/Intel: 3 hours of battery life; $400
B) Linux/ARM: 15 hours of battery life; $200

What would you choose?

Price? Hmmm. Motel 6 is cheaper than the Four Seasons. McDonalds is cheaper than Chez......in your town. A Kia is cheaper than a Benz but I have a 1988 Benz with 210K that my mechanic says will easily go another 100K. Potato chips are cheaper than truffles. And lastly Paris Hilton is much cheaper than your....well maybe not. I guess not everything is analogous.