Over the weekend there was another Microsoft ad released. Again it focuses on the differences between Mac and PC pricing. I could go into how this is really missing the point (in a way) and how the ads are both good and reeking of desparation, but Jeff over at the iPhone development blog has some
good thoughts on it. To quote:
Whatever the actual numbers, there's not even a close second to Microsoft in this market. Apple is a very distant second, Linux (if you lump all the distros together) is an even more distant third. There are few industries where a company enjoys this kind of lead.But, Microsoft is suffering an identity crisis because the world of computers has fractured into many components, of which the general purpose computer (laptop/desktop) is just one piece, and Microsoft has had a very hard time repeating their dominance in other sectors.
I guess my main objection or eye-roll to these ads are that people already know (at least I think they do) that Macs are more expensive. I don't see honda putting out ads about how if you went looking for a BMW under $20k you wouldn't be able to find anything, but you could get.... drum roll a brand new Civic! I've used and bought both (a) Mac and (multiple) PC laptops, and while the bang-for-buck and "apple tax" is kinda there (many people with more time on their hands than I have gone though component by component and no doubt proved that the Mac is on par price wise for the equivalently outfitted PC laptop already), the feel and quality and "vibe" of a MacBook is much higher than the $500 or $1000 laptop. Specs be damned, the light, thin, sexy aluminum case with less USB ports trumps 99% of the PC laptops that this ad portrays. Course, I'm sure I could be accused of being a fanboy :)