New Apple TV Ads Make Fun of Microsoft Vista

by Joshua Fruhlinger — Nov 12th 2007 at 5:31PM

The Mac vs. PC ads keep coming from Apple. In its latest volley, Apple picks on Microsoft over the fact that numerous Vista users are actually downgrading to Windows XP because of the (arguably) shoddy Vista experience.

While the new Apple ads are pretty funny to us ubergeeks at Switched Headquarters, we're getting a little uncomfortable with the endless flogging. This reminds us of those old cartoons in which the poor bullied nerd disappears for months, drinks protein powder, gets all buff, and then comes back and beats on the bully. Intensely. Over and over again.

Who's the bully now, Apple?

From Apple

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Tags: advertising, apple, microsoft

Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)

Ron said 11:37AM on 11-13-2007

I'm no computer wiz, just an average user. To the tune of "I Want My M-TV" "I WANT MY OLD XP"
I bought a new computer last fall (with XP). One month later it started having problems until, over the coarse of two months with on-line help, the thing simply died. It was replaced, but with a "Free Up-Grade" to "Vista". Right away I didn't like it, and tried to return it. They would not put XP back in because there is no longer "support" for XP. Now, a year later, I HATE MY COMPUTER! Nothing's compatable! I need to learn their (MS) filing system because the way I'm used to doing things are too confusing to do on Vista" It is no more than Eye-Candy.
A total rip-off. And why can't I have the OS I orginally purchased? Because MS is ramming this thing down our throats! I don't know much about Apple's or Mac's or Lenix or whatever but, it's time I learn, for sure.

Reid Hyams said 12:09PM on 11-17-2007

Thiago: Said: "Apple should shut the f*** up and look at how shi*** their products are."

Well Thiago, this is what separates Apple users from the Window crowd... People like you who cannot make intelligent statements of no substance!

Cheers! R.

lvirden said 2:13PM on 11-21-2007

to me, the apple television commercials always have brought to mind the Warner Brothers humor in the "Road Runner" series of animations, with Microsoft admirably serving as the Wile E. Coyote of the tech industry...

Bill Long said 4:34PM on 12-10-2007

Bill Gates is the richest man on planet earth for a reason. We gave him the money because his company produced products that WE deemed necessary in our everyday lives. WE made microsoft what it is today. I imagine that MS products have touched every person on planet earth in a significant way. MS is a giant because they have products that everyone wants to use. Quit being jealous and whining, people. Everyone in business knows that it is a dog eat dog world. MS is the top dog. If you can do better go for it!

Mark said 4:44PM on 12-10-2007

If the car dealers made a car that lasted forever and all parts were interchangable they would be bankrupt very soon. Whey do peolpe think MicroSoft should build a perfect liftime program that pleases everyone. People think they dominate the market on one hand, and critize them on the other for non-cability Bill Gates is not the riches man in the world by luck.

Don said 6:46PM on 12-10-2007

The better product does not always win out. beta/vhs, mac/pc, next we will blogging about hd/blueray, I use pc's but i know mac is better. I have had a mac before i really loved it but my ex got it in the divorce. man she got the gold mine i got the shaft...

Dave in Montana said 7:03PM on 12-10-2007

Mac commercials have always ticked me off because they are a blatant mis-stating of truths. I'm speaking of things such as the big ones: Macs are better at "Multimedia" and such. Maybe it's my history of Mac programs all crashing on me, but I sit there and say, "If I paid as much money as you did on a Mac, but spent mine on a PC, it would dwarf the Mac." PCs are cheap, Macs are not. Spend the money on the software, and you can do more with a PC than on a Mac.

Now, the new ads, the ones targetting Vista, are accurate and poetic justice on Microsoft, hence really funny. Vista is not only poorly implemented, it is loaded full of Big Brother government spyware. Even a perfectly law-abiding person should be scared of that! But is a Mac the answer? Pfffsssshhh. Yeah, right.

Hedley said 11:31PM on 12-10-2007

Leopard ain't exactly cookin' all that great here at first.....

Ted Dub said 1:33AM on 12-11-2007

I Love Vista - Dudes, you are letting i-Tunes impact your cool factor on Apple IT. Vista is faster, accurate and intuitive with a more cost effective marketplace than Apple that was a closed/communistic sociaty for techie snobs for years until M-Soft opened the game up....

joe haggerty said 3:20AM on 12-11-2007

Question: What is the difference between
"Vista and Edsel".

Answer: Nothing

Beaker said 7:41AM on 12-11-2007

So many angry PC users. Don't people exhibit anger when they feel threatened? And why would anyone stick up for Microsoft? When was the last time Microsoft did anything to help them?

That said, I am a PC user. I always respected Mac's superiority in the arts, so to speak. I access the web a lot, Mac wasn't so good with it for so long. But now... Mac is superior at the web (perhaps it's largely Safari). But my husband's Mac doesn't crash after seeing a couple dozen web pages like my PC (which still has XP). I have several anti-virus/spyware, etc. programs on my PC that I have to run daily. How many of you Mac users out there have to do that? What, 2 of you? And those two are probably certifiably paranoid.

Are the commercials good? Well, from a long time PC user - HELL YEAH! And Microsoft deserves every blow that comes their way.

And, yes, I owned a Betamax. I can recognize quality over what is popularized by the blindly following masses.

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'Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

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Black Friday' Deals to Watch For

Traditionalists might balk, but the holiday shopping season is already underway. Skeptical? Head to your local department store and you'll be inundated by Christmas trees and ornaments. Bargain hunters, though, know that the real deals are more than a month away.

Black Friday, traditionally, is when retailers truly slash prices. Early birds can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars off of their holiday bills. Switched.com checked with a few elves, who gave a sneak peek at what you can expect deal-wise this year.

Blu-ray Players and Movies: Blu-ray is shaping up to be the biggest door buster of this year's Black Friday. de Grandpre expects at least one retailer will offer a Blu-ray player for just $49. Look for bargains on Blu-ray films as well, with last year's hit titles (such as "Iron Man") to fall as low as $5.

Laptops: With the proliferation of Netbooks this year, it's never been easier to find affordable portable computing, but Dan de Grandpre, CEO of DealNews.com says it will get even cheaper on Black Friday. Look for well-equipped Netbooks to sell for $199 – and basic 15" laptops to go for as little as $249.

HDTVs (Pretty big): The holidays are typically the best time to buy a new TV – and Black Friday is the time to do it. If you're looking for a normal sized set, you're in luck. Piper Jaffrey analyst Mitch Kaiser says he expects to see 32-inch LCD sets for as low as $299. GottaDeal.com is estimating 37-inch plasma and LCD sets will fall to $399 or less.

HDTVs (Really big): Need something bigger? How about a 46-47 inch LCD set for $599 – a 25 percent savings? Or a 52-inch LCD for $999? Dealnews says you can expect both. Plasma deals will be a little harder to come by, but a 50-inch set should run roughly $899.

HD Camcorders: You've wanted to shoot your child's school play in HD for a while, but haven't been able to spring for the pricey camcorder. This might be the year. Low-end, flash-based 720p models could drop as low as $60 (though you won't be able to zoom with those). Expect a high quality 1080p HD camcorder for $349.

GPS: While navigation systems have dramatically expanded their reach this year – even making it onto the iPhone – there's still a market for car-based systems. Dealnews predicts you'll be able to find a no-name entry-level system for $49, while a Garmin or Tom-Tom brand will be as low as $69.

Digital Picture Frames: Showcasing your digital pictures consistently gets cheaper. This year, skip the 7-inch screens and focus on the 8- or 9-inch ones, which should be available on Black Friday for as little as $30.

Monitors: Computer monitors might not be the sexiest of gifts, but they're usually welcomed with open arms – and they'll be cheap this year. Name brand 22-inch LCD models may go for as low as $99, while 24-inch models will drop below $150.

Memory: Don't know anyone who needs a monitor? External hard drives are always popular, since they're an easy way to back-up data. Dealnews expects a 1TB drive to fall as low as $49 this year. Gottadeal is looking for 8GB flash drives to hit $15.

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