News - Apple counter-attacks Microsoft ad campaign

[martinp]

Lost interest in those ads a long time ago, they just keep repeating the same thing over and over.

I have a Mac Pro and run Vista Ultimate x64 on it and I could not be happier. I love the hardware design and cleanliness, but I (Windows user since '94) just didn't like OS X. Didn't find it faster or more stable - Time Machine was a good idea though.

They say Macs don't come with bloatware (or stuff you'll never use) but what do they call iLife? I didn't use a single app.

[McPhee]

Lost interest in those ads a long time ago, they just keep repeating the same thing over and over.

I have a Mac Pro and run Vista Ultimate x64 on it and I could not be happier. I love the hardware design and cleanliness, but I (Windows user since '94) just didn't like OS X. Didn't find it faster or more stable - Time Machine was a good idea though.

They say Macs don't come with bloatware (or stuff you'll never use) but what do they call iLife? I didn't use a single app.

They are a bit of a silly bunch. I've not watched these ads but i can guess at what they say. Been using Windows all my life and i can safely say that the only software i have paid for (in the past couple of years at least) is Office and umpteen PC games. I don't even have an Anti-Virus installed, not found need of it since the launch of Vista and when Win 7 Beta launched I never got round to installing it. The only thing i would like is a better photo manager, i should probably look in to that some time. An iTunes-style program (i.e. half decent media player with attatched music store) that actually runs well on Windows would be nice to. Currently using the Zune Media Player + AmazonMP3.

[mightymouse]

i have both macs and pcs. i love my macs for everyday use but for the more important stuff i am still stuck with my pc. maybe cuz there is just everything that i need. ads are funny but quite lame. but i do agree that they really have to come down in price cuz they're just too pricey

[explicit4u]

Apple is an OEM Microsoft aren't, Just think about this.

What If Microsoft Made A PC?

Over the weekend I had a discussion with a friend who has recently switched to Mac, and he brought up an unbelievably good - and I mean good - point. I’ll get to it in a moment.

The friend I speak of is a Mac convert. He switched over, is very happy about it and has nothing but nice things to say about Apple. Granted, there are a few things he doesn’t like, but overall he’s satisfied with the way his Apple boxes work.

He knows that Microsoft is a software company and Apple is an OEM (something many Mac vs. PC debaters always forget). The super-good point he made is this:

"I have only one product made by Microsoft in my house, and it’s an Xbox 360. If Microsoft built a PC as good as the 360 like Apple builds a Mac, it would be the best PC made."

And he’s right.

Microsoft’s "PC" is the Xbox. It runs like a top. Gamers of all ages love it. Microsoft controls every bit of hardware and software that goes into it. It’s ultra-proprietary being that it’s a gaming console. And the fact it’s proprietary in and out is a huge reason why it runs so well - just like a Mac.

It should be noted that many Mac fans do own an Xbox. These people who positively can’t stand PCs will applaud the Xbox for working properly just like their Macs do; it is the single product made by Microsoft they don’t complain about.

I had to sit back and realize that yes, being proprietary does have its advantages, with the main ones being stability and reliability.

With Xbox, you pop in a game, turn it on and go. Simple as that. No fuss, no muss. It just works (and doesn’t that phrase sound familiar?) It’s networking also works without any hitches to speak of.

When you’re the OEM and control both the hardware and software, the box does what it’s supposed to do. There are no questions involved, such as, "Do I need a driver for this?" or the like. Everything is ready to run. When you’re not the OEM, yes, the box will crash. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, but it will do it.

If Microsoft did actually manufacture a PC, and it was as good as the Xbox is, and it was priced right, they’d probably put Dell out of business.

[Fraz]

Apple is an OEM Microsoft aren't, Just think about this.

Shame the xbox is such a fail on the hardware reliability. Gotta be the most returned for repair piece of consumer electronics in history. Fair play for Microsoft stepping up and doing it though.

[Hicks12]

Shame the xbox is such a fail on the hardware reliability. Gotta be the most returned for repair piece of consumer electronics in history. Fair play for Microsoft stepping up and doing it though.

Thats a good point and i totally agree with that on both parts that its bad and atleast they tried to sort it and they have! So isnt the apple ad wrong now? It has that youngish actor for the mac side and some more up market person(dont know names sorry) but really it should be an intense adrenalin junkie that games alot right?.

[martinp]

Totally agree with you.

However, my Mac Pro has:

a Foxconn motherboard (w/ Intel 5400 Chipset),
Reaktek HD intergrated audio,
Broadcom 802.11n NIC,
Intel PRO/1000 EB NICs (x2),
'Apple' Bluetooth

The rest,
2x Xeon procs,
nVidia GeForce 8800GT,
2x 1TB Hitatchi drives (original was Seagate IRCC),
Pioneer DVR-112D DVD-RW (aka Super Drive),
Sony BD-ROM drive (added myself),
Hauppauge WinTV HVR-1700 card (added myself),

Now, I'm sure a Dell Precision would have pretty similar stuff inside that too - maybe identical.

I think what makes Mac OS X so stable is the fact that it doesn't support many aftermarket 'add-in' cards.

Say I bought a nVidia GTX295 card, it just simply wouldn't work. nVidia don't make drivers for Mac OS X so I'd need to wait on Apple releasing them (which won't happen). I believe that lack of upgradeablity gives it the stabilty.

Most problems are caused by either dodgy drivers, bad RAM or just poor programming.

However st the moment, I'm running Win Vista Ultimate x64 and I have not had a single app freeze or quit on me - let alone a BSOD.

[Biscuit]

I think they are releasing drivers for the GTX2** series with snow leopard but im not sure if the 295 is included.

Im not sure about this comparison to Xboxes i know many many people who have had the red rings which doesnt say much hardware wise, i mean imagine you got a PC and it worked fine, as long as you didnt leave it on doing something for more than 6 hours. Thing is i think microsoft have a big enough share of the market as it is really im not sure of the rules and regulations but maybe they are not allowed...?

I recently got an E-sata card for my mac and thats pretty unstable at times, thing about macs is they usually come with everything you would need an add on card for built into the system (except enough USB ports )

Id liek to see EFI on more PC mobos tbh, as far as i know MSI is the only one rolling them out atm.

[hiperboreus]

It`s something that it will never end. 2 corporations fighting over the same turf... customers.
I`m building and customising computers for over 12 years and i got my share of frustrations. But to be frank, is like a marriage, up`s and down`s. It`s a slow process called learning and evolving.
None of them make perfect machines because none of them make perfect software. So let`em argue and have a fit over some stupid ads, in the end prices will become more affordable. It`s a question of choice and if someone is buying a computer based on a TV ad that means that something went totally wrong. An ad is informative, you get the idea and try to asses for yourself if it`s something that can be used and tailored to your needs. The bloody ad is not the answer and solution of all the problems. People need to choose more carefully what they need and a couple of hours spent customizing your PC software (trim down the bloatware, services, etc.) is not the end of the world.
A decent PC can do the same that a slightly above priced Mac is doing. The funny part is that the Mac has been already customized and that`s why you are paying the premium price .
Well, more on the next reply. Cheers