New Microsoft Ad Says Being Sexy Isn't Everything
Microsoft has released the latest installment of Laptop Hunter, the company’s advertising campaign which endeavors to find customers a laptop that meets their requirements all the while keeping within a certain budget.
This next advert focuses on Giampaulo, a “technically-savvy” young man who seeks portability, battery life and power for under $1,500. Giampaulo eventually settles on a HP (again, really?) with 4 GB of RAM, a GeForce 9600M GT, Windows Vista (Home Premium) and a 500 GB hard drive. Again, the buyer briefly considers an Apple computer before deciding that while the MacBook was “so sexy” he didn’t believe in paying for the brand as opposed to the performance.
This ad addresses the problem I had before (about Lauren visiting the Apple store first) and offers a logical reason for not buying an Apple machine. Giampaulo doesn’t believe in paying a huge price for a certain brand and makes it clear that he doesn’t WANT to buy one, and probably wouldn’t even if he had the money.
Click here to view the commercial on YouTube.
That said, while this ad hits the spot for me with the PC/Mac price argument, I can’t help but notice Microsoft has yet to advertise something manufactured by the company. Sure, point out that Macs are more expensive, and PCs are a much smarter option if you’re working from a specific budget or want something customizable, but if the Microsoft is counting this as part of the same campaign as those Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld ads (which also didn’t advertise anything), the company is spending $300 million shouting about hardware it can’t lay claim to. Sure, for every PC purchases, the average consumer will purchase a copy of Windows, but if I remember correctly, Microsoft has a new OS in the pipeline, surely it would do well to save its money advertising something it’s spent a lot of time, money and effort in creating?
Keeping the Mac vs. PC arguments to a minimum (if you can), do you think Microsoft would be best off spending its $300 million on products it can actually take credit for or do you think it’s pushing something that will ultimately up the sales of Windows is just smart marketing? Leave your thoughts below.
But, i do agree that HP, Dell, etc should be the ones advertising this. Meanwhile MS should focus on advertising the features that makes their OS more desirable.
I remember a Mac ad from a year or more back advertising their "unique" feature that would automatically backup your system every day without prompting, thus saving the users data in case of a system failure. Where was MS? They should have been advertising System Restore the next day.
But i digress. Yes, their marketing strategy is questionable.
Think of how many cigarette packs they can buy with the savings.
But, i do agree that HP, Dell, etc should be the ones advertising this. Meanwhile MS should focus on advertising the features that makes their OS more desirable.
I remember a Mac ad from a year or more back advertising their "unique" feature that would automatically backup your system every day without prompting, thus saving the users data in case of a system failure. Where was MS? They should have been advertising System Restore the next day.
But i digress. Yes, their marketing strategy is questionable.
I liked the add and I think that it works. Why plaster the add with the Windows logo when you can bash apple and sell product at the same time. I am also in the same boat as the guy in the add. I wanted a Mac Book but when I looked at the price tag I decided to go for a sony VAIO instead.
Fair enough but I still maintain it wasn't worth the $10 million they paid Seinfeld.
If I stand correct, I use both Vista and MacOS (in diferent laptops) and I work much faster in Mac: let's see, the software doesn't take so long to load or close, as I close down the lid, it goes into sleep mode, I lift the lid it wakes up instantaniously, weights half as much as the PC and looks great!
I sincerely hope Microsoft works out a better OS with Windows 7 a gives Apple a run for their money (competition is healthy!) but I can't see how! For years they got money from customers who bought windows and other Microsoft software because their wasn't anything BETTER in the market, now that there is, everybody goes to a SIMPLER computer with EASIER software (Apple Mac's come preloaded with a bunch of software). As an example I just bought a PC for desk and my Graphic board and motherboard don't bring any MPEG2 decoder for DVD! DVD MAN!!!!! Old fossil optical discs! In my mac I just get it in the drive and open front row (which by the way supports IR remote natively) but in the PC I had to download an extra codec! (freeware in this case)!
Windows runs most of the entire WORLD'S computers, whatever they do. THAT is a FACT. Why go with anything less? For me, I will stick with the leader.
Windows runs most of the entire WORLD'S computers, whatever they do. THAT is a FACT. Why go with anything less? For me, I will stick with the leader.
But these ad's scream to me as hp paying microsoft to do the ads, in both commercials they both end up with hp laptops? It's not like they are the only laptop maker in town
Not trying to start anything here, but Jobs was right when he said it's all about "software software software". Why is Microsoft advertising hardware?
Microsoft do very well at advertising and hyping stuff up. What they don't get is that its more important that the product itself is good.