Comments on: Apple to Microsoft: You Can't Put Frosting on Manure

By: Sam Harrison

Sam Harrison — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:52:33 +0000

market share shows windows with 92%

i’m neither for nor against either

don’t buy the apple halo effect

and don’t buy the microsoft wanna be cool ads

use what works for you

By: David Owens

David Owens — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:43:06 +0000

I am a Mac lover and despise Microsoft. Anything they can do to belittle them or mock them is fine with me. windows, dell, zune. what a legacy.

By: darren cross

darren cross — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:37:18 +0000

IMO, the ads are effective. I don’t own a mac, and frankly I don’t intend to (unless my employer wants to pony up – and if so, I’m there). I’m a bit past the days when a new laptop got me all excited. Simply, I work for a living and I view computers as perhaps part of my tool box. So, when I get home the last thing I want to play with is a computer.

As for what the general consumer gets, does it really matter? I view them a lot like old Warner Bros cartoons: if you are an adult you get the more sophisticated bits of humor and the pop culture; if you’re a bit younger you get that it’s funny on a broader level. You don’t have to be too savvy to notice that MSFT has Seinfeld working for them and surmise that his services don’t come cheap.

Besides, it’s not like they are going to not advertise. So, given the choice, I’d much prefer these intelligent and funny commercials than something tamer and lamer, like most of the other crap put up on my TV (MSFT included).

By: Dominic Pannone

Dominic Pannone — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:40:23 +0000

I agree with Dave. I do not think the general consumer has any conception of how much Microsoft is paying for their campaign, much less how much a typical national advertising campaign costs, so this reference is lost. I also believe Apple is making a mistake in continuing this campaign. It has played itself out, is getting snippy and has been satired by Microsoft. Time to turn the page…however all things considered, yes, I did enjoy these new spots.

By: Dave Barnes

Dave Barnes — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:55:14 +0000

As an Apple fanboy, I don’t think these adverts should be on TV as they are way too “insider”.

On the web? Oh, yes. They are funny, but you have to be nerd to actually get the point.

By: John Mullinax

John Mullinax — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:27:31 +0000

Saw the bean counter ad this weekend. I thought it was a little misleading and mean-spirited, to be honest.

Too much of that might eventually backfire. People already feel like Mac users are “not like me”.

Remember back in high school? There were the “popular” kids that were nice to everyone, that everyone liked. And then there were the so-called “popular” kids who were sort of bullies that most people didn’t like.

By: jack deed

jack deed — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:20:52 +0000

rubbish talk.
MSFT provides a platform that is global, they provide a local product on a global scale.
Apple barely exists outside of the wealthy and wannabes. Yes apple makes pretty machines. No they are not suitable for 95% of the world. And until they become cheap flexible and localized they never will.
But of course that does not matter, what matters is the shiny screen , look at the shiny thing. so pretty.

By: Jimmy Marks

Jimmy Marks — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:22:23 +0000

Incorrect, Mr. Paczkowski. You CAN put frosting on manure – you jut can’t make it taste like cake.