Apple Uses “Switchers” Ad to Keeping Smacking Windows 7
by Kara Swisher
Posted on November 11, 2009 at 1:03 AM PT
While sales of Windows 7 are doing well–especially compared to the Vista, the previous operating system, according to many reports–Apple (AAPL) is continuing to slap the Microsoft (MSFT) operating system software around.
There was a bunch of unusually mean-spirited “Get a Mac” ads right when Windows 7 was released in late October, all of which stressed consumers dying to switch to Apple when faced with the prospect of upgrading their Microsoft software.
Now there is a name for them: “PC Switchers.”
It sounds a little naughty.
The ads, which began appearing a week ago, are now widespread–once again taking over the New York Times Web front page, as well as over at Wired.
Apple needs to be aggressive, of course, as it tries to chip away at Microsoft’s PC hegemony, which remains largely intact. Stressing consumer satisfaction is a natural weapon, of course.
Thanks to MacDailyNews for uploading the advertising to its channel on YouTube; you also can see the new video embedded here:
Comments
Windows 7 is going to decrease Mac sales.
Posted by Jim Sing at November 11th, 2009 at 6:07 amThese ads strike me as a little desperate now. Granted they had a point with Vista, but Windows 7 is great and why would a Windows person jump now I don’t understand…
Posted by Robert Doyle at November 11th, 2009 at 6:10 am@Jim Sing:
We’ll have to wait and see, but, the very same thing was said about Vista.
@Robert Doyle:
Because of 1) much greater customer satisfaction–buyers do read the news, you know; 2) superior quality: Consumer Reports just rated the Mac laptops #1, which they’ve not done before; 3) fewer problems with malware of all sorts–not just viruses, but spyware, keystroke recorders, etc–among other reasons.
Posted by George Slusher at November 11th, 2009 at 6:41 amWhy would a person “jump to Apple?”
Why do we no longer wear bell bottom jeans?
Apple not only is much more fun, it is “cool.”
Windows is “uncool.”
Some people like a chevy or ford and some like a more put-together product.
If this does not make sense, just visit an Apple store. It is pretty obvious.
Posted by Larry Fritzlan at November 11th, 2009 at 8:03 amI was at Best Buy last weekend and the PC section was packed… people seemed really enthusiastic about the new entertainment features in Windws 7 (especially Internet TV in Media Center and HomeGroup for easy file and media sharing).
Given the significant quality problems Apple users are seeing (Snow Leopard deleting user data without ability to recover; new iMacs not playing video), I guess Apple figured it made more sense to not talk about their own new products.
And with even the venerable iPhone is getting some competition these days, Apple does seem to be on the defensive.
Posted by John Mullinax at November 11th, 2009 at 8:35 amwow this ones lame. i know most of them are but this ones really really lame. apple has lost its charm.
Posted by Iqbal Shahid at November 11th, 2009 at 10:06 am@John Mullinax Is this the same John who is/was Platform Strategy Advisor with Microsoft’s DPE Team?
Posted by Les Posen at November 11th, 2009 at 11:53 amRE: “While sales of Windows 7 are doing well–especially compared to the Vista ….”
Considering that Vista was such a dud, sales of Windows 7 should be compared to XP, not Vista.
Posted by Cornell Tramontana at November 11th, 2009 at 4:42 pm> These ads strike me as
> a little desperate now.
> Granted they had a point
> with Vista, but Windows 7
> is great
So you’re saying Windows 7 is so great that Apple should stop competing with Microsoft? That doesn’t make any sense. Windows 7 is getting better reviews than Vista, but nobody is saying Windows 7 is as good as Mac OS.
> and why would a Windows
> person jump now I don’t
> understand…
Watch the Apple commercials and you’ll understand:
- because you have to wipe an XP system and do a bunch of I-T work to upgrade to 7, but you can just take your XP system into the Apple Store and they’ll move your documents over to a new Mac for you for free
- because 7 runs 80% of the viruses and malware that was made for XP, which is 8 years worth at 20,000 new viruses per day, and Mac OS has zero viruses, zero commercial malware
- because most people require a paid I-T consultant for their Windows PC, but most Mac users get by just fine with no help at all
- because Macs are much more reliable, much better made, feature much better hardware/software integration, and come with thousands of dollars in software already included and ready to work out of the box
- because Windows is not secure enough for online banking or investing
There are many more reasons.
The question I would have for you is why use Windows? What is it that you’re getting from Microsoft that is worth all the risk? You can bank securely with an iPod but not a Windows PC. That is a fact. What is it that you get that is worth all that?
Posted by Fred Hamranhansenhansen at November 11th, 2009 at 9:09 pmI think Windows 7 is better than Snow Leopard, and this is coming from a Mac user (the only full time computer I’m using is a 13″ MacBook Pro).
This, of course, will probably change over the next few years and developers really start utilizing Grand Central Dispatch and start coding solely in Cocoa. Until then, many programs I use in Snow Leopard are an absolute dog – Adobe’s CS suite, iTunes, Firefox, etc. Heck, even Safari crashes way too much for my liking.
But as for now, in my experience, Windows 7 feels faster, has better window management, shares files more reliably and quickly, and generally feels more stable than Snow Leopard.
Of course people will attack my comment, namely ‘Mac Fanboys’, but in the end, it’s about what OS works best for you, NOT what label is slapped on it.
Posted by Jonny Ponni at November 12th, 2009 at 2:52 pm