Microsoft keeps Mac vs. PC battle going on Windows 7 website

[notjustjay]

Like Mac's not having PVR software. BS!

The ad copy says: There are some things you simply can't do out of the box with a Mac like watch, pause, rewind, and record TV like a DVR.

Which is true.

Which, by the way, is also true of MOST PCs you can buy (the only class of PC you could buy that could do this is a Media Server PC). So the ad is technically true, if not particularly relevant to most would-be buyers.

 

[blunderboy]

Oh, god, good ol' MS, serving up the chuckles.

'PCs just work'? HAHAHAHA. They only 'just work' once you've spent hours tweaking all the Control Panel settings, waiting for Windows Update to finish and restarting constantly, installing anti-virus software, installing an alternative browser to replace Internet Explorer and deleting all the cruftware that comes preinstalled on OEM computers.

This seriously does sound like something that's targeted towards current Windows users that are considering switching to Mac, rather than getting Mac users to switch to Windows. It is true that a Windows XP user will be more familiar with the basics of Windows 7's UI than the Mac OS X one, but still.

I've used Windows 7, and it made my computing experience a lot harder. Even though Win7 is better than some other Windows versions, I still felt as though Windows impeded with my workflow.

The productivity stuff makes me laugh. OF COURSE Macs can share work files with PCs—it's called MICROSOFT OFFICE FOR MAC. Most people I know who use Macs HAVE MS Office installed! I'm waiting for Office 2011 to come out, but still. Did the people who wrote this forget that Microsoft makes Mac software?

I think the only valid argument might be the stuff about Blu-Ray and dongles. And maybe the choice of different models—but none of them are what I want, because I don't want Windows; I want Mac OS X!

And, of course, Microsoft fails to mention that those Macs can run Windows, so there's no need to buy a crappy Acer or Dell to get that 'wonderful' Windows experience. If I have a need to use Windows, I'll just buy a copy of Win7 and install it with Boot Camp. No other computer needed. Can't say that about PCs—most of them can't run Mac OS X unless they've got similar parts to Macs, and Apple breaks the updates because of the EULA.

This isn't going to do anything. Office and Windows are considered a commodity. They're the 'default'. They wouldn't be doing anything if the Mac wasn't gaining on them. This is probably one of the first times since Windows came out that Microsoft actually sees another OS as a threat.

 

[djellison]

Oh, god, good ol' MS, serving up the chuckles.

'PCs just work'? HAHAHAHA. They only 'just work' once you've spent hours tweaking all the Control Panel settings, waiting for Windows Update to finish and restarting constantly, installing anti-virus software, installing an alternative browser to replace Internet Explorer and deleting all the cruftware that comes preinstalled on OEM computers.

Mac's 'just work' after you've finished letting the OS update, then updating iTunes then installing an alternative browser to replace Safari. And finding that script to make the dock usable and not a garish 3D mess. Oh - and 'repair permissions' because you know...that's what you get told when for totally unknown reasons, the network tab just vanishes from the sidebar.

Please - stop pretending like owning a Mac is perfect. It really isn't.

I still felt as though Windows impeded with my workflow.

The same can be said of OSX. I have had the OS get in the way of what I wanted to achieve more often with OSX than with Windows. Both have ups. Both have downs. This is Microsoft simply giving Apple a taste of its own medicine, and it's long LONG overdue.

Amazing how many Apple fanboys are crawling out and screaming and shouting about how wrong these adverts are. They are no less or more wrong that the I'm a Mac adverts were.

 

[blunderboy]

I don't think Macs are perfect. I think they're great FOR ME.

I think the 'repair permissions' stuff is usually crap, myself. I don't bother with it, because the problem is USUALLY something else. (The same applies to that other old chestnut, 'zap the PRAM'.)

I still stand by what I said. This is MY experience, not 'Windows impedes with everyone's workflow'. And I wouldn't be surprised that Apple fans are criticising Microsoft anti-Mac ads on an APPLE forum. Windows doesn't need anybody to take up its defence.

 

[maflynn]

And I wouldn't be surprised that Apple fans are criticising Microsoft anti-Mac ads on an APPLE forum. Windows doesn't need anybody to take up its defence.

Of course not, and look at the android threads in the iPhone forum. When something goes wrong with that platform, folks come out of the wood work to point the finger at how poor it is.

Ultimately I feel that windows 7 is a solid product but I think the advantages of OSX far outweigh what win7 has. The bottom line though is its personal preference. The apple fanboys will try to tell you differently, as will the windows fanboys but it all boils down to what you as the consumer prefer.

 

[blunderboy]

Of course not, and look at the android threads in the iPhone forum. When something goes wrong with that platform, folks come out of the wood work to point the finger at how poor it is.

Ultimately I feel that windows 7 is a solid product but I think the advantages of OSX far outweigh what win7 has. The bottom line though is its personal preference. The apple fanboys will try to tell you differently, as will the windows fanboys but it all boils down to what you as the consumer prefer.

I don't think Windows 7 is 'bad', either. It's an improvement over some of the other stuff Microsoft has put out. That being said, I don't like it. I do think that it works well for other people, though, and they can use it if they want! And yes, it IS about personal preference for the most part.

 

[Melrose]

Ultimately I feel that windows 7 is a solid product but I think the advantages of OSX far outweigh what win7 has. The bottom line though is its personal preference. The apple fanboys will try to tell you differently, as will the windows fanboys but it all boils down to what you as the consumer prefer.

Windows 7, on it's own merits, isn't bad - but sadly it's what Vista should have been 7 or 8 years ago, and it still doesn't boast all the improvements Microsoft bragged it would (multiple pop-ups doesn't equal stronger security, and the "Aero" interface doesn't mean better functionality).

The problem I have is when they make erroneous comparisons to OS X; And yes, I realise this is advertising and to be expected, but it still gets under my skin. They base all or most of their (lame) arguments around the fact Windows has a dominant market share - which means nothing compared to actual quality of the product. And as Macintosh market share increases, these arguments will see their validity decrease.

Ultimately, if you use Windows 7, or are forced to use a Windows machine for work, etc, Windows 7 isn't bad. But it is not the same quality as Macintosh.

 

[andalusia]

Game on!

Most of the world's most popular computer games aren't available for Macs. And Macs can't connect to an Xbox 360. PCs are ready to play.

That's not true. Macs can connect using either Connect360 or Rivet. You have to pay for both, unlike Windows 7, but the statement itself is literally false.

Touch and go.

Unlike Macs, many PCs running Windows 7 support Touch, so you can browse online newspapers, flick through photo albums, and shuffle files and folders—using nothing but your fingers. PCs with a fingerprint reader even let you log in with just a swipe of your finger.

What the hell? Didn't Apple just release a Magic Trackpad for touch capabilites? Don't all of Apple's laptops have gesture driven trackpads for doing the above mentioned tasks? Why are Microsoft lying?

 

[belvdr]

What the hell? Didn't Apple just release a Magic Trackpad for touch capabilites? Don't all of Apple's laptops have gesture driven trackpads for doing the above mentioned tasks? Why are Microsoft lying?

They aren't lying. Think "touch" as in touch screen, not a touchpad on a laptop.

 

[djellison]

What the hell? ....Why are Microsoft lying?

Whereas Windows users through the duration of the I'm a Mac ads.....

What the hell? Why are Apple lying?

 

[andalusia]

They aren't lying. Think "touch" as in touch screen, not a touchpad on a laptop.

Ah ok. That was unclear. Thankyou.

 

[blunderboy]

Whereas Windows users through the duration of the I'm a Mac ads.....

This is the nature of advertising in general, whether it's coming from Microsoft or Apple.

 

[blunderboy]

Windows 7, on its own merits, isn't bad - but sadly it's what Vista should have been 7 or 8 years ago, and it still doesn't boast all the improvements Microsoft bragged it would (multiple pop-ups doesn't equal stronger security, and the "Aero" interface doesn't mean better functionality).

The problem I have is when they make erroneous comparisons to OS X; And yes, I realise this is advertising and to be expected, but it still gets under my skin. They base all or most of their (lame) arguments around the fact Windows has a dominant market share - which means nothing compared to actual quality of the product. And as Macintosh market share increases, these arguments will see their validity decrease.

Ultimately, if you use Windows 7, or are forced to use a Windows machine for work, etc, Windows 7 isn't bad. But it is not the same quality as Macintosh.

Agreed. It's saying 'We're the monopoly! Because we're a monopoly, everyone must be compatible with us.' I don't think a lot of Microsoft's arguments would have made as much sense if they had a smaller market share and were on a more level playing field with Mac OS X and Linux distros.