Microsoft Switcher Ads: Part 2 761
burgburgburg writes "We all recall Microsoft's last attempt to emulate the Apple Switch ads. Well, it seems they're at it again. MacNN reports that Microsoft has sent out emails to those who have recently registered MS products, looking for candidates for their 'Sensible Solutions' campaign, which will 'highlight computer professionals that have recently converted from Apple Computer products to Microsoft based systems.' Do you qualify? You must be 'a US resident with a minimum of 3 years experience as a computer professional. You must have used an Apple Computer product and a Microsoft based system as part of your work'. So when does it just stop being the sincerest form of flattery and just become utter, pathetic laziness?"
Mac User (Score:5, Funny)
would that count O:-)
Re:Mac User (Score:5, Informative)
Ask, and ye shall receive:
ACSLogo for Mac OS X [btinternet.com]
Re:Mac User (Score:3, Funny)
I used to be a mac user... And it was nice, you know, the pastel colors and easy engineering of it all... But it didn't suit my personality. I mean, I 'm the type that has nervous breakdowns every few minutes if you give me too much to do, and I'm a total conformist... That's why windows is so great for me...
More requirements (Score:5, Funny)
When does it start being pathetic? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:When does it start being pathetic? (Score:3, Insightful)
Look, we have Open Office and Star Office; they're almost as good as Microsoft Office.
Not confused enough by one desktop? Well we've got more!
Re:Legit marketing by MS (Score:4, Informative)
But then, they rip off so much from so many companies, that I think we've come to expect this sort of behavior from MS.
Hi, my name is Bob... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Hi, my name is Bob... (Score:5, Insightful)
Incidently this guys can't figure out os x.
Re:Hi, my name is Bob... (Score:5, Interesting)
probably will stay with XP....Incidently this guys can't figure out os x.
Without fail, the biggest whiners about OS X are those with the most Mac experience (hell, I used to be one of them). The biggest complaint seems to be "The key commands are different." I can't figure out why muscle memory is more important to these folks than rock-solid stability.
Re:Hi, my name is Bob... (Score:5, Insightful)
If not, then presumably, OS X _could have_ had the exact same user interface as MacOS did, while nevertheless being stable.
Now, in truth, I don't believe that OS X could've had the MacOS UI precisely. Firstly, it would be a bad idea, since the MacOS UI has been needing to be replaced by something better since around 1990 or so when it got about as good as it was going to get. And secondly, because aspects of its shameful Unix past would show through anyway, e.g. with the file structure, or the security model.
Personally, my problem is that the OS X UI is worse than the MacOS UI, which I had really wanted to be able to retire for over ten years anyway. Coupled with Apple's continuing craptastic hardware specs and prices compared with x86, and given that WinXP is about as crappy as OS X is, IMO, switching away wasn't that tough a thing to do.
Hopefully, someday, something better will come along, and I'll finally be happy. Right now, I could be on pretty much any platform and the best I'd feel would be lousy.
Of course, I do often find myself reaching for Cmd-N to make a new folder.... (If you think I'd get rid of my Extended II keyboard, you're nuts)
Re:Hi, my name is Bob... (Score:3, Interesting)
given that WinXP is about as crappy as OS X is, IMO
Keep in mind that this is release 1 of OS X, and release, well, at least 9 of Windows. I have no doubt that over the next few years OS X will come to display the same polish that the previous MacOS had. I'm in this for the long haul.
I do often find myself reaching for Cmd-N to make a new folder
Heh, me too. Them muscles got lots of memory.
dialogs (Score:3, Interesting)
Now that is something I haven't seen before... (Score:5, Funny)
A web de-singer character.
Someone who is going out of their way to remove singing from the web. Does he work for RIAA? :-)
Cheers,
Toby Haynes
Maybe it just works (Score:5, Interesting)
If Microsoft knows the ads are working for Apple, they'd be stupid not to use them themselves....
Re:Maybe it just works (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Maybe it just works (Score:5, Funny)
About a month ago I participated on a Microsoft contest here in Argentina to promote OfficeXP, in which one was supposed to download an
The interesting part? the files I uploaded where edited with OpenOffice for Linux
ahhh isn't irony just great?
Re:Maybe it just works (Score:5, Insightful)
People _feel_ about their Macs.
bah, bandwagons (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Of course! (Score:5, Interesting)
Yes. Macs are slow. The ads are meant to sell to user types. As far as crashing goes, yes they used to,or so I hear, but my G4 hasn't crashed in 8 months. Windows sucked just as bad back then too.
You (and this is assuming you have the brains to make an informed, bias free decision), have the right to choose what's right for you. My choice of what's right ranges from Blade servers to Intel/Linux to Onyx's but the Mac is my workstation, and it's staying.
Re:Of course! (Score:3, Insightful)
there's linux users who tend to be very anti-microsoft, there's mac users who in my experiance are very fanatical. then there's windows users like me. i use windows, it works quite well for me, and i've been using it as long as i can remember, but i dont feel the need to be pushy or get on other people's cases about using a different os, and i dont feel any reluctance to learn other os's as well.
i use windows, for no better reason than it's what's on my pc, and i dont like one button mice.
You need a HUG, mister (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously, I think there's a lot of Windows users who have entirely lost touch with the idea that one can like thier computer. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing so either; it's not like allowing such factors to influence our purchases and preferences is "stupid" or otherwise "uninformed." Hell, if it was we'd all be driving around in gray '87 Volvos or something.
I actually the fact that we like our computers annoys non Mac users. "It's a tool" they tell us with visibly strained patience. Like we didn't understand that. We should "grow up" and realize that there should be no fun, pleasure, or delight in the use of such a utilitarian thing.
It's a computer. Yes it's a tool and so is a furnace. But so is a Mini-Cooper. There's a difference. I don't work for Apple and I don't give a rats ass if you buy a Mac or not. But I do get tired of the "it's a tool" argument against computers with taste and style. Given the choice between owning something that feels utilitarian versus something that feels like someone put some love I'll take the love hands down. Ask any Harley-Davidson owner.
Re:You need a HUG, mister (Score:3, Funny)
Erik
Bad analogy (Score:5, Funny)
You sound like you know a lot about screwdrivers, can you help me? My screwdriver suddenly started stripping my screws. I don't understand. Did I violate my license agreement? Or did I screw in too many screws?
I asked my nephew about this, he's good with screwdrivers, and he says that it's because I'm using a cheap screwdriver and it's not compatible with my Philips screws.
I've been told that I should abandon Philips and use Torx screws in my doorframe. But Torx screws and screwdrivers aren't very common.
Help?
Re:No, YOU need a HUG. (Score:3, Informative)
Yes, the iMacs are dumbed down hardware. That was the point - entry-level computer.
However, my G4 (post-OS X) came with awk, sed, gcc, and vim. I can also add memory just by popping open the side of the computer (which can be done WHILE it's running! Though I do need to shut down to add the memory) and plugging it in. I can change monitors incredibly simply, same as you can with any other PC, and I never have to install a driver (can you say the same?), I can add a boatload of peripherals, including 256 USB or Firewire devices, I don't need to worry about cables since I've got an airport antenna built in (and if I had a new Powerbook, it'd also have 802.11g and Bluetooth), I can add any USB or Firewire peripheral - and if by some odd chance I want serial, I can buy an adapter for less than $10 (and as for SCSI, I have no interest in it, thanks to Firewire - including internal Firewire, thank you), I can put a second internal hard drive in with my eyes closed, add an internal DVD burner(!), swap out the video card (or run two of 'em, like I do now, to support my three monitors), and add a new sound card, or use a Firewire 8-channel interface such as the ones from MOTU or Digidesign.
Yes, the iMac is dumbed down hardware. But don't compare it to real computers, compare it to those super tiny minitowers on the PC side that you can't upgrade either.
For comparison of your expandable system, compare it to my expandable system. Then run my OS in an emulator window on your computer, and really prove that you can do anything, just like me. ;)
-T
Re:Macs are our friends (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Macs are our friends (Score:3, Insightful)
Nah. They're just placing comparable importance on their third most expensive purchase that they do on their first two most expensive purchases--their house and their car.
One size does not fit all (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not at all unusual for an advertising stratagy that works for one company to fail miserably for another, even one the same line of business.
Avis was made a major player in the car rental business by their " We're number two, so we try harder" ads.
Hertz did not counter with a "We're number one, so we try harder" campaign. It wouldn't even have made sense.
In this case Apple is the smaller, "nicheier" and less obvious choice for most professionals. Apple users are also known for being devoted to the product line.
MS products are the "obvious" majority choice that even it's own users "love to hate."
The "switch" approach makes sense for Apple and just looks a bit pathetic on the side of an outfit that already has over 90% of the market rapped up.
Goliath trying to make himself out to be the underdog just isn't pretty.
KFG
Re:One size does not fit all (Score:3, Funny)
"Microsoft has sent out emails to those who have secretly registered MS products."
And my next thought was "We've secretly replaced your MacOS with Folger's Crystals..."
(No, I *haven't* had my morning caffeine, why do you ask??
Marketing is trickier than that (Score:5, Insightful)
But for all the simple-mindedness, there is theory to marketing and a large corporation like Microsoft can't just start running "switch" ads. Microsoft by and large uses its advertising to sell products and features. This is probably because tech people are at the helm.
Switch ads don't sell products or features, which Microsoft is used to. They sell "lifestyle" or "experience". Think of car commercials for any mainstream sedan "four doors, power steering" versus the VW bug. And Apple is a company and brand that is built on lifestyle and experience. They're good enough to have somewhat decent tech to go along with it, so their product actually fulfills people's desires created by the commercials (mostly).
But Microsoft is not even remotely a brand that people associate with experience and lifestyle -- their pathetic attempts at trying have resulted in a portly fellow dressed as a butterfly. Because a) their company is branded as tech-features and b) their marketing department is hopelessly held hostage by the techies, they presently cannot pull off an experience related marketing scheme like "switch". They have a lot more work to do in order to change their company's image -- and I believe they're spread to thin to do it. Apple, on the other hand is right in the home desktop and artsy market and can pull off such a campaign.
Microsoft is trying to fight a two-front image war, getting cozy with home users and flexing technical might with server-types, gamers, etc. It can't win this fight with only one product without making marketing history.
So in short, pretending there were MS people who switched from Apple and liked it, just because the ads worked for MS does not mean Microsoft should try them. First of all it probably won't work, and it creates just more confusion in the average consumer's mind. I don't like MS anymore than the rest of you MS-haters, but you still have to admit that there are independent reasons why this is not a good idea for their company.
They're damned if they run the ads (weird branding and potential of perception of deceit) and damned if they don't (more MS --> Apple swtichers). Sounds like a rosy picture to me!
Marrying for love vs money (Score:5, Insightful)
If you switch from Mac to Windows, basically you agree to get screwed to improve your finances. You might be able to have a particular piece of software, but your OS will just crash after coming home every day. It will interact with other web sites without your permission and infect you with resulting viruses. It will install software in "your" computer that sends your private information over Internet without telling you. Finally, if you hardware changes too much it will threaten to dump you unless you pay more money.
Apple's switch commercials work because they remind people to do the right thing. MS switch ads will have no effect because everyone already knows that they could sell out, but most people who have the good stuff just refuse to do such a thing.
apple vs microsoft (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:apple vs microsoft (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Ellen "MS" Feiss (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Ellen "MS" Feiss (Score:5, Funny)
"I was using a Mac but, like, my friend's pirated copy of MS Office wouldn't load on it, 'cuz it was the Windows version. And I couldn't get ActiveDirectory to work.
I'm Bob, an MCSE."
Dude, he's getting arrested. (Score:5, Funny)
They had one, but he got arrested [washingtonpost.com].
Re:Dude, he's getting arrested. (Score:3, Funny)
No, no. no. *sigh* You totally bungled the line.
Dude, you're gettin' a cell!
I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Insightful)
What I'd really like to know is why Microsoft even bothers to spend money on advertising for their OSs. Seriously... they have a monopoly in the desktop market that they've effectively leveraged to ensure that it stays that way for the foreseeable future. So long as all the applications that Joe Everyman needs to run, as well as all the games his kids want to play, are Windows only, what are the odds that he's going to switch to any other OS?
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Insightful)
"Newbie" is not an appropriate word to use to describe the "non-cognoscenti" as it implies the person is "on the path" to becoming an insider (of something). I am not a "newbie" as relates to automotive mechanics. I've no desire to delve into a car's deeper mysteries. I just want to turn the key and have the thing move.
Most people don't care one way or the other about their computer's operating systems, nor will they ever, nor should they have to. "Does it play most applications I see advertised? Great!" They are Joe Sixpacks; they are not clueless, nor are they unwashed.
You and I, whether through vocation or avocation, know and care a lot about computer systems. All well, good, and harmless. There are plenty of people wa-a-a-a-y smarter and better washed than either you or I who are "Joe Sixpack" when it comes to computer operating systems. We know it and they know it. None of us have had a problem with the term until you brought this up...
Feel better, now that you understand the meaning of the phrase?
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Interesting)
This is going to change fast, thanks to Safari. Whenever a page looks incorrect or doesn't function in Safari, click the little bug icon in the upper-right corner, and it pops up a dialog where you can send feedback directly to Apple's Safari team. It can optionally include a screenshot of the page.
Trust me, if enough people report problems with the same site, Apple WILL figure out a way to fix it. Safari has already improved dramatically in the beta version from last month to the one released this week.
Anyway, I too have been frustrated by web pages that are optimized for Windows, but thanks to Safari, and also thanks to standards-compliant browsers like Mozilla/Netscape 7, things are finally starting to change.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Funny)
Trust me, if enough people report problems with the same site, Apple WILL figure out a way to fix it.
Am I the only one envisioning Apple doing a cost-benefit analysis of a code fix vs. sending hired goons to visit the offending website's developers?
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Interesting)
Safari shouldn't have to incorprate work-arounds for IE optimized web pages. The 2 times I've investigated Safari rendering problems, they've turned out to be markup errors.
Mother of God, NO! (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple should stick to its guns, and continue to work on STANDARDS COMPLIANCE for Safari, so that sites will work correctly in Saf/Moz/Konq/Op/etc. This will put pressure on MS to fix IE (as they have already started to do, thanks to Tantek Celik's excellent Tasman rendering engine for IE5/mac, and the standards compliance mode triggered via the presence of a legit DOCTYPE at the head of the file).
If you find a site that is *cough* "optimized" for MSIE, do the right thing, and notify the webmaster. I have done so on countless occasions with bank sites and the like, and often I get a response and eventual compliance in the long run.
long live standards. good night.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Interesting)
Now this would be a killer app for Mozilla-like browsers. Whenever something doesn't look right, You can popup a dialog with a screenshot and some text explaining that the page is "broken" in some way.
Not many people can be bothered to take a screenshot, start a mail-client, write a letter explaining what the problem is, mail the letter and screenshot to "www.broken-site.com".
If 90% of this is already done and all the user had to do was to provide a name and where to send the complaint, I bet we'd see a lot of changes in the web-world.
"Would You FIX the F*CKING page already? We get 500 screenshots a day and it's wrecking havoc in our mailserver"
Problem moved from the person doing the browsing to the person writing bad html.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Insightful)
It appears to me that this method only addresses the symptoms.
What do you think carries more weight? Occasional random email complaints from Mac users, or a phone call from an Apple developer on behalf of 15,000 Mac users that reported the bug, along with detailed information on how it could be fixed?
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Insightful)
The sad truth is that most companies don't design or implement their own websites -- they hire a web designer to do the job for them.
Unfortuantely, a growing number of web designers are incompetent and/or just plain lazy when it comes to building sites that work with browsers other than IE.
There is no excuse for building a site that won't at least provide basic navigation and information with even the simplest of browsers.
I get real ticked off when I keep having to turn Javascript back on just so I can see some "clever" designer's pull-down menus, or have to fire up IE because a site is MS-specific.
Even more annoying are those sites that use Active-X components so that if you're a *smart* websurfer who has disabled Active-X, you keep getting little dialog boxes and beeps advising you that the page may not display properly.
Then there's those sites built almost entirely from Flash. The worst of these even force you to have Javascript enabled before the Flash code will load as well.
Listen-up smarty-pants web designers. I don't want to be entertained, I don't want to be blown away by your fancy tricks -- I just want to be able to access the information and navigate without a whole lot of fuss, and without wearing the great big "kick me" sign that IE paints on your back when you're surfing unknown URLs.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Insightful)
I know, slashdotters will say to make everything as compatible as possible. Do a spreadsheet once in awhile. Next time someone gives you $100,000, to build a commercial site for a market that is 95% PC based, you'll have to justify spending money for Mac/Linux users as opposed to maximizing the product for the 95% you know you will be compatible with.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:5, Insightful)
Extensive javascript menus, elaborate flash 'navigators', exotic ActiveX controls -- all these things take time to produce, a lot more time in fact that the simple option which would have worked anywhere.
The problem isn't money or market-share, it's that so-called web designers are pandering to ignorant clients who want something pretty on their personal desktop rather than a useful web presence. Two groups are at fault: web-designers with no pride in their profession, and clients who are much more interested in spending their company's money on attractive interactive wallpaper than on an effective web site.
The 5% market share argument is an old canard parrotted by web quacks who won't learn new tricks.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:4, Insightful)
Web design is "design". That's why they hire you.
You don't hire an interior designer and give them the design. You tell them the general idea of what you're looking for and they advise you on how to best acheive your goals.
It's the same in web design. The customer shouldn't be saying, "I want this flashy animation here, and cool menus there", but instead, "we want to focus on this product and how to grab the customers attention...".
After that it's up to the *designer* to use his/her *design* skills to successfully acheive that (subject to client approval of course).
If the client is just looking for a code monkey to churn out their design they should hire some kid who doesn't know any better. cheaper and you get the design you want. of course odds are you won't get the results you want out of your site but i guess it's a matter of what's more important; your design or the results you get from it?
Web design has a lot more to do with consultancy and design than with simply writing code
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:4, Insightful)
Hell, it seems to me like you'd have to specifically *TRY* to build it so it is incompatible with other browsers. That is harder than just freaking following regular HTML rules. Granted, I'm not specifically saying you should make it compatible no matter what, but the fact that making it compatible is just so damn easy, well...
Maybe I'm ignorant, but I don't really see how javascript or even flash "enchances" the viewing experience over straight HTML and your bmps/gifs/pngs/jpegs.
Hanging out the shop is closed sign (Score:5, Insightful)
Admit it-I got a point? Rhetorical question, I think I made it. Basic rule of thumb in sales 101, you have to get through the noes to get to the yesses. Part of any "yes" potential is , well, having da loot. The interest on the part of the surfer was there, you got the hit, they showed up at your URL, they are doing the customer's part. That's all they can do up to that point. The next step is up to you.
good lucksi
We have cut your salary only 5% today. (Score:3, Insightful)
The economy fell only 5% this year.
Your mortgage interest fell only 5% this year.
Only 5% my ass.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Interesting)
I am well aware that these pages may not display correctly on all systems.
Unfortuantely, a growing number of web designers are incompetent and/or just plain lazy when it comes to building sites that work with browsers other than IE. There is no excuse for building a site that won't at least provide basic navigation and information with even the simplest of browsers.
I seem to fit your description pretty neatly. But I disagree on the 'no excuse' part. If I help somebody with a simple page that reaches 80% of all Internet users, why does that oblige me to figure out how to make it work for the other 20%?
In can imagine telling a friend this. 'I could make this work for 80% of all users pretty easily. If you want it to work on 100% of systems, then I would have to study some protocols and install some alternative browsers to test it. It would probably take twice as long.' I think most of them would just say 'Don't bother. Go for the quick one, that will reach most people anyway.'
For many providers, the goal is not to reach everyone. The goal is to reach as many as possible at the lowest possible cost per user. And then a quick implementation for the most widely used browser may very well be the best way to go.
Tor
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Insightful)
Professionalism.
Now, since you describe yourself as an occassional designer I would like to stress that I'm really not trying to come down hard. However, professionals certainly have no excuse for the problems mentioned so far.
I tend to write all my pages under Mozilla, then test with IE and make alterations accordingly. I've found this works much better than writing under IE and then testing with Mozilla.
You see, to my mind at least IE is much more standards-compliant than it usually gets credit for. However, it supports a whole load of alternative nonsense as well. If you write and test with a browser that doesn't understand the alternatives (eg. Mozilla) then you have an easier job making sure a site works on both.
Cheers,
Ian
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Insightful)
I seem to fit your description pretty neatly. But I disagree on the 'no excuse' part. If I help somebody with a simple page that reaches 80% of all Internet users, why does that oblige me to figure out how to make it work for the other 20%?
You seem to believe it's actually hard work to make a standards compliant web page. It's not. Any simple page will work fine on any browser.
It's only when you go out of your way to use unnecessary non-portable stuff that suddenly it only works on a few browsers. And the worst thing is, in most cases, it's easier to do the same thing the right way.
Of course, it may be that if you use stuff like Frontpage, that it will include MS-only stuff. I don't know, I never used it. It seems that you don't either.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Interesting)
Because you shouldn't "figure out" how to make it work on other than ie. You should write standards compliant code and stylesheets period. IF you want to "figure out" how to deform the standard compliant code to get ie to display correctly THEN you should do the same for the other browsers.
You said you use txted to write stuff, good but then you say you test in ie, that's bad. ie is a BROWSER, not a development tool! Want to verify your code? Use HTML Tidy, it's available on the w3c site. ie takes so many shortcuts and exceptions to the standard that it doesn't provide reliable debugging to your code (even between different revisions of the same program).
And finally, you ask why should you waste you precious time to get the thing done correctly? I say for the sake of politeness. You're asking for attention right? Might as well follow the agreed upon procedure and say hello, present yourself, ask for permission, etc... That's in real life, on the web it equates to using standards.
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Informative)
Interested in this part of the statement. Did he mention why Virtual PC didn't do the trick?
I use Virtual PC for Windows, and I can't fault it for compatibility. I have W2k instances, various Linux distros and a Solaris x86 instance going under it. Quite surprised to hear that the Mac version, which is meant to be more advanced than the PC version, failed on a simple task like viewing a website.
Cheers,
Ian
Re:I actually met a reverse switcher today. (Score:3, Informative)
There are many "webmasters" who develop on IE, serve the site with IIS, and either assume or don't know that there are browsers other than IE on windows.
I develop most of my sites using Omniweb (it has the best view source feature I've ever seen), but I test them against IE and Netscape whenever I make major changes. I also check my logs to see what browsers are actually being used (and I appear to be the only non-IE user)
Re:Boorish site of the Week (Score:3, Funny)
INTERNER EXPLORER REQUIRED
I swear I'm not making this up. Check it out for yourself. Interner Explorer?? Cue seedy joke about Bill Clinton ... :-)
Here is a start from myself (Bill Gates) (Score:5, Funny)
Oh shit I am suppose to say how I switched to XP. Uh, nevermind.
Here are some Linux Switch Ads (Score:5, Funny)
Linux Switch Ad 2 (maybe not very funny) [chrispoindexter.com]
Re:Here is a start from myself (Bill Gates) (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Here is a start from myself (Bill Gates) (Score:3, Insightful)
Not a chance.... (Score:5, Interesting)
But the adds will never have the pure appeal of the Mac switch adds. "TCO amoritized over the year saved us $$" is not "bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, gone!"
I have an expensive Mac. It strikes me as slow, sometimes. I get annoyed when software comes out for the PC first. But I'm not giving it up for anything.
mac "slowness" (Score:5, Interesting)
I hear you about the performance issue. I've found the G4/MacOSX combo to have "baffling" performance. Many apps and many functions are zippy as can be, but yet there are still a few areas that can be slow. Resizing a window, for example, is pretty slow for all but the most lightweight applications. Apple's iCal calendar app also has a tendancy to chug pretty hard. Yet this very same machine is an absolute video monster. Final Cut Pro runs like a dream, I'm using "just" an 867 MHz machine, yet I couldn't really ask for any faster video editing performance. The app's gui is fast, scrubbing thru frames is fast, applying layers is fast. It's great! True, I don't do much compositing, so my render times are almost instant... but then, neither do most folks. (though I have heard that some folks are finding iMovie 3 to be somewhat slow) I've also found Photoshop to be extremely fast for the images I work with (never larger than 2048x2048). Others have reported zippy compile and run performance of command-line apps, though I haven't tried this out myself.
Perhaps Apple is still in the early stages of tweaking Mac OS X... maybe they're working on the demanding areas first and will eventually touch up the more minor performance issues (window resize, for example).
Which is lamer... (Score:5, Funny)
Switch? (Score:5, Insightful)
The remaining fringe is going to avoid MS no matter what.
Are they just trying to save face against semi-influential Apple ads?
95% is not enough for M$ (Score:3, Insightful)
Maples said this around 10 years ago, but that was and still is pretty much the mentality of everyone in power in the company-- even with 95% of the market, the greedy bastards still lose sleep at night at the thought of dollars going into a competitor's coffers.
The above quote either came from Cringely's Accidental Empires, or Wallace & Erickson's Hard Drive, I can't remember right now-- I recalled it verbatim because it was so galling to read that it has stuck in my mind.
~Philly
Sure... (Score:5, Funny)
I've got a PC with XP sitting here, right next to my TiBook, 17" iMac, CRT iMac, G3 Powerbook, OS X Servers...
I'm sensable, I use my PC for the same things my GameCube and PS2 are for...games.
This is pretty sad (Score:5, Insightful)
The biggest part of the apple campaign is that people have left the common world of windowsk, one that people dont think of leaving because they see nothing else but MS MS MS everywhere. Then to switch to Apple or indeed anything smaller is a big task and it can be seen as an active choice
For a switch to windows sounds like 'I used to use X but then I joined the herd' and gave in to peer pressure. Its hardly the same thing
note: the slashdot user 'danamania' is a transexual. beware
Re:This is pretty sad (Score:5, Funny)
Don't you know the meaning of "innovation"? it means "we copy other peoples stuff and put our own name on it". MS has a right to "innovate" you know.
I'm a switcher... (Score:3, Funny)
Cynical Reply (Score:5, Funny)
Switcher's Story Grammar File (Score:5, Funny)
I found out that the switcher's story is recursively enumerable. Below is the grammar. Feel free to use this for your application essay.
Hi, my name is <IDENTIFIER>. I am (a|an) <IDENTIFIER> [from <IDENTIFIER>].
I used (Apple|Macintosh) version <FLOAT_LITERAL> for <INTEGER_LITERAL> (years|months) doing (documents | spreadsheets | databases | video editing | MP3 listening | surfing the net | <OTHER_FUN_JOBS>)+. It was all (fun | very nice | pleasant experience) at the beginning.
But, later on I discovered that (it has only one mouse button | some software I bought wasn't supported | their hardwares are so expensive | <REASON_WHY_IT_SUCKS>)+. Since I was only (a yet another broke graduate students | an unemployed bum | a clueless luser | <REASON_WHY_I_SUCKS>)+, I found out that their solution is [completely | absolutely] unviable.
(Enter | Here comes) Microsoft. They provide me (MS Office | MS Windows | <OTHER_MS_SOFTWARE>)+. It is really (a panacea | working like magic | <REASON_WHY_ITS_GREAT>)+. Now I can (surfing a lot faster | do my spreadsheet even better | <OTHER_PRAISES>)+. Even more, I can get added bonus, like (the great blue screen | DRM constricted media player | compulsory activation | <OTHER_STUFF>)+, which makes my computer eXPerience even better.
Now that I switched. How about you?
Re:Switcher's Story Grammar File (Score:3, Funny)
Foghorn Leghorn says: Listen to me, I say, listen to me, son. It's, I say, It's a joke. Laugh.
I made the switch. (Score:5, Funny)
When we were using Apple computers, my job was in serious danger of being downsized. They were easy to use and almost never crashed.
Fortunately, due to Microsoft license incentives, my company switched to PC's running Windows.
What a relief! The stress I was suffering over job security is gone! In fact, I just got a fat raise because the bosses have seen how hard I've been working.
Sure, I'm busier now, and I may not have the spare time to check Slashdot incessantly, but that's why they call it work, right?
Re:I made the switch to Linux (Score:5, Funny)
When we were using windows computers, my job was in serious danger of being downsized. They were easy to use and and everyone and their mother was an MCSE.
Fortunately, due to Microsoft licenses, my company switched to PC's running Linux.
What a relief! The stress I was suffering over job security is gone! In fact, I just got a fat raise because the bosses think that Linux is so difficult, yet I never work!
I've learned needlepoint. And I knitted a blanket. Oh, I WISH these darn computers would CRASH already!!! I'm so bored!
It isn't worth it?!? (Score:3, Insightful)
If MicroSoft played the AD on TV, say 1 million Apple users will see it. When Apple plays the same style add, and PAYS the SAME amount, 95 million people see it.
This seems like a good way for microsoft to waste its cash. GO FOR IT!
Best of both worlds (Score:4, Interesting)
My reasons are: PIII)Want games, want to add hardware when I want from just about whatever source I want. The PIII is mostly a frankenstein of parts either bought or traded from friends. Unfortunatly I could not do this with a Mac.
But...
iBook) Want small, only 12.1 inch screen, the thing is tiny, fits in my backpack no prob. My friend's dell required him to buy a new "laptop" backpack. Want tough, magnesium caseing, rubber mounted hard drive, the thing is like a small tank in the laptop world. Want Unix, without all the trouble linux causes in laptops. Yeah I know it is very possible to have a very workable linux laptop, but I don't think it is possible to have a very workable linux laptop that works out the box, and I can send back to the company when the DVD-CDRW drive goes kaput.
Would I own a Mac desktop, at the moment, hell no! They would need to be more competative in both the speed and the price arenas for me to even consider it.
But my point is this, there are people out there who have weighed the differences and made the choice of both. OSX is easy, and fast, and pretty. Win2K (sorry don't know about XP) is where most of my professional experience lays so troubleshooting it easy, and it plays games, and it was hella cheap ($50 OEM version when I bought my HDD).
Switchers Prayer (Score:3, Funny)
Let them, therefore, switch and seek thee, because even if they have abandoned thee, their Creator, thou hast not abandoned thy creatures. Let them switch back and seek thee--and lo, thou art there in their hearts, there in the hearts of those who confess and switch to thee.
And where was I when I was seeking thee? There thou wast, before me; but I had switched, even from myself, and I could not find myself, much less thee.
For my prayer is not for earthly things, neither gold nor silver and precious stones, nor gorgeous apparel, nor honors and power, nor fleshly pleasures, nor of bodily necessities in this life of our pilgrimage: all of these things are "added" to those who switch.
erm, people register? (Score:5, Funny)
seriously - I've been at the computer thing for a while now, I have not known a SINGLE person that registered their windows. I mean, heck man - does that email list have a whole 7 recipients?
Of course, most of the replies otherwise would be like "I went from Apple to MS because I can pirate more software and play more games."
though - sadly, there is a bunch of people who are forced to use mycrudsoft. When the IT dept tells some apple die-hards that they are getting PC laptops or nothing at all, because they want to have "one platform" - though the powerbooks would actually cost less (seriously), last longer on flights, and preserve their values better. Sigh... maybe MS can base their campain on that: Switch - because we make you.
fuckers. (hmm... do I sound bitter?)
Registered users? (Score:3, Funny)
My theory (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't really blame them (Score:4, Interesting)
So.... what does that leave left to advertise? It must get pretty boring working in Microsofts adverts department. I expect they've got bored of spamming OSDN, that was a good wheeze for a while, but now they have to do something to make the long winter days go past right?
Anyway, it's not like MS are actually threatened by Apple, anybody who runs the numbers can see that. It's just a side show, an entertaining game to try and give the surface appearance that there's actually competition in the markets.
Hmmm, (Score:4, Insightful)
Apple Switcher Ads Now Illegal (Score:3, Funny)
Microsoft attempted to prevent Apple and other vendors from performing competitive marketing.
Alas, Steve Jobs believed that there was prior art, namely in the Intellevision versus Atari marketing campaign. However, Microsoft claims that the Intellivision ads (1) do not address PCs, and (2) do not address Microsoft products. And therefore the patent IS valid.
In order to exercise their patent, Microsoft is (1) suing the ass off of Apple, in hopes that no one else will switch, (2) exercising their right to promote their patent in PRO-Microsoft marketing, and (3) creating products that generate documents that cannot work on Microsoft products.
. Therefore, Apple may no longer use it's switcher ads,
I did the reverse switch, as did two of my friends (Score:4, Informative)
Two of my friends switched in the last two years from the Mac to the PC. Both of them were hard-core Mac zealots. One of them is married to a graphic designer, and he himself is a user interface designer, so he was naturally a Mac user for a long time. The other had been a Mac user since he was 10, and was a huge believer that Macs were superior to PCs in any and every way.
Well, eventually MacOS X came out, and my friend the user interface designer basically made the switch to the PC. Why? Because Macs are too expensive, don't provide the benefits they used to (let's face it - there's no difference between using Photoshop and Quark on the Mac vs. the PC any more), and because Apple broke all of its own great user interface rules with MacOS X.
My friend who had used Macs since he was 10 switched to the PC because Macs were just too fucking slow. He had a super-speedy Athlon for much less than a new Mac would cost him. He's a big geek, so he runs Linux most of the time, but he uses Windows for gaming.
And me? I like the fact that Apple puts a lot of thought into how the software works, and how the system works as a whole. I like the fact that the computers are cool looking. But, that is not worth the premium of the MUCH higher cost of Macs (I'm sorry, for what I want to do with my computer Macs are way more expensive). Additionally, I was really, really disappointed by MacOS X's interface. The MacOS had such a great interface, and now it's as lame as Windows. So why pay a premium for it?
On the other hand, a friend of mine who was a PC-zealot (he used to mock my iMac all the time, and thought Mac users were idiots) just visited an Apple Store and has become a total convert. It's fascinating.
Anyway, I guess the point is, it's not ridiculous for people to switch from PCs to Macs, and it's not ridiculous to switch from Macs to PCs. Seriously, different platforms have different advantages. MS showing people who went from Mac to PC is no more ridiculous than showing people going from PC to Mac.
(When I switched from Mac to PC, I found the PC annoying at first. But then I got used to it, and now I find the Mac annoying when I first start using it again. A lot of this is what you're used to.)
GAmeZ rUl3 !!! (Score:5, Funny)
My name is John Jonson and I'm 17 years old. I used to have a Mac to play games on for the last 3 years, but just recently my dad sold it and bought a PC with Windows XP on it. I can only say WOW! After searching the net I found out that Windows XP can play a whole lot more games than the Mac!
I am a very professional computer user (I can send you my highscores if you like), and I would like to be part of your campaign!
Regards,
John
The most amusing part (Score:3, Insightful)
It's only fair, of course. That's pretty much how the two operating systems stack up as well.
Super Villains switch to Linux (Score:3, Funny)
Super Villains switch to Linux [ubergeek.tv] (warning: it's Flash)
-Steve (not the Steve from the animation)
Our Marketing department swiched... (Score:4, Interesting)
Meanwhile, Marketing's switch to dells and XP has left them miserable. Does that count? Sure was a sensible switch in my mind. Their loss, my gain! In fact I'm typing this in using Safari right now!
Re:So since Apple's market share is now below 3%.. (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Switch Ads (for Linux) (Score:5, Insightful)
Um, no. Macs are for people who want a computer that just works so they can get on with what they're doing, and not wondering why their OS blew up.
Re:Switch Ads (for Linux) (Score:5, Funny)
windows is for gamers
linux is for computer pros
Macs are for Linux users who want an office suite
Re:Wintel users are switching to OS X (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Why I switched: (Score:4, Interesting)
You still get tons of free stuff with MacOS. iTunes, iMovie, iCal, Mail, iPhoto, iSync, Safari, X11, a complete BSD distribution, Project Builder and related development tools, etc. Last time I checked Microsoft charged an awful lot for Visual Studio, not to mention anything equivalent to the rest of that (I don't pretend to be an expert on the exact product offerings and pricing of Microsoft software).
So, if you want to compare prices between similar Macs/PC offerings, please at least quote the correct price and compare similar items.