Apple spits at Windows 7: You can't trust Microsoft

Was Apple going to keep quiet about the launch of Microsoft's Windows 7?

Do raccoons know how to get at the leftover spaghetti in your garbage can?

So, indeed, here is an immediate retort starring Messrs. John Hodgman and Justin Long.

Apple's appeal is a very simple one. It is one that you have heard this before, often late at night, often inebriated, sometimes over the telephone.

Surely you remember the script: "Your lover let you down before? You went back to her. She was unfaithful again. And still you went back to her. Now she comes a-callin', telling you things will be different this time...and YOU'RE GOING TO BELIEVE HER? WHAT ARE YOU? NUTSOID?!!!"

However, this time, it doesn't stop there. Because Apple also specifically asks XP users whether it's terribly wise to go with Windows 7 when Mac is No. 1 for customer satisfaction. (The XP user, naturally, decides she doesn't need "pain and frustration.")

Apple has decided to create this little surge of communication, more examples of which you can watch here, designed to prick at your conscience while Microsoft tries to pick at your pocket.

Which suitor should you trust? The one who's supposedly let you down before or the cool, allegedly costly one?

In a tough economy, what may be most telling is how many people decide to bide their time and hide their money, until Windows 7 is deemed to be worthy of at least a steady relationship.

[modernheretic]

Uhm, didn't Leopard have problems on its launch? Why doesn't Apple mention any of this? lol... whatever Apple, don't drink the kool-aid people!

[slickuser]

Wait for Windoze 8 with BSD kernel or switch to Mac now!

[sharmajunior]

@ slickuser

Yes, switch to Mac now to get 4 months of agony and pain by standing in those long waiting lines at the G-**** bar at the Apple store. I mean c'mon seriously, does it take 4 experts to look at something to determine whether or not it is working properly?

If you must know, I got a MBP about 3 months ago and it has broken down 8 times. The guys at the apple store know me better than they do each other. A sensor breaking down everytime, i try to use it and 2 sensors broken when they fixed/replaced the Airport extreme card. Yes, quality you can trust people. Go and get an Apple and be problem free.

How much do you think slickuser is paid by Apple? Anyone?

[Prince2k3]

Apple said you will have problems with your installed software. Even gave a compatibility list and warned not to upgrade until the software vendors had patches for snow leopard. And if you had a real problem then folks at the Apple store would speak your language and help fix your problem. That being why they are number one in customer satisfaction.

[Mohave_Skye]

Do the math. Comparatively speaking: across the decades, Apple has consistently produced better products. Apple has a knack for the creative and the cool, whereas Microsoft is consistently aiming for mediocrity. Sometimes MS is successful in achieving precisely the mediocre "masterpiece" they promised. More often, they fall short of mediocrity.

And don't try to pigeonhole this bird, because I've flown across multiple platforms for years. Quite simply, I prefer Macs to PCs, but use both proficiently. Where MS products are concerned, I've grown weary of having to upgrade equipment just about every time a new "Service Pack" arrives. It's a dirty game, where MS makes the Mephistopheles deal with vendors. The vendors know MS products are processor-demanding, memory-hogging, drive-overflowing... so there the PCs sit, with Windows preloaded. Not UBUNTU. Not gOS. Not SUSE.

A $300 netbook will run XP Home at a reasonable speed. But hey, check it out... buy this $1500 laptop with XP Pro and just watch this baby fly! AND you're eligible for a "free" upgrade to the exciting new Windows 7 apology for VISTA! That same $300 netbook with a Linux system would eclipse the performance of XP Pro on the $1500 laptop. But it's all about greed -- convincing customers to spend more $$$$. MS makes out, the vendors make out, the customer gets fleeced. And oh, the average Jane or Joe is so intimidated at the thought of having to learn anything new, or risking incompatibility of file formats. MS knows this and so do the vendors. And that is why the netbooks and laptops with Linux preloaded are almost never seen on retail shelves. Almost as rare is the sight of a Mac.
I now run Linux on one of my PCs and have zero interest in upgrading Windows on my other. Quite simply, it's a waste of my time and money.

You think slickuser is on the take from Apple? Listen and learn, sharmajunior. Ever heard of the MacBU inside of MS? Those of us who once slaved for the Business Unit didn't just sit there with slick Macs on our desks. I had seven machines on my desk: three were Macs, four were PCs; each a different configuration. The Win folks had it easy. Most didn't give a thought to Macs or the Mac product, unless we went upside their heads. And the Win Programmers often had to be cornered before they'd deign to fix a serious problem they'd introduced by the slop they checked in on the Win side blowing chunks on the Mac side. Office was meant to work seamlessly cross-platform. Now there's a laugh.

No company is perfect and mistakes are made. Despite your assertions of a terrible experience, Apple is the better company, all around. MS crushes champions and either exploits or ridicules creativity. And the attitude toward the customer? Cavalier, to put it politely. And since you're so quick to accuse slickuser of being paid off by Apple, why would anyone trust that you aren't getting bigger bux from Microsoft to invent this "tale of woe."

[Mark_Anderson]

"Do the math."

I did. Macs sold 3.05 million units last quarter, all computer shipments were about 75 million. That means Mac were chosen by less than 4% of purchasers.

Linux figures weren't available because no-one cares enough to record them.

Most people want Windows. OS X and Linux is small potatoes.

[kj_dinesh]

@slickuser

Wov I see you at every possible thread on windows 7, bashing the OS. Are you a slickuser or 'SICK'user ?

[docster87]

"Most people want Windows. OS X and Linux is small potatoes." - Most people just don't understand that Windows is not the only option. From Windows 3.0 to XP I was one of them, then after getting totally fed up with MS crap OS I tried Mac. I kick myself for not trying Mac earlier... Within 6 months of getting a Mac that was half the specs my Windows machine was - that underpowered Mac became my main computer. It did what I needed done and gave me a fraction of the headaches Windows did. And the Mac was fun to learn and a joy to use.

[sparrowhyperion]

Mohave seems to be delusional. I have also had extensive experience with Apple products as well as PC. I first used an apple Mac (Now known as Mac Classic) in the mid 80s. About a year before I built my first PC. It was klunky, prone to odd crashes and in general a pain in the neck. I was managing a Self Serve Desktop Publishing business at the time. We even had one of the things catch fire. So I suppose you could say they smoked the competition. I really preferred my old Atari 1040STFM. At least it had color and was very stable. Over time, I have built a lot of PCs. I have also had continued Mac experience. I worked as a senior Technical Support manager for a very large ISP back in the days of dialup. As such, I was constantly seeing the problems inherent in both platforms. At least the PC folks had a more open system, making troubleshooting much easier. But on the Apple end, there were only a few things that could be done, and if those didn't work, the customer was referred to Apple.

As time went on, I managed a small computer shop, worked as a freelance consultant and did just about everything you could do short of programming (Which gives me a headache). I am disabled now thanks to a brain aneurysm, but I still deal a lot with my own systems and I do help out friends if they need advice.

The story is the same now as it was then. Macs are very very overpriced for basically a Linux PC in a butt ugly case. I suppose the yuppie crowd with more money than brains must like them as a status symbol. They are difficult if not impossible to do any meaningful upgrades too because of the proprietary architecture. And their list of available software is very very small compared to the Windows list.

I also notice that a lot of Mac users are pretty Rabid. Meaning that they will concoct any reason they can to justify the overpriced toaster sitting on their desk. It must be a mindset thing with these users. They simply can't admit that that bought an inferior machine, for three times the price... Yup... Keep trusting apple folks.... They will be glad to remove all that nasty green stuff from inside your wallets.

I always build my own PCs. I simply find the name brand machines to be inferior in quality and value. But I would rather buy an old ST on eBay than have to go with a Mac full time.

[Seaspray0]

@docster87. "Most people just don't understand that Windows is not the only option." Yes they do. You don't understand that they are not you and will pick what they think is best for them, not what you think is best for them.

[BingItOn]

@ sickuser
is paid by CRAPPle to spread it lies, all the ad I see is just lie and does not represent 100% truth.

Oh wait, what can I expect from CRAPple fan when the company itself is spreading lies and rumour.

[mistasandman]

wow... apple really is scraping the bottom of the barrel now. it wouldn't be so bad if the adds atleast had a shred of truth to them.

[Vegaman_Dan]

I don't think the television viewer would even know what these ads were about if they didn't know about the 500+ previous ads run. If you were a new computer user and saw this ad, what would you know about Apple? Do they make hardware? Software? Hard o say- the ad doens't even mention it.

[ckh1272]

@Vegaman_Dan--Is that kind of like the laptop hunter ads that made no mention of Vista? Why was Microsoft pushing hardware that don't sell, with no mention of their software?? Double standards do apply here.

[sparrowhyperion]

Has apple EVER been able to compete using the truth. If it did, the yuppie apple guy in the commercial would have to be wearing striped pajamas or neon orange, and begging for ahms... This, while picking the PC guys pocket.

[BingItOn]

CRAPple ads are lies and nothing else, each time I see it I laugh at SteveIsAMonkey childish brain, up, grow up Steve, grow up.

[Seaspray0]

Consumer response has spoken, they no longer beleive the I'm a pc/mac ads. They're tired of apple's flamefest.

[Vegaman_Dan]

@ckh1272:

You're right- the laptop hunter ads didn't mention Vista at all. They did mention Windows right there at the end of every ad. It was full screen shot too. Apple's ads don't even mention the product in passing.

Microsoft wasn't pushing any particular hardware- people could choose whatever they wanted. It was open choice and they chose what they wanted.

[rationalreview]

MS if still allowing enough rope for Apple to hang themselves. Only a matter of time until they nail them for slander and false representation. Apple has no class and resorts to this sort of smut. I'm glad Android is stooping to their level to slam the iDon't iPhone thing. MS would never stoop that low. They have a solid business ethics program going for them and don't want to be mentioned in that light with Apple for sure.

[pentest]

It is the truth, every MS OS is mediocre at best and once it is released MS trashes the previous version and promises that the new one is better.

[ckh1272]

"by Vegaman_Dan October 23, 2009 10:43 AM PDT
@ckh1272:

You're right- the laptop hunter ads didn't mention Vista at all. They did mention Windows right there at the end of every ad. It was full screen shot too. Apple's ads don't even mention the product in passing.

Microsoft wasn't pushing any particular hardware- people could choose whatever they wanted. It was open choice and they chose what they wanted."

And Apple splashes their logo at the end of their spots too. The thing with the Microsoft ads is they are doing the same thing. They are pitching the various hardware without ever mentioning how the OS works with them. They are just as guilty as Apple in this regard yet you justify Microsoft's behaviors and fault Apple's. Double Standards?

[dacopper]

Man, I'm not even watching these comercial anymore, just change the channel as soon as one comes up. Anyone who's ever used Windows in his/her lifetime know that about 90% of what they say is... how do you put it gently... untruth or simply over-super-uber exagerated. Only technically-handycapted Apple users could believe them. Too bad comercial laws in the US are very lax. If it were in some European country, Apple would've been slapped with a lawsuit or 2 already for misadvertising.

[shellcodes_coder]

hahaha trust crapple? trust them for deleting files? what a loser!!

[portorikan]

Yeah, totally. It's not like Microsoft has ever done something DANGERous and deleted user files and information from a device or anything and some of it not recoverable or anything. HA!

oh... wait....

[lesbihonest17]

is this all you do in your spare time? lmao its cause you cant afford a mac

[mriethmuller]

Yeah can't afford a Mac. Rather put a deposit on a house.

[portorikan]

Must be a really small house...

[jessiethe3rd]

Danger... a wholly owned sub of Microsoft's data center failed. Okay - understandable able - new systems, it happens. I like how trends jump on anything bad news for Microsoft... it's as though there is an ongoing smearing campaign. yes, the Danger situation sucked - no - it didn't effect very many people. why? hardly anyone uses sidekicks. You ever heard of a REAL service of Microsoft's going down? Hotmail? Xbox Live? Exchange Online? Nope - those are Microsoft's control sphere - they rarely go down and no user data is ever lost.

[aMUSICsite]

MS don't have to delete peoples files there are 100,000's of virus' that can do the job nicely.

Apple is just cutting out the middle man and deleting them for you without having to go to the trouble of getting a virus.

[Jayman_2000BC]

Do I have to wait outside a store all night in the rain to get an Apple? Is that some sort of initiation??

[stickfu]

Trust MS?..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbJGzyYV_X8&feature=player_embedded#

On live TV too!

[BingItOn]

@stickfu , looks like touch feature is nit enabled

YOu will really love watching this: $teveJobs is mentioning a system problem during key note. Oh no, I thought CRAPPle dosen't have any issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsKKQNZG3rE

[BingItOn]

@stickfu , looks like touch feature is nit enabled

YOu will really love watching this: $teveJobs is mentioning a system problem during key note. Oh no, I thought CRAPPle dosen't have any issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsKKQNZG3rE

On Live KeyNote too

[Vegaman_Dan]

Apple:

Pssssst. You might want to actually mention the product you're supposed to be advertising in your ads. Consumers are starting to forget that you actually sell computers and aren't only existing to slam Microsoft.

This ad is rather embarassing for Apple. It's going to make for all sortsof fun parody though. Apple served up Microsoft with choice material here if MSFT chose to do anything about it.

[Prince2k3]

How would people forget that Apple sells computer? Explain that one? And I think they did talk about the product or more on the line of product satisfaction if someone was to buy an Apple product.

[davidmcelroy_dotmac]

@Vegaman_Dan: You might note notice the last shot in every one of these commercials. It's a Mac. That's what they're selling, dude. Nobody with a brain is going to miss that fact -- except for the people who are so blind with hatred for Apple that they'll say or do anything to find SOMEthing to complain about. And, BTW, if people forget that Apple sells computers, how come Apple sold MORE Macs last quarter than ever before? Answer that, smart guy.

[solitare_pax]

Lets see - a picture of an iMac at the end of the ad? Seems pretty obvious it isn't a TV set, and it's not a toaster.

Windows 7 ads on the other hand - well, I don't recollect seeing a PC in the latest one, with all the different people saying they had a hand in Windows 7. It just ends with a green screen and Windows 7 logo.

Kinda like those medicine ads that emphasize the color of the pill and the horrible side-effects instead of stating what it is supposed to do (but then drug ads are mostly tax-write offs)

[stickfu]

Microsoft

Psssst. you may want to ship WORKING software..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbJGzyYV_X8&feature=player_embedded#

[BingItOn]

@stickfu

I know when CRAPPLE works it looks good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsKKQNZG3rE

[JoeF2]

@Vegaman:
The ad agency MS uses is obviously rather unable to produce anything funny. From the Seinfeld clips over the laptop shopping to the puke clip, all they produce is way worse than any commercial Apple has come up with.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Okay, I have to say that I missed the Mac laptop at the end of the commercial. I guess I have seen it so much that I mentally tuned it out.

Still- think of it like a car commercial where they spend time talking about waffles and hamster wheels the entire time, then flash a car name at the end. That's not exactly advertising your product.

Since Apple's ads have devolved to advertised trolling, doesn't it seem likely that people aren't stupid enough to keep believing that sort of thing? Or is Apple really counting on people being stupid? That doesn't sound like a demographic choice I'd want a company to make. Yes, we here at Apple really do believe people are too stupid to think for themselves and will require us to do the thinking for them.

No, I just don't think the ads are effective anymore. They were funny at one point, but these days they are just rather lame and embarassing.

That's their choice though.

[grtgrfx]

Apple is #1 in tech mindshare. That means they are better-known than ANY other manufacturer, of any product in America. Let's say that again. #1 in mindshare. #1 in customer satisfaction. #1 in technical support. #1 in cash in the bank. Slam Apple all you want, most companies would kill for that reputation, and flaming them won't change it.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Excellent observation.

[ywkhgqo]

@grtgrfx
show me some proof of this "mindshare" you speak of. There's no way to measure it. People don't know who microsoft is, when 90% of people use them? Nobody knows what windows is? You're talking out your arse.

[macintard]

Apple want's to talk trust, after their recent iPhone/iPod Exchange encryption fiasco? Quite funny.

[Random_Walk]

* err, iPods don't sync with Exchange
* what are you talking about?
* You misspelled "Sidekick" ;)

[Vegaman_Dan]

@Random_Walk:

The commenter didn't say Sidekick. And there WAS a problem with the iPhone/iPod Touch Exchange encryption. Go back and read about it on CNET.

ZING!

[BingItOn]

-- Go back and read about it on CNET.

@Random_Walk is here to put random comments.

-- Read about it CNET
Vega do you think Random has time to do that. Random is paid to put comments here and that is what Random is doing, putting Random comment that is just biased agains MS.

[ckh1272]

Kind of like the biased comments against Apple?? I won't bother explaining the double standard and hypocrisy here. It seems pretty obvious.

[Random_Walk]

"And there WAS a problem with the iPhone/iPod Touch Exchange encryption. Go back and read about it on CNET. "

So let's see...

a handful of folks experiencing teething troubles with connecting to Exchange, versus untold large numbers of Sidekick users losing all of their data because Microsoft apparently hasn't figured out how to do even the most basic of backups before upgrading a production SAN...

Gee - which one to pick?

[Dalkorian]

@ckh1272, PAINFULLY obvious.
;-)

[ti99_forever]

Umm - funny as hell. Sorry, Windows crybabies! Just can't take a joke, or is the pain still too real!
I especially like the hairy "Windows 2" dude! LMAO!

[cherku]

good for you...

[lesbihonest17]

i dont like windows cry babies :)

[AlanK3000]

It's pretty sad when Apple has to go as far back as Windows 2 to try and prove a point. Apple fanboys should go back to doing what they do best, like purposely using their Macs in public places because they think it will make people admire them.

[sparrowhyperion]

Alank. The only thing I do when I see some moron pull out his Macbook in public, is be torn between pity for the dumb decision they made and their obvious low IQ, and laughter for the same reasons. What I end up doing is stifling a laugh and going home to play some games on my PC. Games which won't run on a Mac BTW.

[Phoenix_Knight005]

Frankly, as a Linux user, I think you're all a bunch of idiots with way too much time on your hands. Who the hell cares? They're just computers. Find something constructive to do with your time instead of going online to either bash Microsoft (for the Apple fanboys) or bash Apple (for the Windows fanboys).

[Vegaman_Dan]

I think it would be funny as a commercial- if they had done something that was actually *funny*. Right now, it's just lame.

[rationalreview]

ti99, if MS ever slammed iPhone like ANDROID is doing, they would be in a tussy, just like Apple is over the iDon't campaign.

[motrin800]

@Ti99 you speak of pain.. August 6, 1997 in apple history look that up would you kindly?

@Phoenix_Knight005, true they're just computers but you didn't exactly refrain from bashing your self.

[BryanSD]

Windows 7 is definitely no Windows Vista. Apple can have its laughs, but I think it's pretty clear that most Windows home users who have skipped over Vista will be quite happy with Windows 7. There are early indications that enterprises are willing to move toward Windows 7 and no longer feel they have to back-grade to XP as they did with Vista. In other words...I think this is a new game and Apple marketing is going to have to adjust to the new players on the board. As an IT guy I've recommended everyone to not buy Vista. If those Windows XP users wanted something new...I whispered OS X or Linux. However, with the Windows 7 launch I won't hesitate and say to current Windows XP/Vista users that Windows 7 is where they need to be now.

I'm a Mac, Windows, and Linux user...and to tell you the truth from a feature stand point of view I don't think the three operating systems have been as similar to each other in features and reliability as they are now. When features are similar among products...it's the price that then matters most to consumers. Apple either needs to really do something original and evolutionary to their Mac line or start looking at the price of their products. Beyond the magic mouse...Apple introduced brought very little new to their Mac and Macbook lineup. Time to step it up Apple or lose the momentum that you had with Vista.

[tismeinaz]

I don't get this cost thing. Everyone always whines about the cost of Apple computers. You get what you pay for and cheap computers have cheap parts and slower processors. Geesh - even expensive PC's bite. The last PC I bought was the BTO HP from hell. It cost 2 grand and had problems starting at a year old. That was back in 2003. In 2004 I bought the first gen 17inch iMac for just under $1500 and while both are still alive - the mac is running strong and the PC is limping along looking for life support. It freezes for no reason and we don't keep anything on the hard drive we aren't willing to lose. The other thing is the customer service - that counts for something. We joke about the HP extended NO service contract in our house. You get some poor phone rep in India who is forced to go by a script instead of knowing what to do or giving you the magic # so you can get your machine sent to the repair center to be fixed. Macs have less problems and they fix them. Asap. My macbook pro started shutting off on battery power, took it in and the battery tested fine so they overnighted it to the repair center - no fuss no muss, and in less than a week I had it back - new parts and running like new.

[jessiethe3rd]

This isn't true. No doubt that Apple is the pretty boy on the block. They create an many copy. Look at the Adamo from Dell - copy of the success of Macbook Air. But you pay for the coolness with Apple not any superior hardware or software. Apple Tax - you're obvious paying...

[ckh1272]

@jessiethe3rd--The Macbookair starts at $1499 with these specs:
1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus
2GB Memory (1066 MHz DDR3 Frontside Bus)
120GB SATA hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

The Dell Adamo starts at $1499 with these specs:
1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor with Centrino technology (800MHz FSB/3M L2 Cache)
Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
2GB 800MHz DDR3 dual-channel memory3
128GB3 solid state drive
Intel® GS45 Integrated Graphics with 256MB Memory

Want to try that BS "apple tax" statement again?

[DrtyDogg]

Yes the Dell Adamo is expensive, but you have other choices.

[pjhenry1216]

@ckh1272: you'll diss the 1.4GHz processor with that 1.86GHz processor and completely ignore the solid state hard drive that costs probably 2-3 times the difference in price of the processors?

Are you kidding me? You really missed that?

[rasencio]

How can you compare a standard 120go hard drive with a 128gbSSD?

[sparrowhyperion]

tismeinaz. I build my own PCs. Here is my latest system, which came in just under $1.2K.

AMD Phenom II x4 955 Black Box Edition (Pre set to optimize overclocking) CPU
MSI 790FX-GD70 Motherboard
8GB DDR3 PC1333 RAM (Corsair)
XfX ATI Radeon HD4870x2 Dual Core PCIE 2GB Video Card (Crossfire ready).
Creative Labs Soundblaster X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro series soundcard
Just over 4TB of Hard drive Space. All Seagate SATA II drives
LG DVD-RW/Blue Ray Player.
Logitech Cordless Wave Desktop Mouse and Keyboard (Best Keyboard I have ever had.)
LG Flatron W2361V 23" Widescreen LCD Monitor
Antec 1200 Gaming Full Tower case
Kingwin 1000W Modular Power Supply
Plus a couple of powered USB hubs, and some other odds and ends like my NZXT temp/fan controller panel.

There is not a mac made that can compete with my baby. And it it were. Apple would probably soak it's customers about $5K for it.

Oh yeh, I got Vista Ultimate 64Bit for it, which comes with a free upgrade to WIn 7 Ultimate 64Bit that just shipped yesterday. Although I am currently running the release candidate of 7U64 and it flies like an SR71.

I don't buy name brand PC for some of the reasons I don't by Apple. I prefer having full control of everything that goes into my system. You simply cannot do that with a Mac. And I am not impressed with Mac reliability.

[sparrowhyperion]

ckh1272

Dell has always been overpriced. They make most of their money off of business clients.The point is that you have dozens of choices who to buy your PC from, as well as EXACTLY what goes in it. With a Mac, you do not. And you can't build your own Mac either.

[Seaspray0]

@tismeinaz. "You get what you pay for..." Not when you're paying for the label. You can add that phrase to the trash heap with "it just works".

[BingItOn]

@ckh1272, @tismeinaz
With CRAPPle you don't get what you pay for, period. if you have trouble understanding it then het windows 7.

[cherku]

Couldn't CNET come up with a better title for this article? The quality of the articles are going down by the day,,

[Seaspray0]

The title is appropriate. The basis of all the mac/pc ads is "spitting on microsoft".

[Perry_Clease]

This blog is found at the internet's equivalent of the checkout line of a grocery store. The headlines are there to get page hits and sell ads. I am just as guilty as of paging through the trashy celebrity magazines as anyone.

[rorybaust]

Competition is not about lying, it's about competing in a fair and level playing field. Why is it the 90% of the worlds computers run MS, it because we don't believe Apple's hype.

If only Mr Job's was more like his alter ego computer in the ad's, Apple threw him out once ! He is not a nice fellow, but with loyal users like his who needs a compelling or descent product.

would you trust Apple to be open an accountable well the FCC did not think so, Google don't think so and I know that they can't trust any one but them selves.

Microsoft runs all software , don't have to ask Bill for permission, Microsoft takes backward compatibility seriously

Plus if I buy a PC and do note like what I get I can change OS, buy an Apple and you have to run every thing past Mr Jobs.

The problem with Apple is not that they don't make great software or hardware, it's they make both and it's either their way or the highway.

I have Win 7 ultimate courtesy of a launch party and will be buying a copy of Home premium for the laptop.

In the world of advertising sometimes not saying anything is more endearing than sounding like a spoilt brat.

[Prince2k3]

Umm if I remember correctly Mr. Jobs wasn't running apple for a good while because he was fired from his own company and during that time Microsoft grew along with the PC market.

[tismeinaz]

"The problem with Apple is not that they don't make great software or hardware, it's they make both and it's either their way or the highway."

I like the fact that Apple does both. I got so sick and tired of being the ping pong ball between Microsoft - "it's the Hardware' and the PC manufacturer 'It's the Software'. It didn't get any better when OEM windows was put on PC's - then you couldn't talk to MS and ended up talking to folks in India telling you the only way to fix any issue was to restore or reformat and reinstall Windows and of course that meant reinstalling everything else. Of course the OEM windows software does not include the service packs which control your wireless modem connection (WPA) so you have to order the cd, pay for it and wait for it to be delivered so you can load it and connect to the internet to do the rest of the job.
I have never had a problem with any of Apple's software and have never been afraid to upgrade to the newest OS when it comes out. It has always been easy.

[pjhenry1216]

@tismeinaz: you're experience shows your lack there of. You should never have to order a CD from anywhere. Only way to fix an issue is by formatting and reinstalling it? I'll admit, that happens, but I've done it to my iPhone in the past few months far more than I've done it to all my PCs I've ever used in my life (well over 10). Yea, the customer support does suck, but keep in mind they're trying to help 90% of the world. Apple needs to help less than 10%. Its gonna happen.

[ballmerisanape]

"Microsoft runs all software , don't have to ask Bill for permission, Microsoft takes backward compatibility seriously"

What? You can run unix, linix, and apple software in Windows?

No.. Windows can only run software designed to run in Windows....

[theveggiedude]

Apple's hype? Maybe you should read IBM's hype then:

http://tinyurl.com/yjeujmf

Mac OS X server downtime last year was 38.5 minutes. Windows Server 2008 was down 2.5 hours - which was a whopping 38% improvement over past years.

Windows 7 is crippled to access 192 GB of RAM. A proper 64-bit OS should not be like that.

Snow Leopard can access 16 TB of RAM.

[Vegaman_Dan]

@Ballmerisanape:

Oh yes, that's right- Apple's OS X can run Windows and Linux applications natively without any emulation. I forgot that it had that abilty.

Okay, so I'm in the System Preferences here in Snow Leopard. Can you point me to the right setting I need to change to make it possible to run all those Windows and Linux apps natively in OS X? I can't seem to find it.

[Vegaman_Dan]

@theveggiedude:

I'm sure that having a limit of 16Tb of memory is a strong issue these days. Which Apple laptop or desktop had the memory capacity slots in it to handle 16Tb? I'd like to order a MacBookPro with 16TGb today if you could please point me to it.

Sheesh.

[DrtyDogg]

@theveggiedude You cannot put that much memory in a Mac. It just isn't possible a. with the amount of memory slots available, b. with the hardware that Apple has chosen. The max on the 8 core Mac Pro is 32GB, and Apple charges $3,700 for that.

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/more_on_64-bits_how_much_ram_can_a_mac_have_really/

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

@Vega
you use X11 to run linux apps in the macintosh OS. search your utilities.

[rationalreview]

Apple or Windows can't natively run any other OS. Both require software to do it and they both can run any other OS depending on the Virtual sotware installed. Stop spewing opinions people

[karpenterskids]

I like the new ads!

They won't make me hate Windows 7, but they're fun to watch, at the very least.
Like more and more people by the day, I'm both a PC and a Mac.

Trust me.

[gp2792]

What's "new" about them?

[MyRightEye]

^^^^^^^^

Just don't understand marketing, nor Apple's market.

[brianbot5000]

Apples 9% of the market?

[DrtyDogg]

3.8 worldwide.

[Seaspray0]

@brainbot5000. I'm sure there is some place in the world (town, county, mac convention, school library, somewhere) where the percentage of macs is well over 50%. Why not quote that one? I need a good laugh for the day.

[theveggiedude]

Wel, Apple owns 93% of the pc market for all machines costing $1000 and up. Now do you understand?

[anotherprogrammer]

93% of the over $1000 may actually not be a good selling point:

The average selling price of all PCs in the U.S was $701 in June 2009. For Windows PCs it was $515. The average selling price of a Mac was $1,400.

I think the 93% statistic just shows you how ovepriced the macs are. And it still remains that macs have yet to even break 9% of the us domestic market share. Globally, they even have a lower market share.

[Sri Bharat Madireddy]

Yes, I'm a fan of apple. But, I'm getting sick and tired of these stupid, ridiculous and good for nothing apple ads. Apple, please please stop bashing others and just present what you are really good at, please!!!!!

[Prince2k3]

I do agree with you. They could make a new commercial with different direction.

[pjhenry1216]

You make a great point. They're entertaining and kinda funny, but 1) I always like John Hodgeman better in the commercials 2) sometimes they exaggerate *way* too much and border annoyance and 3) They're starting to get old. It's like those political commercials that just bash the other guy instead of saying why you should vote for their guy instead.

[Phoenix_Knight005]

Sadly, they're sticking with these ads because, like political attack ads, it's much more effective to attack your opponent than it is to show why people should buy your product/vote for you.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Um, they *ARE* good at bashing others. That's what the ads are all about. It's not about OS X or Apple products at all. The ads are only about how horrible Microsoft is. That's the entire point of the ads.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

@Vega
well whats wrong with that.
they talk about customer satisfaction to justify the switch to mac.

[tektaktyks]

yea very "cool" commercials.lol,eh...

[jro123]

Mac is fake windows 7 rocks i installed it on my laptop its stable, faster than vista no huge unwanted files i have always been a pc and i have to say this is like using xp pro on my desktop. Plus when you put the laptop in sleep mode it does not take a long time it pops right back to what you were doing.

What apple is forgetting is that pc has been around longer its always had more programs and many different ways of customizing and most of the world runs Windows sorry apple your commerical is like a clip from comedy central.

[portorikan]

The Windows PC has not been around longer...

[Prince2k3]

you really should review your computer history.

[tismeinaz]

PC's and mac's, for public use, have been around for pretty much the same amount of time - both came out in the 80's. I remember using the SE and the IBM PC running DOS back when Lotus123 was the spreadsheet program to use. Excel wasn't even a gleam in Bill Gates eye yet. In fact, Apple did windows before Windows was a gleam in Microsoft's eye. Windows 3.1 came out in 1992 Mac's were using a Windows style OS back in the late 80's.

[Levifiction]

Actually both Microsoft and Apple released GUI based systems around 1984. Apple's GUI, bought from Xerox so technically Apple's GUI built on top of Xerox's GUI, was released in 1984. Microsoft Windows 1.01, also using a GUI of a different sort, came out in 1985. So yes Apple had the GUI system first. And it's tended to be a step ahead of Microsoft. There was also that whole law suit thing against Microsoft for copyright infringement. Sorry fellow Windows users but Apple had a step up from Microsoft from the start and it hasn't backed down. Though Microsoft has a lot of neat toys of its own as well.

And technically jro123 did not say Windows PCs were around longer than Apple PCs. This poster said that PC has been around longer which is very true.

Apple makes very good products, those who don't believe this either had very bad experiences (Macs that I've used never lasted more than 10 minutes before crashing, it's bizarre), are unfortunately ignorant, or fans trying to make a point which they fail to do.

But these commercials are a joke. I don't see how it's possible to take Apple seriously here. This knee-jerk reaction to a better operating system is silly. Oh well. I'm sure they'll grow up and get creative again soon.

[sparrowhyperion]

In the 1980s. Digital Research was designing what was to be the first widely used consumer OS with a graphical desktop and using a mouse for most primary functions. It was originally to be sold to Apple, but Apple decided they didn't want it and started developing their own. So Digital Research put it on a shelf and it sat there for a few months. Then a new player came along and wanted a new GUI interface for their new product. Well since it was written for the same Motorola 68000 series chip that Apple was using, They pulled it off the shelf. A few tweaks for the hardware differences and whala, a new OS hits the market. This system came out WELL before the PC and at the time all that Apple had was the Apple II series and the Lisa. It had three resolution modes, came with a full GB of RAM (Which was huge in those days.) It could use the newer DSDD 3.5" floppy disks. It had interfaces for a SCSI host controller and a standard printer port. It also had a 9 pin serial port, 2 joystick ports, great sound (the first to be able to play digital samples.) But the big attractions were the built in industry standard Midi In and Midi Out. and the awesome games it played. It also had business software which was WAY ahead of anything Mac or PCs had at the time. The first GUI based word processor and Desktop publisher. I am guessing some folks have guessed what system this was. The only reason it failed was because the company who made it had no clue whatsoever on how to properly market it. It cost under $1K which was unheard of for a PC like this at the time. In addition, it had the capability of running bot Mac and PC software with inexpensive plug in emulators. The system used much of the same hardware that the Mac originally came out with so the emulator for Mac was simply a set of the Mac OS ROMs and an interpriter chip. It disabled the systems internal roms and took over those functions. Effectively turning the system into a real mac as far as software was concerned. It could also be hooked up to the SCSI hard drives of the day.

The system came in 2 original flavors. The Atari 512ST (ST-Sixteen/Thirty Two). and the Atari 1040ST

The 512ST came with only .5MB of RAM and could be gotten for about $300-$350.

A bit later, they came out with the 512STFM and 1040STFM which both had a built in Frequency Modulator to you could run them on a TV as opposed to a monitor. These models also included a built in 3.5" drive. The 512STFM had a SSDD 3.5" drive and the 1040STFM had a DSDD 3.5" drive. Eventually, they came out with the Mega ST series that had a whopping 4MB-12B of RAM. There were two monitors available, both composite. One was a high resolution grey screen monochrome, and the other a color monitor which could do low res and medium res. The system, using a system of color blending could technically generate up to 512 colors in some software. It had the best games on the market. I used to run an 8 line multi line BBS on mine. It could be used with ANY standard Modem for online use. It also could be hooked up to just about any Epson compatable dot matrix or laser printer. I used to use a Panasonic 24Pin dot matrix on mine.

So don't think Apple or PC had the title of first.

[Gromit801]

Apple was the first out with the home computer as we know it today. It was called the Apple II.

The first home "PC" was by IBM, later.

Do some homework before making a fool of yourself.

[Levifiction]

I love how he words things "the first home computer as we know them today" which is true.

In 1977 Apple released the Apple II (Apple I only sold 200 units the year before) IBM was the first one to tote the term PC but the original founders of Apple made their Apple I computer in response to their dislike of how current personal home computers worked. I believe it was an Altair system that was first toted as a home computer by Popular Electronics in 1975. Could be wrong, I'm terrible with dates. However by comparison the Altair was really old school, lights and switches and machine language. The Apple I had a keyboard at least and a monitor. It really was an excellent piece of work. So as we know them yes Apple was at the forefront, but Apple is still not before the PC. Actually HP had a keyboard and a small one or two line display in 1972 but it was still advertised to engineers and scientists so it's not technically considered a PC. And the IBM 5100 also had a keyboard and display built in but way too expensive to even look at for a home user who wasn't rich. IBM, like you said, didn't make a system that could be considered familiar to us until the 5150 in 1981.

As for this part "Do some homework before making a fool of yourself." that's just down right rude. And ridiculous. Why would you purposely make a fool of yourself if you knew what you were talking about. Some did do their homework but the information they got was incomplete and they didn't know. It's called ignorance not foolishness, and everyone is ignorant about something.

[Renegade Knight]

@sparrowhyperion

Apple came out with their PC's in the late 70's. That beats DEC's work according to the dates you give. IBM's PC came out in 82 (off the top of my head). DEC could have beat them but 82 is pretty early in the decade.

Now if you are talking firs GUI my memory is telling me that Apple was inspired by work Xerox had done. Xerox had worked with GUI's starting in the 70's. Their Altair used a bit mapped screen.

Here is some irony for you. Windows 1 was out in 81 (I misremembered the first IBM PC in another post it was actually also 81) While the Mac OS was out in 84. However Mac was the successful GUI and Windows was an also ran until 3.X

[Dalkorian]

by jro123 October 22, 2009 9:36 PM PDT
Mac is fake windows 7 rocks...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Unlike some others here, I didn't have to go past those 6 words to know I was dealing with a 12 year old using mommy's computer.

[janarmstrong_dotmac]

Microsoft can't be trusted. I just upgraded to Office 2008, and now all my old Office Word files won't open unless I go through an elaborate Microsoft open process. these people are what the dark side of capitalism is all about.

[Anomonalis]

Never knew "elaborate" could qualify as double clicking...

[BryanSD]

All you need to do is right click on the...oh wait Office 2008 is for the Mac. I forget you Mac users normally can't handle more than one button. ;-)

[Sausagebiscuit]

Wow, really? People still make that stupid joke about one button mice?

[Seaspray0]

@sausagebiscuit. "People still make that stupid joke about one button mice?" Yea, dredging up something so very much in the past is lame... very much like apple just did in their latest commercial: "windows 2.0".

But since the topic of the mouse button has been brought up... to simulate a right button click, you must hold down the ctrl key prior to "clicking" the touchpad (new macs don't have any buttons). This is more elaborate than simply pressing a button. I would rather have the buttons on the laptop (both left and right). I usually disable the feature on my PC that makes the touchpad a button because I don't like having erratic button presses from my palm brushing the surface of the touchpad while I type (which happens).

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

there are plenty of options for right-click. two fingers click on mouse and trackpad. click in a certain corner. the new magic mouse would be good for thus.

[pentest]

The problem is seaspray is that 7 is lame.

If you had any technical knowledge, instead of parroting what your shill manager tells you to, you would understand why 7 is a bad joke.

[ferretboy88]

The one button thing is lame.

[KefkaticFanatic]

Why can't Apple make a regular advertisement like most everyone else?

Not that people don't make bad ads, it's just that these are essentially ALL BAD. And incredibly annoying. Like every Geico commercial.

[Prince2k3]

Agreed!

[tismeinaz]

@kefkaticFanatic
Excuse me but 99% of all ads in TV are BAD and the worst ones get played over and over and over again. This is why I avoid tv as much as possible

[mriethmuller]

I seriously considered buying a MacBook until they released their pricing scheme earlier this year. Unfortunately, Id rather pay a reasonable price for a Windows 7 Machine which is a very solid operating system, then pay a lot more for a lower spec'd machine for an operating system that is only marginally (if at all?) better.

But thats just me, other people with cash to burn like the perceived exclusivity of apple.

[DragonWizard]

How do you know it is solid.. Do you have it already???

[Sausagebiscuit]

Windows 7 RTM has been available to many people, academic and technical, for sometime now. Also, his post was Oct 22 at 9PM PDT. I'm sure since it was late into release day, he/she already has a release copy. Don't be stupid.

[eadeguzman]

And this is a tech forum... It's not unusual for folks to have MSDN or TechNet subscriptions (or at least know who has one) where you get the OEM and RTM version months ahead.

[Renegade Knight]

When you buy your Win 7 machine pay attention. I see a lot of seemingly great specs that actually cut corners. You do get what you pay for. It's going to take a 2000 windows laptop to compare to a 2500 MacBook Pro. In the MacBook department it's actually a lot closer to a 50-100 premium for the Apple and there are less viable competitors at that price range.

[TheDefiler54703]

More people might be willing to try MacOS if u didn't need to buy a whole new "proprietary" system to use it. Apple should unlock MacOS from the hardware and sell it as a stand alone OS. I would be willing to use it .

[portorikan]

Yeah, and more people would be willing to try a Lamborghini if you didn't have to purchase a new motor or tires to go with it. They should sell the Lamborghini name as a stand alone. I would be willing to buy one then.

[Sausagebiscuit]

proprietary? It's no more proprietary than a PC... you know they share the exact same internals? You know you can run Windows 7 on a Mac? I won't comment on the rest of this, because it's been discussed to death. Want OSX? Buy a Mac.

[zyxxy]

No, you cannot just load Mac OS/X on any PC, it checks that it is a MAC (different boot firmware).
You can however boot Windows on a MAC, or Linux on a MAC.

Why won't Apple let you boot Mac OS/X on any standard PC? It should work if they share the same internals. But they don't really share the same internals. Because it is a closed system! I forgot, sorry....

[theveggiedude]

You can install OS X on any PC hardware - just google it and you'll see many people are doing it. The problem is that it isn't legal, and Apple will not support your PC, nor should they have to.

Now you can't install XBox software onto your PC, because XBox is a truly closed system, and you wouldn't expect MS to support XBox on a non-XBox system.

[Vegaman_Dan]

@theveggiedude:

Yes, you can install Xbox software onto a PC. There's plenty of hacks out there to do it. Microsoft itself uses PC's to develop the boxes and try out hardware configs long before the Xbox units you see today were released.

[Stormspace]

@ theveggiedude
It's not illegal to install OSX on a PC. It may be violating the EULA, but there isn't a court in the US that's going to do anything to a dude that installs OSX on his own machine in his home as long as he paid for the software.

[eadeguzman]

Stormspace - Ok... if no one will prosecute or convict, then it's legal?

If you violate the EULA, you shouldn't be "using" the software, because that's what you *agreed* too. Words don't mean anything to you?

It's like copying DVDs at home, no one can prosecute you but it is illegal.

[Stormspace]

@eadeguzman
There's actually a law against copying DVD's. Not against installing OSX on a PC. It's also against MS license agreement to install OEM versions of Windows on a Mac, but people do it so they can be productive on the Mac.

[newnewsreader]

@Vegaman_Dan

Utter nonsense. Xbox 360 has a PowerPC processor and software for it cannot run on an x86 architecture (because it has a different instruction set). In fact MS used Apple power Mac systems to develop the Xbox 360 system.

J.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Who was the brainiac at Apple who released the Sno-Jobs Leopard half-baked ?
Timing was perfect for MSFT.

[AppleSuxLeo]

How Microsoft blindsided vulnerable Apple with Windows 7
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/44402/140/

[davidmcelroy_dotmac]

You expect anybody sane to believe ANYTHING that Rob Enderle writes? He almost never gets anything right related to Apple. He's an embarrassing lapdog for Microsoft. On top of that, the article you're linking to appeared to have been written while somebody was drunk, based on the writing and editing errors.

[Dalkorian]

@davidmcelroy_dotmac, don't feed the trolls. Some of them are pretty good at seeming like normal people, but then we get trolls like this one that is so detached from reality as to actually be hilariously funny.