Comments on: Will Apple sue Microsoft over Laptop Hunter ads?

A lawyer quoted in AdAge feels Apple has a good case against Microsoft over its Laptop Hunter campaign. The only question is whether Apple would actually gain anything from a lawsuit.

[qquidd]

Hahaha... Look at Apple pansies getting all their torn panties in a knot. Cool? My arse. As Yoda would say - braindead Job worshipping sheep they are.

[sd_dreamer]

Wow, every hyperbolic statement by a Mac Fanboy is gospel while every hyperbolic statement by a PC Fanboy is met by a demand to "Name them. Name the inaccuracies." or some other demand for facts. Get over it everyone. Apple, Dell, HP, Microsoft are all out to make money. They don't care about you and owning their gadgets and software really isna't a life-changing event -- they're just gadgets and software. Apple sucks. Microsoft sucks. Dell sucks. HP Sucks. Apple is great. Microsoft is great. Dell is great. HP is great. It's just technology -- if you have to defend it, you really need to get a life.

[santuccie]

Chris,

I'd suggest you watch the commercial again. Lauren said, "For a thousand dollars, they only have one computer available, and that's a 13-inch screen." This is correct, or at least it was when the commercial was first launched. All I could find were 13.3" Macs. Other than that, you might find a refurb under $1,000.

[drbyte]

I've seen Apple devotion with my own eyes. They will look at your pc notebook with digust. It's really strange to see in person because it's all about preference and how much your willing to spend. These sub $500 notebooks best buy sells are really good deals if your not rough with your computer. Replace Vista with XP pro and give them 3gb or RAM and you have a stable workhorse.

Mac's are wonderful computers, no doubt, but your not getting any premiums with that price you pay. Both WIndows and OSX are just basic OS's. Its not like Ubuntu where you get software that you can use that comes on the e=install disk or image.

My little $399 Compaq was a steal. After Vista was removed I have no complaints at all. I don't think you can get a Mac for $399 unless it's used. The whole "you get what you pay for"theory goes out the door too. Many people just need to check email, run Word, surf the web. You don't need a machine with a 1gb graphics card and 8 cores to do that. Those ads were pretty good.

[rboblee]

Gosh - I'm running Mac OSX on a dual-core netbook that cost me $250 in addition to the Apple software licensing fee. The Microsoft Laptop Hunter campaign hits home on official Apple.com Laptop pricing, but only forces mention of the huge opportunity for off-label installation of Mac OSX.

Maybe that's how Apple hits back? How open is Windows anyway and at what cost to user safety and confidence in the Windows laptop?

BTW: Remember to disable Active-X in Internet Explorer - ye old Windows users out there!

[T_Hoff]

>> The report quoted Michael McSunas, an attorney at Chambliss, Bahner and Stophel, who said that
>> legally Apple "would have a leg to stand on."
>>
>> McSunas continued: "If, indeed, you now can buy a MacBook for under $1,000, then [the 'Laptop
>> Hunters' campaign] would be inaccurate and misleading."

I don't think Microsoft ever said that you can't buy a Mac for under $1,000, nor did any of the people featured in the ads. What they are saying is that given a budget of $1,000, those people would rather get a PC than a Mac because of (real or perceived) value and performance advantages.

[tylaw83]

Best solution?

Buy a Mac AND a PC...

I have both and love them for their respective strengths. The PC is for compatibility, gaming, business, productivity. The Mac is for fun movies, surfing, graphics editing. People who argue that PCs can do everything a Mac does have obviously not used a Mac for an extended time (don't lie). The ease of use of a Mac and clean interface makes for a much more enjoyable experience. Of course, if you want productivity for work, then a PC is the handsdown winner.

Oh and don't tell me about Windows 7. I use it and I know it's great.

[Kwasiowusu]

@ tylaw83 :"The ease of use of a Mac and clean interface makes for a much more enjoyable experience. "

What "ease of use" is that?
You mean the sheer horror and lack of any sense of being stuck in the stone age using that one button mouse that you Apple mac crazies are stuck on?
I wouldn't trade my Windows 7 RC1, even in beta, for any massively overpriced one button Aple mac if you out a gun to my head.

[shycelticwitch]

@Kwasiowusu... Mighty mouse for Mac has been around for about 5 years now... where the heck have you been? Better stop in an Apple store and check one out. No PC mouse has anywhere near the features.

[Norseman]

I'm sure the Microsoft COO who said Apple asked Microsoft to quit running the ads saw that as a victory for Microsoft. He implied that Apple was "running scared", and that was the reason for the request. What he may have overlooked was the fact that by revealing that call, he turned on the buzz machine that essentially let the world know that yeah, sure enough, you can buy a Mac laptop for less than $1,000. Who knows--maybe Apple counted on Microsoft spreading the word for them when they made the call. They really don't need to sue. They got the message out for the cost of one phone call. Brilliant!

[Kwasiowusu]

@ Norseman :"They got the message out for the cost of one phone call."

Nice attempt at spinnning, but no cigar.
They got the message out that Apple is indeed running scared. That's the conclusion all over the internet on most tech and business sites , where everyone is luaghing at Apple for their sheer stupidity in whinning about anti-mac ads from Microsoft, when Aple themselves have been running anti Windows PC ads, which are full of oue lies for years!
The superb Windows 7 will merely make sure that Apple stay stuck firmly under 3% in worldwide market share.
So long suckers!

[Norseman]

Yep. It's "all over the internet" that Apple lowered their prices. Point made.

[ckurowic]

I'm really sick of the absurd argument that Mac's were made for simple people. Who wants to spend countless hours trying to make their computer work to feel superior? Thats fu**ing ridiculous, and the argument is the same. Get a life PC trolls.

[Kwasiowusu]

@ ckurowic :". Who wants to spend countless hours trying to make their computer work to feel superior?"

Who wants to pay on average THREE TIMES as much for an ovcerpriced Apple mac laptop, when it can't even run most AAA video games (like Call of Duty), or run the essential business applications, just so he can get an Apple logo on his laptop? That's as brain dead as it gets.
Hey, a fool and his money are soon enough parted, and there is no fool like a fanatic Apple mac fool.

[baconstang]

Interesting take.....
http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/earthlink-net/mw-news.asp?GUID={90B81EA1-FB80-457A-8B1F-9FDBC0B622EA}&destination=&symb=AAPL

[angela51509]

Well, Company rivals seems endless... They sue as they wanted , still they got money in the end, but we, dont have anything, but DOUBT...

http://familyhealthinsurancerate.org

[nmwabibito]

Lawyers don't make social calls.

Lawyers sent 'cease and desist' letters if they know they have a case.

My instincts are is someone at Microsoft got seriously pranked or is pulling a prank.

After that, some media outlets sucked it up for lack of better news.

As a Linux, OS X and Windows server administrator, I say Microsoft should get out of the hardware, browser and electronics market. It should focus on its core - its server and client operating system.

[lazycat202]

nah! it's business. They want to make profits. That's all!
IE8 runs fine on my i7Core machine. Not a single crash yet.
All of my PC clients are happy their MS servers.
Microsoft: sorry! i didn't pay for server software. But i'll introduce/promote your apps to other people. :)
can't complain!

Sorry Apple!. Go somewhere else and play with yourself!

[Kwasiowusu]

@ nmwabibito : "Lawyers don't make social calls."

They don't?
On what planet is that?
Mars?
On this planet, and in real life, lawyers DO make social calls.
Not to mention, this was no social call. This was a badly flustered Apple, which can't seem to be able to take the same medicine they have been dishing out for others to take.

@ nmwabibito :"As a Linux, OS X and Windows server administrator,"

On the internet, every dog is a King.

@ nmwabibito:" I say Microsoft should get out of the hardware, browser and electronics market."

If I were you, I'd take that ridiculous piece of "advise" and shove it where the sun doesn't shine.

[Fatesrider]

I dislike Microsoft. I dislike Apple. They are both too full of themselves. Both will tell you what you want without the courtesy of first asking. Both expect you to follow their rules to the detriment of you. Both are monopolistic and exclusive. Neither cut the customer a break in any way. One promotes itself to businesses for efficiency, the other caters to the young and trendy. Neither are what I want.

Microsoft's license agreements mean I only use Windows. I have no other MS product on my machine that didn't come with Windows. Apple's drive to be 'cool' has left form and function in the dirt, so that their equipment, while looking nice, suck when it comes to the UI. If it hurts to use, I don't care how good the equipment is.

They deserve each other, since both take pages from the other's playbook. It will be interesting to see if Google's new OS (When it comes out) will change things, but in the meantime, Apple suing Microsoft is too much like the pot calling the kettle black to matter.

[bigpicture]

Now it would all depend how it was strategized and executed. For apple to win both in court and in the marketplace.

To paint MS yet again as the big unethical greedy bully in the eyes of the public. Apple should bring the price of all their laptops down below $1,000.00 for a month without any fanfare and then sue MS for false advertizing. That they are publishing advertising facts that are lies.

The difference in the Apple adds is that they only make inferences (not facts) but those inferences are largely true, MS does sell un-secure bloat ware, and Apple products are cooler. (And before the MS fanboys come out, I do not own any Apple products.)

[vmlenigma]

I say na dont sue microsoft, the PR machine at apple is way better than Microsoft, just remember the Seinfeld commercials with Bill Gates YAWN. What apple should do is, do an AFTER set of commercials on how much Spam,Spyware, and headaches those idiots getting those cheap pieces of plastic had to deal with after they got the machines home. I still remember how much I hated the Gateway and Toshiba laptops I bought earlier this year...they felt cheap, yeah I got each for less than 700 bucks at Best Buy, I bought the Gateway for my niece but the thing felt so damn cheap, that I sold it to my friend at work, the second one was the Toshiba, it was a bit better, but again it was for my niece, needless to say both now have viruses, the Toshiba is having problems and last time I heard my co-workers Gateway has had to shell out a couple of hundred dollars to keep the viruses and bugs off of that piece of crap.
I am spoiled with my Mac, it just works, just like that idiot in the commercial saying that the mac is just for aesthetics, I would not be surprised if those same idiots in the commercial turned right around when Microsoft wasn't looking and sold the laptops on Craigslist and turned around an bought a Mac...LOL

[lazycat202]

@ vmlenigma
i got a virus last year on my $400 HP laptop. Why? because i download illegal copies ;) and yes! it took me only 1 hour to get my laptop back in track.

My other i7Core desktop ($800) with Win7 beta s running just fine. No crash in 5 months! Top notch speed and has no spyware or virus. Why? i don't download junks on this machine.

Now. here is conclusion: your computer will be in a good shape if you know how to take care of it. You make your own decision.

Go ahead and spend tons of $$ on Apple computers. Your knowledge will be limited. Don't chain yourself to what Apple gives you. Set yourself FREE and experience the possibilities. That why so many Microsoft/linux savvy/tech in this world. and YES! I'm an IT admin and an "average" gamer LOL. I'm happy with my life because I've helped so many people on software and hardware issues.

I don't own any Apple products, but I troubleshoot iMac machines on network problems.

[lawsonmusicmedia]

You guys are funny, some of you are liars, some just serial exaggerators. Apple is not planning to sue Microsoft for these ads, and the hysterical speculation and anti-Mac freak outs are almost as entertaining as this 24 hour Spongebob Squarepants marathon. This article write reeled you in like fish, and you swallowed his bait, hook, line and sinker. Most entertaining, especially the stuff that's just flat out lies, like "I paid to ship my iPod when it was under warranty and they charge me at the store to ship it." Nope, that doesn't happen with Apple, I don't know what store you took it to, but it wasn't an Apple store and you didn't call Apple and have that happen to any product under warranty. I've never had better warranty support from any company, including having them send repair people to my home when an LCD failed on an iMac one month away from its warranty ending, or sending me pre-paid boxes to send back a faulty MacBook Pro 1st gen, which had a lot of issues, and resulted in them giving me a brand new one, upgraded to their latest, fastest model. Pre-paid shipping boxes sent to me, paid by them, repairs in 24-48 hours when mailing in, sometimes same day in the store (I own a LOT of Apple products) so these claims that Apple made the pay to ship an iPod, I call BS. All computers have problems and can fail, and its the immature, insecure PC folks on here freaking out claiming Macs and Mac users say they NEVER have problems. Meanwhile, I'm on year eight with my Macs, zero anti-virus software running to protect my system from non-existent viruses, no spyware threats, and a operating system that is just better for me. That's the bottom line. Stick to Windows if it makes you happy, we won't miss you. :)

[misterykid00]

i work at the frys electronics where they filmed 2 of those commercials in fountain valley california the girl who was the film student acttually has already returned the laptop it wasnt compatible with any of her editing software she returned it and got a macbook pro......my name is pete patel i m the guy who sold her the mac pro

[lazycat202]

you made me laugh hard!! do you want me to name a few software that can run on her PC? :P

[AppleSuxLeo]

MSFT should make a "kidney hunter ad" Aimed squarely at the competition.

[dp07]

@ JasonCe
Your claims of what Apple's ads say are great proof of one of the reasons why Apple ads (and those of countless other companies) are so effective - they IMPLY things that viewers like you extrapolate to statements that have NEVER been made. NONE of Apple's ads that you mention, explicitly say anything that you claim they do ( http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/ ) - why? this would be ILLEGAL. Apple's ads simply imply that PC's are worse at, kludgy with or more vulnerable to certain traits. Apple has amassed a very solid legal team and they know exactly what they can and can't say in ads. This is where Apple is correct on the current "legal call" to Redmond. Microsoft continued to run ads that had incorrect data (i.e. saying a MacBook Pro was more than 2000 when it's now 1700). Apple is completely within bounds by calling bullsh|t on MS's ad campaign. Kevin Turner has proclaimed that MS will continue running the ads, but in the background the reality is that MS can no longer run the same ads that Apple has complained about because...THESE ADS ARE ILLEGAL! Sure, MS can adjust their ads and run them to their hearts content, but they have to reflect CURRENT market prices and realities.

[choksheak]

Hey, I don't see what's wrong with the ad. I think exactly like Lauren, that's why I'm still stuck on Windows PC until now!