Microsoft seems to be going out of its way to try to counter Apple’s momentum recently, and the Redmond company’s “I’m a PC” advertising counteroffensive isn’t the only evidence. With Apple expected to show new Macs at an event this morning, Microsoft is trying to preempt the news by making the case for Windows PCs, and explicitly pointing out the areas where it believes Macs fall short.
In this post, Houston Chronicle tech columnist Dwight Silverman fact-checks an e-mail that Microsoft sent to technology reporters. He concludes that many of Microsoft’s points are valid — although they might quickly be rendered moot, depending on what Apple announces. At the same time, he adds, “to send this the evening before a revamp strikes me as premature at best and downright desperate at worst.”
Also check out this lengthy interview in which CNet News.com’s Ina Fried questions Microsoft’s Brad Brooks about the company’s assertion that Mac users effectively pay an “Apple tax.”
– Todd Bishop, toddbishop@gmail.com
3 responses so far ↓
1 Matt S. // Oct 14, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Hmm, this “Apple tax” statement doesn’t have too much ground. When talking about buying applications again when switching to Mac . . . you have the same problem for people switching from Mac to PC. So the “application tax” doesn’t make sense.
Mac notebooks and Windows notebooks are the same as far as the ability to upgrade specific components. Even with Dell, HP, Toshiba, Sony, etc… you still will only have the ability to upgrade your hard drive and memory. Going beyond that is moving into warranty waters.
So you’re looking at a “tax” no matter which switch you go with.
The only issue with Apple is the cost of the hardware, you still have to pay a premium for Apple gear . . . but you do have a benefit for that premium with the quality.
2 Glenn Fleishman // Oct 14, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Microsoft is weirdly playing offensive defense here — but Apple has already won the game and is off at the bar, drinking with its friends.
Microsoft doesn’t like to talk support costs. I know a ton of people who had their relatives buy Macs because, they told these moms, cousins, etc., they wouldn’t provide free tech support for Windows.
3 jcricket // Oct 15, 2008 at 9:00 am
I agree with Glenn - this is a weird form of offense, much like the “response” I’m a PC ads from Microsoft. But once again, proves that Microsoft is not good at innovating technologically or design-wise. Their only innovation is business practices (they pioneered the art of manufacturer lock-in for their OS and Office suite - which make nearly all their profits).
I also second what Glenn said about support costs, and would add that at least until recently, most people I know were able to keep their Macs “running” longer. Not due to hardware, but because the Mac was still perfectly functional, whereas the PC had become dog slow, no software was released to fix all the viruses and malware that infected it, etc.
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