Bill Gates on Mac ads: "I don't even get it"
By Paul Miller 
posted Feb 2nd 2007 5:35PM
posted Feb 2nd 2007 5:35PM
So, we didn't get our wish of a Gates vs. Hodgman showdown on the Daily Show this week -- too bad -- but that doesn't mean Bill has been totally mum on the topic. "I don't think the over 90 percent of the [population] who use Windows PCs think of themselves as dullards, or the kind of klutzes that somebody is trying to say they are," said Gates. "And I don't know why [Apple is] acting like it's superior. I don't even get it. What are they trying to say?" He continued, "Does honesty matter in these things, or if you're really cool, that means you get to be a lying person whenever you feel like it? There's not even the slightest shred of truth to it." Perhaps it's good there wasn't any Gates / Hodgman interaction after all, things could've gotten a bit testy. Gates was also asked straight up if Microsoft would have a new OS in 2010-2011, to which he responded, "Absolutely." Which seems to put to rest some of those will-they-won't-they rumorings. He also had plenty more to say about the future of Windows, calling it "more user-centric" in a portability of data sort of sense (read: Windows Live). Bill also promised even more handwriting recognition and speech improvements, claiming "Students won't need textbooks, they can just use these tablet devices." Gee, we've never heard that line before.
Um, have you ever called MS for Windows support? If I remember correctly, it's $100/incident and you talk to an Indian. Woohoo. I'd much rather deal with the stupid Apple technical support...at least I can understand what he's saying.
"Hmmm...do I go with the Jew OS"
Did you just really say that? Are you kidding me?
ruuuuuubes
Poor Bill, his sense of humor isn't exactly fine tuned.
HELL YEAH BILL!
I loathe this ads, the only reason mac doesnt have viruses is no one would want to waste there time on the few mac users there is. I have never gotten a virus on XP anyway.
well, then you don't run a virusscanner to tell you you have viruses or the machine isn't connected to the internet. You tell me which one it is :-)
Post hoc ergo propter hoc
At least he is acting more mature than the head of the company who thinks their products are "superior" than anyone else's.
At the end, what matters to him is, that people buy the products he sells, so he can earn money.
He can think his own products are the worst, even though he has to say they are the best when he's in public. He just has to convince you to buy them all...
Bill is 100% right on this topic. I think those commercials are offensive and will not cause anyone to switch to Apple. I despise their elitist attitude, and I used to be a Mac user.
"their elitist attitude"
Who is the one always touting 92% market share? I think you have that backwards buddy.
Why would it be Gates vs Hodgman, shouldnt it be Gates vs that dork Justin?
I thought the "switch" campain was bad until I saw these new commercials. Those were annoying. But these are annoying plus insulting to my intelligence.
If there was anyone I would think doesn't "get" those ads, it would Bill Gates. C'mon, it's hyperbole. Who ever said ads were completely fair or accurate?
hey people will buy macs based on looks. I know a kid in my class who is spoiled rotten, and she got a macbook pro becuase it looked pretty. I would sooner use Linux over mac os anyday
mikey p is as funny as the ads...mac os is linux based.
I think that the ads are funny. That is their intended purpose. I think that they are successful as well. Not because they are entirely true, but because they take a stereotype and run with it.
Windows (XP) has all sorts of 'fun' stuff for families. None of it works that great, but its there. Like windows movie maker or WMP.
Windows OSs aren't MS Office. But sometimes its fun to think of them that way. The ads are to MS users like Chapelle's Show is to white people.
No. I love Chapelle's Show, and I'm white. I get it. Chapelle's show is based on cultural humor, not "racial" humor. If you understand the culture he is lampooning, you'll find it hilarious. I'm like Bill. I don't get the culture Apple is lampooning in these ads. They're not taking a stereotype and running with it. They're inventing a stereotype and running with it. The only community that sees a Mac vs. PC issue at all is our own--the Engadget-reading community. The mass public sees computer vs. computer, and then they see Apple looking like a smug asswipe while the PC is at the very least focused on productivity in the commercials. Apple invented the "Mac users have to be hip" myth for the commercials, not the other way around. Jeez.
Um, Bill (and others who don't seem to "get it"):
The ads aren't making fun of windows USERS, they are making fun of COMPUTERS that run windows.
Ever seen the commercials? They start with introductions along the lines of "I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC", NOT "I'm a Mac user and I'm a PC user".
Again, the ads aren't saying that PC users are dullards are klutzes: they are saying that PCs that run Windows are klunky, bloated machines that aren't good for much else than spreadsheets, where Macs are sleek machines that are good at "that creative stuff".
Whether you agree is irrelevant: the fact is that the ads don't make fun of the users, just their crappy computers.
You are absolutely correct.
Um, tevetorbes (and other Apple fanboys who don't realize it)
By extension the ads are making fun of users.
Anything your Mac can do my PC can do better..with a little tweaking, try playing a HalfLife 2 on your Mac.
Those ads are just to make the few diehard Mac fans feel good in the morning
@Tecetorbes - I've been a mac user for over 15 years now and I currently use a mac at work. However, I've always considered that PCs are superior due to their flexibility and that's why I choose to use a PC at home. Contrary to what you may think, Macs are just PCs in a nice case. All the components are off the shelf parts with a few proprietary bits added on by Apple to make you stay with them for servicing. Now, even the CPU is a PC part and you can even run Windows on a Mac. Therefore, there isn't any special reason to criticise the PC hardware or it's users / OS.
As for Windows being slow/clumsy and crashing all the time, I'd like to point out that my Mac (Dual 2Ghz G4 running OSX 10.4) also has a lot of issues, including crashes (the 'black screen of death'), problems with permissions and it doesn't even come standard with a defragger. It's generally slower than Windows XP at booting and shutting down. It's constantly being patched through security updates (like Windows) and virus protection is virtually non-existant. Yes, Macs are generally free of virus attacks but it's not invulnerable so prevention is better than being being caught with your pants down one day. I can also say that out of the Windows users that I know (quite a few) and also the die-hard Mac fans (some of my colleagues), PC users are no way any different from the average mac user. PC users are not any smarter or dummer than the latter.
I guess the reason I've never really 'switched' even though I am more of a mac user than some mac users, is because of this 'I'm better than you' attitude that apple tends to portray. If I had to make a choice tomorrow between my pretty mac or my reliable PC, I'd be running away with my PC.
My 2c.
@Arbee - "virus protection is virtually non-existant"
I'm surprised a person who has used macs for 15 years hasn't heard of Virex.
You're absolutely right. If it were "I'm a Farrari" and he spoke with a Italian accent and acted like a stereotypical "fast" and "smooth" Italian macho man - you wouldn't expect Farrari users to say "Derrr...I'm not Italian, I'm not a womanizer"
Like Bill, many just don't get it.
Man I'm glad I'm done with the quest Bill gave me. I'd better lvl off this...
No, they don't make fun of the users by extension.
But the users who aren't to smart think they do and get angry. And that is really funny :) because at that moment the user unknowingly extends the ad so it makes fun of the user as a consequence of the users own action.
Its awfully evil and it makes us Mac users feel really smart, and rich too. Because we know that most of the Apple haters are just angry because they can't afford to buy superior and good looking Apple branded products.
I can not stand the ads, I don't get it either, why are you picking on me becuase I bought a less expensive computer that can do the things I want it to do, I have an ipod (who doesn't) but I am not going to buy a Mac any time soon. Apple Inc. is catering to there fanboy base with these comercials and I doubt they are really gaining market share by picking on the 90% percent of the world that currently has a PC running window.
Right. I have no intention of upgrading to Vista but even less intention to every buy overpriced limited Apple hardware. I realize the ads are picking on the PC and not the PC user, however the LIE is that they are picking on the WINDOWS PC... pretending that PCs are only used for Windows is where the commercials really get me angry.
As I've stated before, when OSX came out, plenty of Mac users found they had to buy brand new machines so that their systems didn't run like molasses in winter.
The weirdest part about the "I'm a mac" ad, the one attacking Vista, is taht if you follow it to its likely conclusion, it's kind of redundant.
They point out that if you want to upgrade to Vista, you probably need to upgrade your hardware. Fair enough, but if you follow the ad where they want you to go, you will have to buy an entirely new Apple machine.
Not to mention that the jump from OS9 to OSX wasn't particularly kind to Mac owners who didn't want to upgrade.
I'm a bit ambivalent on the ads, but ... upgrading from OS9 - OS X was a piece of cake.
If Apple really wanted it to be hardware vs hardware they would have used computer animated computer systems insulting each other. Its not like Jobs doesn't have connections with Pixar.
Everybody knows what image they were going for. They are indirectly insulting everybody who would be stupid enough to buy a PC.
I get it. The ads are saying, "Macs are for cool people. PCs are for dorks." But they should also say, "Cool people don't play games--because you can't play a lot of modern games on a Mac."
Macs run the same games as Windows because, uh, Macs run Windows now, um, uh, didn't you know?
Keyword: Windows
OSX doesn't run most gaming applications natively. It needs Windows to do it. Apple doesn't care about gaming.
I personally don't give a crap about the holy war going on between Mac and PC. I switched to the Mac 4 years ago because XP needed me to format every once in a while and I thought there had to be a better way. So virus-wise, I'm quite glad of my switch. It's not perfect, I can't get the latest graphics card, or the best game, but the peace of mind of the overall experience make up for it quite nicely. Live happy no matter what your choice is, just don't try to stick it in my face like I'm a loser if I don't have the latest chip.
Well, it would be "funny" if bill got so fed up with Apple and end the development of Mac Office (just like Mac IE)
That would really be a blow to Apple.
Um, Macs can run Half-Life 2...or any other PC software actually...since they can run Windows WHILE running Mac OS X. What now?
Oops, I think Bill once said he read Engadget.. hee hee please don't discontinue Mac Office...
Never mind mac office. all he needs to do is not release the office 07 .docx compatibility to mac coming out this spring. lets see how long a mac user will last if he can only receive documents from 10% of population! And before you rebut, with that piece of crap software they are using now to read .docx. All it does is pull the text out of .docx. The only way they can read .docx is to convert to .htm.
Yeah you have to buy a new machine to run OSX, but that same brand new machine will let you run Vista anyway, so its a win-win situation. OSX still runs pretty decently on relatively old hardware.
Billy doesn't get it? He should try using a Mac and then he would get it.
I heard windows was on 90% of the worlds computers.. so how is Apple better?
I dont get it.
Besides, VISTA sounds cooler than X. X is a drug.
@ PEZ QUOTE:
"I heard windows was on 90% of the worlds computers.. so how is Apple better?
I dont get it.
Besides, VISTA sounds cooler than X. X is a drug."
END QUOTE
Yeah. A lot more people own Hondas than Porsches, too. That doesn't make Honda better.
You clearly DON'T get it.
Vista is a point of view. X is the roman numeral for 10.
@pipper > "I think Bill once said he read Engadget"
Judging by the comments, he writes all of them too!
You'd think with 95% marketshare, Windows supporters would cut their competitors some slack. Windows won a LONG time ago. So what if Mac wants to advertise itself as an alternative choice for some people.
Even if Mac doubled, it wouldn't affect the fact that everyone has to use Windows. It's not going away.
Half of these comments sound like they're coming from people who haven't even watched the ads.
Firstly, Apple hardware IS NOT PC hardware - sure the guts are the same but Apple just puts much more thought into the design of their machines (and I'm not just talking aesthetically).
I'd like to re-emphasise that the ads are not comparing users, but systems.
The ads are, of course, hyperbole of the real situation and clearly Bill Gates cannot respond "jee golly I love those ads, they're hilarious!" and the only answer he can really give is "it makes no sense"...
I'd say that the points being made in the ads are fundamentally correct once you look beyond the hyperbole.
I also feel that the ads are just begining to wear a little thin now but when they were debuted, they were a prime example of Apple's awesome marketing machine - certainly a million better than what's been coming out of Redmond.
Has anyone been listening to the hyperbole surrounding Vista's lauch! Makes me want to scream! Bill Gates talking about his original vision of a GUI with windows - now entering the next phase - hold on, wasn't it Apple that moved the PC industry on beyond CLIs?
No, and thinking so means you've spent time in the RDF.
(hint, it wasn't MS either)
Face it, those ads do nothing to actually sell people who are looking to buy a new computer on the Mac - or to entice PC users to switch, in fact the opposite, they alienate the PC users.
All they are really good for is so Mac users can laugh at the "dorky" PC guy and feel smugly superior because they bought a white computer instead of a beige one....
Gates is even funnier than Hodgeman.
His best lines always come from the "we're not copying Apple's OS" while looking at you with a straight face.
Hilarious !
Apple's next ad campign will be "Mac: So easy even a Caveman can do it!"
As a college student, let me say that online/electronic textbooks SUCK. You don't want to drag a laptop everywhere you need a book, printing pages you want is pretty expensive, reading off screens is annoying (for that kind of thing, no offense Engadget), and you can't write on it if that's your thing. Sorry, Microsoft, it just isn't going to happen.
Apple needs to get an iLife really bad.
The reason Windows is on 90% of the world's computer is because when you buy a PC you don't really have a choice. Whatever the computer manufacture pre-installed is whay you get. Since Apple doesn't seem to plan on licensing Mac OS X to random PC manufactuers (mainly because Apple's OS is based around a set hardware user interface; they want the hardware to work seamlessly with the operating system, and in order for that to happen some sort of control/standards must be taken) anyone buying a PC is stuck with what ever operating system Microsoft is shoveling out to the public every few half-decades. Now if you had a choice, what would you really choose?
Well, I like gaming and absolute, hands-down ubiquity with any application and hardware.
I'll choose a PC with Windows, thanks.
@ David:
"The reason Windows is on 90% of the world's computer is because when you buy a PC you don't really have a choice."
What the hell are you talking about? Of course you have a choice. You can choose to buy a PC that has Windows, or you can choose to buy a PC that has OSX on it. No one is restricted from purchasing Mac PC's. Like someone else posted above, Microsoft won this battle a long time ago.
They won it when Apple didn't want to license to third-party software developers, because of the chances that those programs would be buggy. Of course they were buggy with Windows, but the competition between the developers were such that in no time there was working software applications that were compatible with Windows machines, and at a far more competitive price. Far more than with Apple's PC's.
Windows has too many roots that are too deep for Apple to make much of a dent in the PC market. But don't go around trying to make like Windows PC-owners are forced into buying their PC's - that's not accurate. Windows PC-owners choose Windows PC's because they simply can do more with them than they can do with Apple PC's.
Game over.
buying a Mac is stuck with what ever operating system (*and hardware*) Apple is shoveling out to the public every few half-decades. Now if you had a choice, what would you really choose?
The thing that really bothers me about these commercials is the "Cool" guy is the guy that always gets typcast as the dork/loser/nerd in any TV shows movies etc...ever see Ed/Jeepers Creepers/That stupid movie were they make up their own college. So I guess they are saying the "MAC" thinks it is really cool, but to the rest of the world, not so much.
You know.. I would hang out with Hodgeman any day over that little geeky mac dude. At least Hodgeman has a sense of humor!
LOL
Microsoft is the one who thinks its customers are stupid. That's why you have to approve every action you take on a Windows machine.
Mac OS X trusts you to know what you are doing and is by far less intrusive.
A good OS should mostly stay in the background and let the apps come to the forefront. Windows is always popping up balloon and dialogues to force your interaction with it.
That's what's stupid.
saywha? -_-'
The thing that's always bothered me about Macs is that you can't get into the guts; Mac looks smooth and unintimdating for people who have no idea how to use computers, and that it is. That's perfectly fine, but don't get on my case if I like knowing what's going on. It's not for everybody.
I absolutely agree that the ads are stupid,as well as insulting to pc users.I've had experience with both Macs and PCs in the music business,since initially we were forced to use Macs due to software availability.I do not long for the days of having ProTools(don't even get me started on Photoshop) crash every fucking 20 minutes on "state of the art" Macs.Oddly,never had it happen once,ever,using a PC.The concept that Mac users are more creative,or whatever they're trying to get across,is simply ridiculous.Macs were initially created for folks who were computer illiterate and unwilling or incapable of learning to operate a pc...Apple would do well to keep that in mind.
You don't get much do you?
HELLO?!? I think that they remember it very well....watch the commercials this whole discussion is on!
Here's the gist of the point that the ads get across since you live under a rock:
PC = Needs extra peripherals, lots of complex setting up, and a pain in the ass to do anything on.
Mac = All in one, easy setup, and easy to work on.
Guys @ Engadget,
About that 'Judging by the comments, he writes all of them too!' comment,
I've been hearing MSs new marketing strategy includes a number of paid trolls who leave customized comments on blogs. Its sometimes very evident and extremely annoying too, for obvious examples look at a topic discussing say the Zune.
So maybe you guys can do some research on this, perhaps checking IP addresses of the ppl who leave comments will show interesting polarities?
Just a thought.
Ummm, is this some kind of joke?
Now go ahead and accuse me of being a Microsoft employee. Go on. I'm waiting.
Have fun. I'm giggling already-- what an idiot.
You people crack me up. Envy is the very basis of every single commercial on the planet. All ads send one of two messages:
- If you don't have our product you suck.
- If you buy our product you will be better than everyone else.
Maybe people hate the Apple ads because they send both messages and do it with more clarity than most.
If you're going to run Windows, why would you want a Mac? Just feel like spending more money on a machine that won't work with the latest video cards and then running an "inferior" OS on it?
Well, Mac will runs windows games. Especially if you want that cool new game, Myst. Obviously I am beging very sardonic, but you get my point. Running games on most Macs is like running games on a 3 year old PC or a $250 eMachines. Most games will run, just not too well, and top end games, Oblivion, F.E.A.R. ect. ect. won't run at all. Atleast with me $250 eMachines, or my 3 year PC I can up grade it.
$250 eMachines
$120 1GB RAM
$120 Nvidia 7600 Video CardD
Playing Oblivion for under $500 Priceless
Yes some of us have to upgrede our machines, but that is the beauty of Windows, you can upgrade and keep you machine alive for longer than you could with a MAC, atleast if you want it to be at the top of its game.
I second that Engadget, I find it so frustrating when I read comments and they are so blatently written by M$ in order to make themselves look better. Lets get some IP Addresses from posters and THEN see how those comments stack up.
Also, in the argument of Mac vs PC, I have on my desk a mac, a PC and a linux box, I have had 0 trouble installing windows XP SP2 on my Macbook, loaded all my drivers even uses my built-in webcam with no problems. However my Windows box has had many many problems just getting WINDOWS on it. This reason ALONE is reason enough to buy a mac, it runs windows perfectly... even games... for those of you who haven't grown up... all at 100% Intel Core Duo 2 speed... suck on that fanboys...
Huh.
See, I had exactly no problems installing XP Pro on my custom rig.
Yeah, go ahead. See if my IP points to Redmond.
Morons.
Evan, you are a moron. Okay, first of all, you need to decide if you are hating Windows or PC's. You claim that you installed XP on your macbook just fine. Well, if that's the case, then you can't be hating on Windows, right? Then you say that you can't install Windows on your 'Windows Box' (meaning PC). Where did the hardware in your PC come from? Is it ten years old? Is it a Dell, HP, Compaq, E-Machines? Did you put it together yourself (if so, you OBVIOUSLY did something wrong)? Maybe you tried (and failed) to upgrade some hardware? I have made at least 10 custom pc's for me, my friends, and my family, and have never had any trouble installing Windows on it. If you can't install Windows on your PC, YOU are what's broken.
Um you might have Intel Core 2 Duo, if you game you know that doesn't mean crap. My Celeron D 3.2 with my 2 SLI 7900s and only 1GB of RAM runs my games faster then my friends Core 2 Duo with 2 GB of RAM and his 7600. He has more ram, faster processor but his video card bottle necks his whole system. As nice as it is to have Core 2 Duo, I am not rendering video, or convering audio while playing Oblivion at near the higest settings. Video card, not processor is the most important part of a gaming rig. I skimped on the processor to get the video cards I wanted.
Mac sucks....
Sure their operating system may be superior, but what the hell is an operating system with the community? Games suck on macs, their mouse blows, and the number of PC developers to mac developers might as well be 100 to nil.
"Apple just puts much more thought into the design of their machines"
Are you retarded man? Tell me, does Microsoft put ANY thought into their design? No. You know why? Because they don't design their machines... They make an awesome operating system and they allow any computer to run it. I built my computer and it is BAD ASS. I spent about a grand on it and it does everything I want it to do and much much more. Name one business that uses Mac's for their infrastructure.
These ads are getting pretty old. I thought they were funny at first and then they wore them out. It seems they put a new one out every week. If they are such marketing geniuses, then why is the only way they've gained any momentum in the computer market by allowing originally Microsoft exclusive software to run on their systems?
RE: Juaquin-
I totally agree with you--paper textbooks are far superior to the current electronic offerings; but we are taking about the future.
E-Paper technology is progressing rapidly, it will be lightweight and easy on the eyes as well as interactive. They will be networked and provide access to an unlimited library of sources. With a touch-sensitive screen you can mark the pages up all you want--you could even highlight text with your finger. Driving to school--the thing could read you the chapters. The cost of distribution of new texts will be nill. New additions of texts may never be needed as the information contained could just be updated on a continuous basis. Basically paper is going to become essentially obsolete in developed countries for most purposes.
There is no question if this will happen, the only question in when.
One more thing:
How can you respect a company that takes seven years to put cosmetic changes on an old OS and call it revolutionary?
Almost every innovative feature that was promised for this upgrade was ditched because MSFT couldn't figure it out.
Vista is lipstick on the XP pig and that's it. And it took them four years longer than originally promised to put that lipstick on. Wow, yeah MSFT is GREAT!
Windows doesn't have 90% of the market because it's better, it has 90% of the market because it has 90% of the market. It's called a monopoly. I used to always use Macs because they were better, then I was FORCED to get a PC at work because they decided to "standardize" on PCs. The decision was entirely based on perceived cost savings. That ultimately led me to get a PC at home to be compatible. I suspect my story is not unique. Now that Windows has their monopoly it's difficult to use anything else because you're not compatible with 90% of the market if you do. It's a self-perpetuating dominance that has nothing to do with quality.
I think what's really funny about this whole "monopoly" notion is that apple had a fair chance.
15 years ago, it was all apple. Everywhere. In my lower school and middle school. All apple.
Microsoft came to market with a different product. And now the vast majority of computers (it's more than 90%, by the way) run Microsoft operating systems. I'll leave it at that.
I encourage competition in the marketplace. Basic economics deems competition as good for consumers. But I won't get suckered into using inferior and more expensive hardware to get an "apple experience" or whatever. I tried that for almost four months while studying abroad.
I won't be going back to apple anytime soon, thanks.
I'm a hardcore mac user (sorry haters) and I really dislike these ads. Like someone above said they make me feel self conscious about using my hardware in public.
There are so many great aspects of the mac to highlight, particularly the OS. It baffles me that they would choose to have their campaign revolve around the flaws of some imaginary "PC".
I think that the ad's are funny...but not entirely accurate.
This doesn't keep me up at night because they are advertisements...and if I was going to get all jerked everytime a marketing person made something up, I would never read Engadget.
They're ads kids. And every software company is looking at what the competition does so they can try to do it better. As is every biotech, auto and fast food company......The difference is you don't get a website full of turds spouting things off like, "Oh Dude, the McRib is such a hack job on a real bbq sandwich! All you mcfanboys aren't even gonna know what hits you when The King drops the WhoppaQ this Summer." Then BK hits a production snag and delays the release...they have a vested interest in you using Blu-Cheese so they try to include it with every sandwich. McD's starts to work with Jack on HD-Sauce....People complain that there aren't enough good side dishes on launch day. Next thing you know you got a closet full of sandwiches and nobody on E-Bay wants em.
What the hell was I talking about again?
wow, talk about oversensitive. I'm a PC user and think the idea that these commercials are "offensive" to PC users is ridiculous. I mean, whether you think they're funny or not is just personal preference of humor, but give me a break. Offensive? lighten up. I personally think they're really funny and cute and don't take it personally. At the end of the day, Windows machines/OS's ARE typically built for more productivity-type work and Macs are typically built for more media-centric work. Also, for the record,doesn't anyone remember this ad campaign from a couple years ago? http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/facts/default.mspx
the site is different than it used to be, but if you look at it, it's all the same stuff - one note quotes on how complicated linux is and how great windows is. And their claim in 04 was that long run Windows-based systems were cheaper in the long-run than linux based systems. And linux people were in an uproar saying their data was misleading and the reports were by hired analysts and whatnot and eventually MS had to pull the data. So, Apple's not the only one who slants advertising to sell a product (not that that's uncommon practice in general, anyway). Don't get me wrong, I haven't made the jump to Apple and if I ever did I think I would use it more for graphic design and media uses rather than my main machine. But I still think this isn't that big of a deal. It's funny, it's tongue-in-cheek, it's advertising (not "lying"), MS has done the same type thing in the past, let's all relax and move on.
bill's sense of humor is as keen as his haircut.
I'm not pointing fingers at any particular person, and also the paid-posters are not very evident in this kind of topic anyway cos it's about Windows in general, which is ofcourse the most popular OS and is bound to have it's fanbase.
BUT they are there, and are much easier to recognize in threads about MSs real sucky points..like a zune discussion as I mentioned.
I am a software engineer who uses all 3 major OSs every day, mostly windows cos compatibility. Still I choose to use OSX for everything personal and I have no doubts that it's the best 'designed' OS.
@ENGADGET
I think you really should do some study regarding IP addresses and bias. A simple script to do that won't be too hard to write. At least that would be a very interesting experiment, which only the admins of a very popular site like you can do. That'd be awesome investigative journalism!
At DAVID
No, your reasoning why windows is on 90% of worlds computers is not because of some well thought out 'seamless' os, its because osx is simply, not powered, supported, or configurable like a windows machine. You cant run the internet with a mac, thats for sure, leave it to windows and unix environments to do it.
Oh you mean unix machines lIke the Mac? - Moron
"Why would Apple make ads that make their own userbase look like assholes?"
Truth in advertising?
If the internet could give real feedback you'd get a punch in the face for your ignorance.
If you read the Newsweek interview, Gates says: "I've never seen the ads.". Ummm... no wonder he didn't get it, what a bright spark. The actors portray their respective *computers*, not the *users*. I'm surprised so many posters failed to see that distinction... maybe they "never seen the ads" either, or missed the subtle interpretation implied in the ads cos it wasn't spelled out in black and white. As for the "90% marketshare = better product" subscribers, I bet many of you also hate iPods (with 75% marketshare), from your point of view, does that not collapse your weak theory?? Can we lay that argument to rest now? The amount of opinionated ignorance in these threads is amazing.
There's one reason why the Mac user base is so small in comparison to Windows. Macs are, believe it or not, for basic operations harder to use, especially considering everyone is used to the Windows OS, or even if you use Linux it's harder to switch to Mac.
Windows has more users that are more stupid than Mac users. That's fact and I love my Windows, but that's the truth. I tried Mac, I really tried to get a long with it, I wanted to, it's so "cool", but at the end of the day I couldn't customize it to the way I wanted it to be. Windows? It wasn't a problem, yeah it took a day, but now I work faster, my machine is faster and I'm just more efficient.
I would say the ads are lies, nor that they are awful, I'm just going to say that they bend the truth a lot.
I've said for years that Apple would sell a lot more Macs if they could turn down the nasty rhetoric. I can't recall the last time Apple actually said something about their own products that didn't include something nasty about MS.
Spin it however you like but most people like companies that act professional over ones that act pompous. And businesses like it even more which is one big reason Apple doesn't make headway into business use.
Sheesh... after reading all of these comments its kinda of silly that everyone is always bitching about "Apple Fanboys", because there is obviously alot of M$ Fanboys lurking as well.
My Toshiba tablet PC with Windows Vista is truely the ultimate. Bill is right, Tablet PC's are the way of the future! Once you go tablet, you will never go back.
Apple is right, upgrading with windows is hard. you have to buy new computer parts and have them installed, upgrade some hardware... Upgrading with Apple is easy, you just buy a whole new computer! thats much more efficiant then buying parts to upgrade your existing computer :)
If the ads are ineffective, why are these numbers so good? Apple basically had Zero TV ads for Mac before 2006, but as of last
christmas period sold twice as many Macs as the 2001 period
(admittedly depressed because of 9/11). Anyway food for thought, even
if you hate the ads, an extra 400K people bought Macs last year than
year before, so they must be somewhat effective.
1,606,000 oct- dec 2006 /// 1,254,000 oct- dec 2005 /// 1,046,000 oct- dec 2004 /// 829,000 oct- dec 2003 /// 743,000 oct- dec 2002 /// 746,000 oct- dec 2001 /// source http://www.apple.com/pr/
400,000?
Is that some kind of joke?
It gets easier and easier to shrug off apple fanboys...
I envy anyone who owns a Toshiba Tablet ;)As you probably know...Vista gives you tablet AND Media Center functionality all in one. How cool is that?
things i took away from the article...
a) he's pissed over the ads... and of course he's seen at least some of them.
b) Windows Search is now required. Great - what's next - Vista deciding on its own what I can do with the content it finds on my drive?
c) For an operating system that allegedly was tested by millions of people - he sure piled on a neat little disclaimer at the end...
i think that hes right. macs are still crap
Bill doesn't get it because he can't, he IS that PC guy and is a dullard.
...and the richest man in the world.
Next...
I switched over to a Mac last year because I wanted the all-in-one, ready to use package that it offers. Everything is right there: extra software and free apps, built by the same company to work together or made by someone else to seamlessly integrate. So far, I generally like it. There have been a few problems, but Apple has cleared them up for free with the one year, limited warranty and they offer Apple Care, which is cheap compared to Microsoft's huge tech support price tag.
We also have a PC that my Fiance uses. It works fine for her email and web needs. In fact, they are wirelessly linked to share files and that works wonderfully. As long as I keep up with things and perform regular maintenance on the PC, it runs fine. I've probably put as much or more money into it over the years that I have put into this Mac in one fell swoop and the Mac is a laptop.
Also, most people I know are not "leet" gamers and generally use their PCs for email and web surfing. It's near impossible to teach them how to organize and keep on top of things so they don't get exploits, so I'm usually helping them recover from viruses or trojans. I know Macs have similar potential to be slow and possibly infected over time. It depends on the user and their habits, but so far, I have found it very easy to keep everything relatively clutter-free.
On a professional level, a friend of mine uses a PC to do video editing and is extremely frustrated by the separate apps he has to collect to do this or that in his workflow. I showed him the Final Cut Studio demonstration and he was blown away. He asked several times how he could get it on his machine and I had to keep telling him that he couldn't.
Integration and a well put together user experience on the whole does not equal a superiority complex. It's just what it is. Microsoft got so big because it gave people an operating system with very few fringes and other companies brought their products to it. This seems to have made a very hap-hazard user experience, going from one thing to another and having to buy this program because they need to do that. But it also allowed Windows to run on very cheap hardware (sometimes the cheapest, loudest crap a manufacturer could find) and appeal to the user who doesn't know better and sees a Mac as over priced in comparison. Mac is educating people in a funny, tongue-in-cheek matter with these ads. Maybe Microsoft will do something similar, showing off it's user features... oh, wait, it is with this Bill Gates interview stuff and him focusing on sorting pictures and making DVDs. ;)
Quality over quantity. Not the greatest quality, mind you, but at least someone is trying to get some unity in things and thinking about the end user a little more. I'm glad Microsoft is finally moving in the same direction. :)
Use the computer you feel comfortable with. Try Apple out in the store. Try a PC out in the store. Ignore advertising, you are not controlled by it, no matter what sociologists say. The Mac ads are funny because we know they are true on some level. I've worked with PCs for over 20 years and laugh every time I see one of those ads. It comes down to what you like and are comfortable using. Do some research before buying, people.