Microsoft alters Laptop Hunters "Lauren" ad after Apple calls to complain
By Laura June 
posted Jul 24th 2009 12:31PM
posted Jul 24th 2009 12:31PM
In a continuation of the saga that began about ten days ago, Microsoft has altered one of its Laptop Hunters ads to reflect Apple's recent price changes. Last we'd heard, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner was boasting that the ads had been so successful that a rep from Apple had called to ask that the ads be pulled. Turner pointed out that Apple's complaint -- that the prices were no longer correct -- was the result of a price cut of "$100 or something." Now it appears that one ad -- the one featuring the second Lauren -- has been re-edited so that she no longer mentions the price of the MacBook Pro ("over $2,000"), which has been dropped to $1,700. We'll be honest -- we don't care how this turns out, just as long as we can keep on using the words "Apple" and "Microsoft" in the same sentence.
[Via Apple Insider]
[Via Apple Insider]
Actually, Microsoft cost my school a shitload of money, they ordered a bulk license, they supplied the wrong type of license, and the only thing they offered was to order the right license again.
Now we have rooms and rooms of computers with Ubuntu and even OS X on them...
apple fail
That's true. They lowered the price of the actual product and raised the cost of shipping.
Can't idiots go back to saying "sucks" or "rocks"? That was much less revolting than "FAIL" and "FTW"
Sweet memories.
"Apple" and "Microsoft". Hows that?
yes... just goes to show that they are all about profit when they can drop the prices on all their computers.. That pro dropped 300$, wonder how much markup they are actually making
Pretty much.
Apple can dish it out all they want to, but when someone throws it back they go crying home to Mommy.
Yeah really.
So glad to see an effective counter being offered to those pretentious "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" spots.
Yeah, they failed so much that Microsoft altered the ads to appease Apple.
Damn right microsoft doesn't complain and make apple change their ads when they release a patch or update. and whats up with this site does apple's sales dept. come here during their downtime... or their all the time? It's like a boxer who wants to fight everybody that says UFC is better. Get a life or get a job in marketing. At least you'll be getting paid and be able to afford all the mouthwash you need from having jobs in your mouth all day. Suckas!
epic apple fail
epic apple fail
This is really unbelievable. Apple rips on MS MERCILESSLY with all the non-stop I'm a Mac ads but then they turn around and cry like a little girl with a skinned knee when MS runs these little things?
Microsoft wants you to believe that Apple cried like a little bitch about the ads. The facts are these: the ads drew attention to Mac prices that were no longer accurate, to continue running the ads as is would have been false advertising, and Microsoft had to change the ads or face a lawsuit. Microsoft's stooge COO then misrepresented Apple's notification (which likely said that they couldn't continue running the ads AS THEY CURRENTLY WERE and pointed out the exact inaccuracies) in order to get some much-needed good PR, and many people fell for it. If Apple didn't have a legitimate claim, Microsoft wouldn't have changed a damn thing. They did change them.
And you can bet your ass that if Apple made a blatantly false claim about Microsoft products in their ads, Microsoft would have called them on that too. It's obvious Microsoft had seen them, yet Apple never had to change anything.
This whole discussion regarding Apple's call about these ads has been absurd, inaccurate, and exactly what Microsoft wanted.
How so? MS changed their advertising due to Apple's complaint (and most likely threat of legal action). A fail would be if Apple complained, then nothing was done about it.
I love these ads.
In other words, Apple was right.
It said "replying to Drew" {Undo} and it shows up under yours. thats some stupid shit.
You mean MS was right, in that Apple *did* complain that the pricing was off in light of a minor price drop in a laptop that will soon be outdated.
This doesn't change anything as far as the affordability of Macs. Apple lowered the price on that particular model because it will soon be replaced by one with better hardware.
Shipping is free and the lower price is on *brand new* hardware. You guys don't know what you are talking about.
Actually, Apple lowered the price on pretty much all of their notebook line. It's not "just because they are about to update the hardware" (which would be unusual considering they just updated the entire line). We aren't talking about a particular model. The only laptop that didn't see a change in pricing was the low end $999 white macbook. They've actually lowered the prices by as much as $300 while giving everything a spec bump.
Still doesn't change that comment she made of the Apple laptop, "You're paying a lot for the brand". She bought the laptop for under $1000. With Apple's new price tag of $1200 on their MacBook Pro, you can still buy a laptop with a better CPU, Video, Memory, and HDD with a Windows OS on it.
Apple ought to suck a lemon, hell 1,700 is still a huge unnecessary premium....
I'm not debating that, I'm pointing out that sn1per was wrong. Besides, If she's a law student, she shouldn't be paying the full retail price on the laptop anyway. In addition to Apple's price cut on the laptops, she'd also receive $100 off of the 13" Unibody MBP. That drops the price an down to $1,099. If she buys it during back to school time, she'd get a $230 iPod Touch for free (or a heavy discount on the other iPod Touches), and if she waited until August, Apple usually gives a $100 discount on printers (which gets you an HP all-in-one for free). She could walk out of an Apple Store in August with $1,530 worth of merchandise for $1,099. Chances are, she's going to need a printer, and if she doesn't have an iPod/Zune/personal audio device of some kind, the iPod Touch isn't a bad choice at all. If she doesn't want it, sell it on ebay and you've probably made $200 back.
Well the better hardware helps to offset the amount resurces windows uses. Apple FTW. Typed from my iPhone and yes I used to love windows and hate apple until I switched and realized how much better Macs are. Let the flaming begin.
Apple was only right in the US. Here in Canada, they re-evaluated the relative value of the Canadian Dollar and the price drops here were negligible. Meanwhile, the CAD is on an upward trend vs. the USD...
@ Chris Dunning :: What does her being a law student have to do with paying full retail? There are a lot of people that just walk into a store and purchase goods at the retail price. They're called consumers.
Furthermore, your synopsis has a lot of if, and, or maybes. If I wanted to buy a laptop, no way in hell would I take advice from you. You seem to know exactly what everyone needs before they even know what they need..
"Apple can dish it out all they want to, but when someone throws it back they go crying home to Mommy." - Glenn Tobey
Yeah, Microsoft should threaten Apple with legal action if they don't pull the I'm A Mac ads.
Oh wait, they can't, because the Apple ads are legally accurate.
Time for some cartwheels.
It doesn't matter that she's a LAW student, it matters that she is a student. Student discounts are there for a reason (if it's not clear that the $100 off is a student discount). Take advantage of them. Yes, she's a consumer, but if she's a smart consumer, she'll take advantage of offers that get her more for her money. Does she own a printer? If not, she'll probably want one, right? Students have papers to print, and a lot of universities have a per page printing fee that equates to much more then the cost of ink and paper. On top of that, I've waited in print lines for a paper at the end of a semester, and I know what it's like to have ten to twenty students all printing 30 pages ahead of me.
If, and, and maybe are not bad words. They're considerations. Good buying advice considers that there are many variables in making a purchase.
As for "knowing what everyone needs before knowing what they need", I don't. But I can make observations and assumptions based on my personal knowledge about the needs of students. Does it mean I'm always right? No. Does it mean that a general observation is any less valuable in offering someone buying advice? No.
Every currency is on a upward trend vs. the US Dollar....=(
it's funny how everyone skipped the comment on the fact the microsoft's profit is down (again) while apple's rises (again).
"Yes, she's a consumer, but if she's a smart consumer, she'll take advantage of offers that get her more for her money."
Um, she has to have a marketing team to help her shop. I think we can peg that as "not a smart consumer".
@ Chris Dunning :: Apple isn't the only computer manufacturer to offer a student discount. Then, you go on and on about some printer that Apple "usually gives a $100 discount on". So, we don't even know if she'll be able to get the printer for free? I'm pretty sure BestBuy, Staples, etc. have some pretty reasonable deals on printers come August.
Good rule of thumb: Never assume, it makes an ass ...
"Um, she has to have a marketing team to help her shop. I think we can peg that as 'not a smart consumer'"
Ah, you're right. She's a lost cause.
"Apple lowered the price on that particular model because it will soon be replaced by one with better hardware."
@sn1per: You just showed that you know nothing about Apple's pricing policies and strategy. Apple pretty much never lowers the price in anticipation of new hardware. They lower the price when they release new hardware. They didn't 'drop the price' they released new hardware at a $300 lower price point than the older model. Which pretty much makes that statement of yours completely false.
Ironically, what you describe is EXACTLY what every Windows PC box supplier does with every single model they release. I always find it hilarious when ignorant posters are unknowingly ironic. Makes their ignorance that much more evident.
No, Apple isn't the only computer manufacturer to offer a student discount. You're right. You can walk right into a Dell store and... oh, no you cant. Well, you know that's okay, you could go into HP's brick and mortar store and... no, that wont work either. The thing is these adds aren't adds for online shopping, as many people have pointed out before. Dell offers a great online discount for students. I bought a number of products using it when I was still in school. However, Apple's brick and mortar stores offer the same student discount as the online store.
You can argue semantics on the printer thing, but the truth is, Apple follows a pretty predictable pattern with special offers. Free iPod at back to school time, free printer in August-September (actually they usually offer it year round, but it's marketed in three month increments, they just ended one for May, June, and July). And that's to say nothing of the free iPod. Who else is giving those away with a laptop purchase?
So then you go on about how you're "pretty sure BestBuy, Staples, etc. have some pretty reasonable deals on printers come August."
So, we don't even know if she'll be able to get the printer for free? See, I can play that game too.
As for not making assumptions, that saying is trite and stupid. We make assumptions every day. I guarantee your life is lived based on assumptions. You assume your car will start when you get in and turn the key, because your personal experience supports the assumption. You assume that the home you live in wont be gone when you return after work, because it typically is. You assume that you will enjoy a particular directors movies, because you've enjoyed his/her previous work. You assume that your food is safe to eat, because you've bought it from the same place for years. However, some days your car's battery is dead, because you left the lights on when you got out. Your home isn't there, because an electrical fire started and it burned to the ground. The movie you went to see didn't mesh well with you, because the director tried something new and it just didn't work. The spinach you bought makes you sick, because some food packer didn't wash his hands properly and now you have salmonella.
Things happen, but if we were to assume the worst at all times, we'd choose nothing.
@ Chris Dunning :: Didn't read your post. Don't plan on it, either.
But I'd 'assume' you're sitting at Starbucks with your MacBook Air hoping people notice you.
Well, that's mature. Roughly the equivalent of covering your ears and going "Nah, nah, I can't hear you!"
No, I'm not at Starbucks (I don't drink overpriced, bitter coffee). I'm at home. No, I'm not typing on a MacBook Air, it's a MBP 15" from October. And I'm not too worried about getting "noticed". I get plenty of attention from the people in my life.
I think Chris Dunning is Paul (A or B) Chapel in disguise.
Hmm. Fairly sure I'm not. I've been here longer then Paul (at least I think...) and Paul's arguments have no actual substance to them. Oh, wait, I see. I think tyler is Steve Ballmer in disguise! If you check my post history, you'll see that, yes, many of my posts are pro-Apple, but I've also made as many arguments against blind fanboyism as I have for Apple's products.
@ Chris Dunning :: I'm bored with this.. have a good one.
Yes, I would imagine it becomes tiresome having your ad hominem "Starbucks, MacBook Air" argument pointed out for the childishness it is. When you decide that you'd like to actually discuss things in the point/counter-point manner I've been trying to rather then attacking me as an individual, feel free to come on back.
Oh, and thank you. Have a nice day, too.
lol.. you win Chris. I now feel totally deflated and don't know if I can go on living my life like this..
*rolls eyes*
I'd just like to apologize to everyone here at Engadget for being bored at work on a Friday and inadvertently hijacking this comment thread. Have a good weekend!
Interesting arguments guys. I say a points win to Chris. Sorry Tyler, but you got a bit desparate at the end...
Sorry Tyler, you lost the argument.
@Chris
I respect you. You defended all of your positions logically. I disagree with your pro-Apple sentiments, however, I do agree that people on this thread had an irrational hatred for Apple.
I would most certainly love to spar with you over some issues. Unlike Zak and Paul A. Chapel, you do not take personal offense whenever someone disses Apple. You simply refute them for the haters they are. I like that. Thank you for adding substance to this discussion unlike other vapid readers of this fine blog.
I defend people when I see that they are making rational arguments. I hate people who constantly riff on companies or people with no reasoning behind it.
Ergo: Thank you Chris, fuck you Paul, Zak, and Fox News.
lol Apple was right? How about more like Microsoft's ads put competitive pricing pressure on Apple so Apple had to lower their prices to continue to compete for the college student market (where mom and dad foot the bill and an ad that points out just how much cash would be in your pocket during a recession was probably driving home the message).
@DanielT- I agree one thousand percent. The whole "Fail" revolution is WAY played out and extremely annoying.
Some Macs do cost more but the materials and the fit / finish on some of those Windows based laptops are well suspect. It all comes down to choice. You buy what appeals to you and what you are prepared to pay it.
A Rolex Submariner cost more than a Casio but no body complains about that.
While I do not actually like these commercials, I enjoy the frown it places on mac-addicts.
The next thing Microsoft needs to do, since they can no longer mention the price, is merely record the 'look' someone has on their face when they see the price for the Macs. A few wide-eyed looks later and the point is made.
I like it!
From an advertising perspective, these ads suck. They basically say that Windows computers are cheap. This particular ad is even worse as the girl like superficial aspects of the various laptops she looks at (I like the color of this - pointing to a pink one) and at the end the mother basically says she's spoiled. I'm sure all the PC makers (except Dell - the one she bought) are really thrilled at having their products ignored. With the cutting out of most of the Apple references even the premise no longer makes sense, the advert basically picks on other PC makers, not specifically Apple.
Microsoft should be touting the various advantages of Windows, not the price. If price is the main advantage, buy a laptop running Ubuntu.
"From an advertising perspective, these ads suck. They basically say that Windows computers are cheap."
No, Idiot, they are saying that Apple is Over-priced. and in saying that they also bring to light the idiots who think that paying more means better quality. This is what apple is preying upon, pretentious (mainly) Americans who think they can look down upon everyone else by paying more for their stuff.
'We here at Apple, actually don't make anything. However, we do use other Manufacturers Ideas, slap them with a Proprietary label, charge you an exponential amount more than it is actually worth, then call it Innovative.' 'We over-inflate the ego of those who buy our
products, and we are proud to say we'll drop prices once-in-awhile, to further prove how much we've inflated the price of our product to begin with.'
Lamb-chops anyone?
"From an advertising perspective, these ads suck."
And yet... they made Apple lower their prices and call Microsoft begging them to stop airing the ads. I'd call that a major success on the ads' part.
Actually, I find the ads entertaining.
"Hi, I'm a filmmaker but I can only afford a laptop under $1,000."
LOL! That's comedy gold!
@ Quix
What is entertaining is that you think most film makers have a lot of money, when in fact most are poor, just like most actors, most musicians, most artists.
Frown? They made Apple drop their prices! It's a win-win!
"And yet... they made Apple lower their prices and call Microsoft begging them to stop airing the ads. I'd call that a major success on the ads' part.'
@Khav: Yeah, because of course Apple has NEVER lowered their price before. Geez, where you do you people come from? Apple often release new models at lower price points than the old model.
Just because Microsoft puts out a TV ad that quotes a single model's price as being expensive around the same time that Apple refreshes their entire line of notebooks, it must be a fact that Apple was reacting to Microsoft's ad.
Lastly, I'm pretty sure Microsoft's goal with the ad was to help sell more Windows notebooks by convincing consumers that Macs are too expensive. Apple lowering their prices makes that point moot, which essentially means that if Apple DID lower their prices in response to the ad, the ad fails. Miserably. I'm pretty sure Microsoft would have preferred that Apple kept their prices higher so they could continue to compete on the basis of price, which is pretty much all they have to compete with, since Apple's product offering is clearly superior by almost every other measure.
Just-uh-Thought: "No, Idiot, they are saying that Apple is Over-priced. and in saying that they also bring to light the idiots who think that paying more means better quality. This is what apple is preying upon, pretentious (mainly) Americans who think they can look down upon everyone else by paying more for their stuff."
Way to go. If you can get beyond your name-calling and assumption that anyone buying a Mac is pretentious and has more money than sense, you'll note that the revised advert now barely mentions Apple. Give people more credit and leave out gratuitous generalizations. People have many reasons for buying a particular computer. No doubt some buy Apple because they think their products look cool, but it's probably the same fraction that are attracted by the colorful stickers slapped onto most laptops.
Apple didn't "beg" anyone to pull the ad. They told Microsoft the ad wasn't accurate... and Microsoft changed it.
Just-uh-Thought: "No, Idiot, they are saying that Apple is Over-priced. and in saying that they also bring to light the idiots who think that paying more means better quality. This is what apple is preying upon, pretentious (mainly) Americans who think they can look down upon everyone else by paying more for their stuff."
I sense some personal issues there.....
You do know that these so called idiots have helped to ranked Apple #1 in consumer satisfaction every year right?
Too funny!
Leave Lauren alone! LEAVE HER ALONE!!!!!
Just don't leave her alone with me!
I believe Lauren. Her hips don't lie.
No, in other words, Apple probably said you cannot use our product's name without paying for it.
Yeah, Apple would NEVER use another companies product as an example! Ever!
umm, that's not how it works. You think Apple gets paid when Microsoft mentions Apple in their competing ad? What company in their right minds would EVER agree to being called out like that for money?
You are highly un-illuminated, Mr. Illuminated One. Companies are absolutely allowed to use trademarks of competitors in their ads, as long as it is clear that they are doing so to compare their products to the competitor's (as is the case here). Otherwise, Apple would have to scrap most of the "Hi, I'm a Mac... and I'm a PC" ad campaign because I doubt MS gave permission to use its trademarks.
I really doubt apple called and complaint about the high prices.
Their margin is 36%, gosh
I wish they would get rid of the "filmmaker" ad.
It's the biggest insult to the TV/film industry.
every industry has its hacks.
Yes. A random girl in a MS commercial represent the TV/film industry.
Yeah I have to agree. I ignore the 'hunter' ads as I do the ' I'm a Mac' ads but being in the creative field the flimmaker one is just absurd. If you are making films you better be getting some beefier hardware than that thing! (Plus have a nice $10-25k workstation with TB's of external drives).
I like the one(s) where they walk out of the store with a pc in one hand and a bag full of software in the other. Wonder how much that other bag costs?
Joe
>> "I like the one(s) where they walk out of the store with a pc in one hand and a bag full of software in the other. Wonder how much that other bag costs?"
I wonder if Best Buy sells professional video editing software.
Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 is $800
Sony Vegas Pro is $600
"Congratulations... it's a PC... and your software costs more than the laptop!"
Right - because professionals create everything with iMovie, and never have to pay for software from the likes of Adobe.
Right.
Let's see:
"Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 is $800
Sony Vegas Pro is $600"
And Apple's Final Cut Pro?
$999.00
Hell, their amateur Final Cut Express is $199 - more expensive than the likes of Pinnacle Studio, etc.
Congratulations, your more expensive laptop because it has the apple logo ALSO has more expensive software!
Oh, but because it's an Apple, your more expensive software, is still cheaper than your waaay more expensive laptop with nearly identical specs.
You are aware that a Mac does not come bundled with any of that software either, and you must also pay exactly the same price for it...
>> "You are aware that a Mac does not come bundled with any of that software either, and you must also pay exactly the same price for it..."
Absolutely correct. My point is that "filmmaker" commercial is missing so much information.
She had $2000 to spend. Did she choose the $800 HP laptop so she could spend $800 on video editing software? I guess we'll never know.
Just because you are a material girl doesn't mean that it takes a certain mix of products to make something that is great. Fact is a lot of wonderful stuff has been produced on any number of things.
By the way, the "industry" was still the "industry" decades ago when they were producing things on equipment that was decades ago.
You can't buy "make it good". You either have it or you don't.
Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 - $800
Sony Vegas Pro is - $600
Apple's Final Cut Pro - $999
Finding a little thing on the internet call torrents - Priceless
That's not quite a level comparison.
Final Cut Studio includes Motion, Color, DVD Studio, and it builds in an very good intermediate codec. To make it even, you'd have to buy a lot more software than just Premiere. At the very least AfterEffects, and I doubt I'd use Premiere without the Cineform intermediate.
And Vegas is just a sack of crap. Let's face it.
Ahh the joys of being a college student.
I am very much a Mac guy, but when it comes to video editing, The new Adobe CSC4 suite is the way to go. Much better than Final Cut, (in my opinion, of course). But they best part of all, is getting the Production Premium suite for $339.00 at the University of Texas computer store
Actually, it was the ad with the "other Lauren" that was edited -- the one with "other Lauren" and her mom.
(The article has been corrected.)
that girl's a PC person like Liberace dated Marilyn Monroe.
Why does Apple even care? LOL
Because, unlike the Apple ads, these actually contain something concrete; Apple charges too much.
Who's doing cartwheels now?
@Greg
Why was your school unable to prove it wasn't at fault? I would assume with such a high volume of business, there'd be a lot of paperwork documenting exactly what your school had actually wanted.
So there are truth to these ads! Unlike the Apple's ads which are just 90's rehash.
Post Rules:
Apple = Negitive Feedback
Microsoft = Positive Feedback
Apple > Microsoft = Flame
It's not our fault that Apple yuppies are getting owned by Microsoft, of all companies...
That's GOTTA hurt.
I don't see Apple getting owned here.
MS guy finds Apple phone call telling them their ads are no longer accurate are absurd, makes a stink about it, then realizes the caller was correct and goes back and edits their ads. That sounds like MS owned themselves.
And then there's the financial statements in the last week. MS didn't own anyone there either.
What mostly I see is a lot of whiny internet idiots who have their personal identity caught up on one company or the other.
@why not the LS2LS7?
Apple posted revenue of $8.34 billion and a net quarterly profit of $1.23 billion.
Microsoft posted revenue of $13.10 billion and a net income $3.05 billion.
Not that these things matter to me because I like products from both companies, but technically Microsoft owned Apple this quarter.
So the conclusion is, if you are poor then just buy a PC! that it! And if you do have more money just buy a mac.
I think the conclusion is if you are cost conscious and want to be smart about your money, buy a PC. If you are stupid with your money and just buy what's cool, buy a Mac.
@Mikey
The conclusion is actually if you want a disposable commodity buy a PC. If you want something that actually retains any value beyond the inital purchase, buy a Mac.