Microsoft's Lauren: She Bought The Fourth-Best Computer

You're way wrong about the 17" Pavilion. I'm an ordinary (75 year old) computer user since the 1970s. I just bought a Pavillion DV7, at just under $700 and it is the best I've ever used. I wanted an AMD processor. The salesman told me that's the best you can get. I did not face the usual startup problems. Just took it on a 10-day vacation to California and it worked exceedingly well. I've never had another laptop that didn't balk and sputter trying to connect with other wired or wireles systems. It is all I could possibly want in a computer (I write books and newspaper editorials). The Microsoft lady shopper got it right.

@Mr. Taylor,

Arik didn't say these things about Lauren's computer, Consumer Reports did. And even they didn't say the computer was unusable. They just said it wasn't as good as a Mac. Now, we're all very happy for you that the HP is "all you could possibly want in a computer." No one said you should not be able to find a servicable computer at an inexpensive price, and certainly you and Lauren have found exactly that. But the salesman told you wrong - it's not the best you can get. Consumer Reports just confirmed it.

And maybe Dell or any other clinet, option, sorry, would be good options too.
&5, reading this blog, fighting back? Oohmph

Arik,

So, if we go by what Consumer Reports has to say, the Microsoft ad is not telling us anything we didn't already know - that the Mac is more expensive. Microsoft did, however, conspicuously leave off a few details that CR did point out, like how that $700 buys you below average performance, nearly a pound more weight and half the battery life. Note that CR did not rate the HP's performance against the category-leading Mac; they rated it against "average." And it came up short.

One other thing of note: if CR simultaneously rated the HP's performance "good" and yet "below average," this means that the bar for performance in this category has been set pretty high. I wonder which machine is responsible for that.

The comment by Mr. Taylor should indicate that, indeed, the ads are reaching their intended target: those who do not have particularly high (or any) standards and for whom price is the major differentiator. The problem for Microsoft is that those individuals were never in the market for a Mac anyway.

'Getting what you wanted' means not paying for more than you want.

AppleInsider in reference to the ad is disparaging 1440x900 as 'low resolution' and calling the screen 'low quality', as if anybody really needs 1920x1200. This isn't HP enticing users to have a low quality screen by
'dangling low prices', as AppleInsider says, its not giving users more than they need in order to justify a premium.

*That's* what Apple does.

The added weight and lower battery life of the machine is due to the fact that HP expects computers that large to be used as desktop replacements, not on-the-go devices. For that HP has a few netbooks. The point is in the PC market, you can get what you want, not some deviced marked as 'quality' so they can charge premiums.

@Robot:

You're missing context. 1440x900 isn't low resolution on its own. It's low resolution for a 17" display. Period.

@Robot:

You're missing context. 1440x900 isn't low resolution on its own. It's low resolution for a 17" display. Period.

I know it has been said before but it bears repeating - the most critical missing feature of any computer you buy that is not made by Apple is it is missing OS X and everything that comes with it. Microsoft is trying to make this a hardware & cost shopping decision and take the Windows vs. OS X comparison off the table. If you don't buy a Mac you don't get a Mac. Now if cheap is so important - get a PC, run Linux and save yourself another $100.

I know it has been said before but it bears repeating - the most critical missing feature of any computer you buy that is not made by Apple is it is missing OS X and everything that comes with it. Microsoft is trying to make this a hardware & cost shopping decision and take the Windows vs. OS X comparison off the table. If you don't buy a Mac you don't get a Mac. Now if cheap is so important - get a PC, run Linux and save yourself another $100.

I know it has been said before but it bears repeating - the most critical missing feature of any computer you buy that is not made by Apple is it is missing OS X and everything that comes with it. Microsoft is trying to make this a hardware & cost shopping decision and take the Windows vs. OS X comparison off the table. If you don't buy a Mac you don't get a Mac. Now if cheap is so important - get a PC, run Linux and save yourself another $100.

I know it has been said before but it bears repeating - the most critical missing feature of any computer you buy that is not made by Apple is it is missing OS X and everything that comes with it. Microsoft is trying to make this a hardware & cost shopping decision and take the Windows vs. OS X comparison off the table. If you don't buy a Mac you don't get a Mac. Now if cheap is so important - get a PC, run Linux and save yourself another $100.

I know it has been said before but it bears repeating - the most critical missing feature of any computer you buy that is not made by Apple is it is missing OS X and everything that comes with it. Microsoft is trying to make this a hardware & cost shopping decision and take the Windows vs. OS X comparison off the table. If you don't buy a Mac you don't get a Mac. Now if cheap is so important - get a PC, run Linux and save yourself another $100.

If I want a great laptop computer I will but a MAC. If I want a cheap PC I will but a LInux machine. Why would anyone buy a Windows computer unless your company forced you to.

@Robot

Thats like saying Mercedes uses leather in its seats because they need to justify charging a higher price for its cars - people don't really need leather seats, vinyl will do just fine.

Do you see how ridiculous that sounds?

We all understand: Lauren got what she wanted. The question is, did she want what she got?

Most people understand the concept of not paying for more than you want. And Lauren certainly did not - she wanted a 17" machine for under $1000 and, by golly, that's what she got. The problem that many have is with Microsoft marketing this as the main criteria for choosing a computer.

But of course they are going to do this - it (price) is the primary arena in which they hold a competative advantage over the Mac.

Uh, 'bears repeating' was not meant to be a pun. Just wasn't sure the submit button worked. Apparently it did.

How long until Lauren's dv7t is hopelessly spyware'd up or starts running a spam botnet? What's the value of having to run a notoriously insecure OS that came with her new HP?

The ad has a point - but Apple doesn't try to compete at the "budget" level with all their laptop models. If price is your main concern over quality and performance, then Apple really isn't an option, at least for 17" laptops.

At the same time it makes about as much sense as Kia making an ad about getting a car for under $20K and sending Lauren to a BMW, Lexus or Cadillac dealer first.

Sure it has four doors, an engine, and gets you from point A to point B, but let's not pretend it's the same thing.

That said, the HP is probably a good enough laptop for what a lot of people want or need. Personally I'd replace Vista with a Linux distro though... =)

You typed this article in on a PC, right? For you damn well didn't have a built in spell checker.

Why would Taylor want an AMD processor? 75yo - that's great! But clueless - that's certain! Smacks of someone who has never once been outside the Windows duck pond.

I'd buy a Mac solely because it doesn't have all those bloody stupid stickers on it to remind you every day what a piece of crap it is.

I'd buy a Mac solely because it doesn't have all those bloody stupid stickers on it to remind you every day what a piece of crap it is.

A laptop is the sum of its parts, and the weakest links for microsoft are currently its OS, and problems with security (either having holes in its security or the complexity of dealing with a trillion viruses, trojans and cookies). OSX is just superior today, and people who want to get beyond XP and vista will pay the extra for Macs. Maybe Windows 7 will level the playing field, maybe not. But thats the issue. HP, lenovo, dell etc make fine machines ranging from low cost to rolls royces, but they can't get beyond the mess that microsoft is today. This can all change, but its not an ad that will fix it, it's microsoft thinking differently (lol) about their core product. They have some of the best developers in the world, but this is a long term complex issue, and until they work it out, I and millions of other "tech savvy" geeks will stick with the best choice , the mac.

A laptop is the sum of its parts, and the weakest links for microsoft are currently its OS, and problems with security (either having holes in its security or the complexity of dealing with a trillion viruses, trojans and cookies). OSX is just superior today, and people who want to get beyond XP and vista will pay the extra for Macs. Maybe Windows 7 will level the playing field, maybe not. But thats the issue. HP, lenovo, dell etc make fine machines ranging from low cost to rolls royces, but they can't get beyond the mess that microsoft is today. This can all change, but its not an ad that will fix it, it's microsoft thinking differently (lol) about their core product. They have some of the best developers in the world, but this is a long term complex issue, and until they work it out, I and millions of other "tech savvy" geeks will stick with the best choice , the mac.

A laptop is the sum of its parts, and the weakest links for microsoft are currently its OS, and problems with security (either having holes in its security or the complexity of dealing with a trillion viruses, trojans and cookies). OSX is just superior today, and people who want to get beyond XP and vista will pay the extra for Macs. Maybe Windows 7 will level the playing field, maybe not. But thats the issue. HP, lenovo, dell etc make fine machines ranging from low cost to rolls royces, but they can't get beyond the mess that microsoft is today. This can all change, but its not an ad that will fix it, it's microsoft thinking differently (lol) about their core product. They have some of the best developers in the world, but this is a long term complex issue, and until they work it out, I and millions of other "tech savvy" geeks will stick with the best choice , the mac.

A laptop is the sum of its parts, and the weakest links for microsoft are currently its OS, and problems with security (either having holes in its security or the complexity of dealing with a trillion viruses, trojans and cookies). OSX is just superior today, and people who want to get beyond XP and vista will pay the extra for Macs. Maybe Windows 7 will level the playing field, maybe not. But thats the issue. HP, lenovo, dell etc make fine machines ranging from low cost to rolls royces, but they can't get beyond the mess that microsoft is today. This can all change, but its not an ad that will fix it, it's microsoft thinking differently (lol) about their core product. They have some of the best developers in the world, but this is a long term complex issue, and until they work it out, I and millions of other "tech savvy" geeks will stick with the best choice , the mac.

A laptop is the sum of its parts, and the weakest links for microsoft are currently its OS, and problems with security (either having holes in its security or the complexity of dealing with a trillion viruses, trojans and cookies). OSX is just superior today, and people who want to get beyond XP and vista will pay the extra for Macs. Maybe Windows 7 will level the playing field, maybe not. But thats the issue. HP, lenovo, dell etc make fine machines ranging from low cost to rolls royces, but they can't get beyond the mess that microsoft is today. This can all change, but its not an ad that will fix it, it's microsoft thinking differently (lol) about their core product. They have some of the best developers in the world, but this is a long term complex issue, and until they work it out, I and millions of other "tech savvy" geeks will stick with the best choice , the mac.

A laptop is the sum of its parts, and the weakest links for microsoft are currently its OS, and problems with security (either having holes in its security or the complexity of dealing with a trillion viruses, trojans and cookies). OSX is just superior today, and people who want to get beyond XP and vista will pay the extra for Macs. Maybe Windows 7 will level the playing field, maybe not. But thats the issue. HP, lenovo, dell etc make fine machines ranging from low cost to rolls royces, but they can't get beyond the mess that microsoft is today. This can all change, but its not an ad that will fix it, it's microsoft thinking differently (lol) about their core product. They have some of the best developers in the world, but this is a long term complex issue, and until they work it out, I and millions of other "tech savvy" geeks will stick with the best choice , the mac.

A laptop is the sum of its parts, and the weakest links for microsoft are currently its OS, and problems with security (either having holes in its security or the complexity of dealing with a trillion viruses, trojans and cookies). OSX is just superior today, and people who want to get beyond XP and vista will pay the extra for Macs. Maybe Windows 7 will level the playing field, maybe not. But thats the issue. HP, lenovo, dell etc make fine machines ranging from low cost to rolls royces, but they can't get beyond the mess that microsoft is today. This can all change, but its not an ad that will fix it, it's microsoft thinking differently (lol) about their core product. They have some of the best developers in the world, but this is a long term complex issue, and until they work it out, I and millions of other "tech savvy" geeks will stick with the best choice , the mac.

This is retarded. I can't beleive someone wrote it. You are comparing a $700 cokputer to a $2800 one. I sure would hope the expensive one scores higher but for values sake the fact that a 2800 laptop only scores an 80 is pitiful. If you spend 700 you realize you are making compromises for cost but at 2800 that laptop should be damn near perfect

Please note that this is NOT a personal attack..."Just took it on a 10-day vacation to California and it worked exceedingly well. I've never had another laptop that didn't balk and sputter trying to connect with other wired or wireles systems."
If you have never had another laptop that 'balk and sputter trying to connect with other wired or wireless systems', then you have obviously never used a Mac for any amount of time...because if you had, you would know that 95-97% of the time does NOT happen. I go into a hotel room, insert the Ethernet cable, and I am online. I go into an office with wireless, input the password and I am online. I have never personally had an issue trying to connect with any network with any of the Macs I have had.

While it is true that a Mac is slightly more expensive at purchase time, total cost of ownership is where value lives. Once you start factoring in the expenses of downtime due to something mucking up your system (malware, virus, etc.), the Mac will provide a better value.

I don't know when or where Arik went to school, but 59% is an F.

If Lauren isnt cool enaugh to be a mac person, why would the place where she found her 17inch screen PC laptop (bestbuy) trys to emulate the looks of an apple store? (wooden desks) and why would the operating system of the computer she just bought (vista) is so similar to Mac OS X Leopard?

Wow, for $1000 she could have bought a basic Macbook with the same resolution display and performance with 5+ hour battery life. Not to mention it would come with OSX installed and she could dual boot into Vista (or XP) for whatever reason she would have needed Winblows... err, Windows.

Why would anyone want Windows? I just don't get it...

The familiarity of it... no couldn't be.

The support for it by software makers... no couldn't be.

Te support for it by hardware makers... no couldn't be it.

Funny, the biggest Mac fanboy I know is always complaining about how such and such isn't for Macs or doesn't support Safari. Maybe he needs to start dual-booting, because it seems like OSX isn't satisfying my needs.

Funny. I don't think I've every complained about such and such not being available for Windows. Until OSX has the same amount of software available as Windows, I will be a Windows user. Don't even start on Linux.

Being an Apple employee, I forsee Lauren bringing her fried 17" laptop in for a data transfer to a shiny (or matte) new mac. If a computer company has complete control over hardware & software development, they will make a better product. End of story. Besides, I didn't see her HP come with excellent, in-store tech support, ability to attend workshops, and solid culture.

My iddy biddy .02

Hey I have owned both a Mac and PC and the bottom line is "It aint just the box folks". Software for Apple is expensive and switching from PC to Mac is prohibitive when it comes to adding the 20K in existing software on a new machine. I need a computer that will do some heavy lifting but also one that is affordable.

Come on, the macbook does not have the same resolution. A 13" screen is pathetic these days. The macbook should have a 15". Anyone looking for a 17" is not going to settle for a 13".

I'm a diehard mac user, but face it: The ad is dead on. If you spec out a completely comparable laptop to the 17" macbook pro, then sure, the prices are roughly similar. However very very people need all the features of the macbook pro.

Can you imagine the surge in sales if apple offered a stripped-down 17" at the ~$1500-$1750 price point? Or an affordable tower. Given the buzz and cool factor of apple stuff right now, I think the hardware prices are what is preventing apple's market share from sky-rocketing.

@Chammond
Does the 20K you reference imply $20,000 in software? I know Lauren is an actress, but I doubt she's shopping for a high end video production studio. After you buy your mac, grab iwork for $79 to replace Microsoft Office (or buy Office for mac, if you want), and then take your first timid steps into the world of independent mac development to replace some of the other expensive programs you may still want, like Adobe or whatever.

@Kenny Johnson
What's not on macs these days? Or safari? Is your mac fanboy friend trying to use old 3-D modeling or CAD software or something? Even if that were the case, is Lauren going to do that?

"At the same time it makes about as much sense as Kia making an ad about getting a car for under $20K and sending Lauren to a BMW, Lexus or Cadillac dealer first."

True. And, tell me ... in this economic environment, do you think Kia or luxury brands are faring better?

I have owned both Mac and Apple laptops over the last 6 years, I usually upgrade every two years or so. I went from PC to Mac and then back to PC in February. I really enjoyed the Mac but it was a little bit harder to find drivers/support for some of the software I use. Apple has better battery times on the whole but I'm always around electricity so it really didn't benefit me that often. The reliability was comparable; I had no security issues on either, regardless of the bad press for Microsoft. Generally speaking the majority of users invite trouble into their computer because of unwise downloading practices whereas I am more prudent when it comes to what I download. Mac fanboyz need to watch their boasting in reference to security issues though because Mac doesn’t have enough market share for any hacker worth their salt to be interested... they know code written to attack PC will be more widespread and destructive. Once Mac reaches PC’s market share we’ll see how well their security really stands up. I’m trying to remain unbiased towards the two and I always keep an open mind. PC won my money this time but you never know what tomorrow holds, Mac never fails to catch my eye due to their style and innovation.

". I just bought a Pavillion DV7, at just under $700 and it is the best I've ever used. I wanted an AMD processor. The salesman told me that's the best you can get."

ahahahahahah..and you believed him?

@ James H
Quote " I went from PC to Mac and then back to PC in February. I really enjoyed the Mac but it was a little bit harder to find drivers/support for some of the software I use."

I call troll. And not a very good one. Only windows users have to go looking for drivers.

Holy crap, one halfway disparaging technical error and a fanboy pounces. I used the term “drivers” purely out of habit because I admittedly have a longer history with PC than Mac. I misspoke; it was actually more of a problem with finding support, not necessarily the "drivers". Try getting all of your old hardware to work with your new Mac, I certainly couldn’t find support for my game controllers when I needed it. I switched from an older Alienware model to a Mac and now I'm back with Alienware for 1 reason only-- I just like it better. I'm not all that displeased with Mac, it was just that one issue...it was a really good computer, just not good enough to warrant the price (and hype) Apple puts on it. I have to point out that the article is comparing apples (no pun intended) to oranges when pitting a $2,799 Mac against an $800 PC. Screen size aside, a $2,799 Mac will not exactly leave a $2,799 PC in it's dust. When investing the same amount of money the PC is easily comparable to the Mac. Were there any other points of my previous (or current) comment you wish to discuss or just my technical blunder?

Years ago I used to race cars - road racing with the SCCA. A number of the guys I used to race with and hang out with were Microsoft engineers. They are all retired now and very wealthy. However, they used to rag on Apple and how much better Windows was (95 was the new one at the time) than the Mac OS. They said how they had so much more market share, blah, blah blah. They were defeating everything in their path, etc.

So I asked each of them if he prefers eating at McDonalds to other restaurants. None of them did. But, I said McDonalds is much more prevalent than any other restaurant - it must be better. They shut up after that. You see I knew they all really preferred other food and would never take their wives or business clients to McDonalds. That shot their argument of ubiquity equals quality. Utility is one thing...but quality and enjoyment is something else.

Then I asked them if they all drove Corollas or Tauruses. These were the highest selling cars of the time. Of course I knew that they drove M3s, Ferraris and Acura NSXs. Nuff said.

@ James

If you change computers so you could play with your game controllers I can see we have nothing more to discuss.

Because wanting to use hardware that you own, isn't a valid reason to consider alternatives? Both Mac and Windows users live in their own bubbles, the concerns of one side don't always match up with the concerns of the other. Either way, most technical people who run either don't use the built in browser, and most don't just run the stock software.

Pwn2own really shows the "security" of macs is no better than Windows, (2 years running Macs have folded first because of Safari vulnerabilities) the market penetration is what makes the vulnerabilities in Windows so severe. The boastfulness of Mac security will come home to roost, trust me and the 3 biggest holes will be finder, bonjour, and Safari couple this with users running as superuser, and all their passwords on the keychain... psh, like taking candy from infants for hackers. Just keep boasting please. You will get to learn all the mistakes that Windows users had to learn the hard way.

Mono culture is as rampant in the Mac user base as it is in Windows, Pick a point release for OSX, and you can within a small margin of error also guess what edition of iLife, iWork whatever you call it they are running.

I'll believe that PCs are "just as secure" as Macs when you can connect a PC directly to the Internet via static IP with no firewall or antivirus protection, and that PC lasts more than 20 minutes. My home network is comprised of three desktop Macs and one laptop Mac. The three desktops are all connected via DSL using static IP addresses, with no firewall and no antivirus protection. In nine years, not one exploit attempt has been successful (and looking at the system logs, there have been many attempts). Does anyone here think a PC could survive similar circumstances for even a week?

Hypothetical threats are one thing. Actual threats are another.

People are missing the point here: this is an ad from MS, and a more than very well controlled environment which it asks the actress to find a 17" laptop for under $1000, so she had to end up with a cheap PC for the budgeting reason and only for the budgeting reason.

She may or may not satisfied with the laptop alone, but she did satisfy or should I say completed her goal of finding a 17 incher for under $1000 and went home with a free laptop. Hack, even a long time Mac user like myself, if I were given the same choice I would grab the same deal, I mean I have to and there wouldn't be another choice other than a PC, then I would sell it on ebay and buy a SSD for my MacBook Pro :)

But wait a second, what if she were asked to pick a 17" laptop for $3000 and give her a choice between a MacBook Pro and a PC cost the same? I bet she would pick the Mac without blinking and call it a Jackpot for the day. Does MS dare to try that?

Besides, MS didn't tell her the true that a same spec PC laptop will cost more than the MacBook Pro she would like to pick. Time after time, reports from hardware price checking companies have confirmed this: a matching spec PC will cost 10%-20% more than a Mac. Please don't forget the total price of ownership for MS installed PC is much much higher and that would widen the gap to probably more than 30%.

Normally a salesman is the best for judging what you want to spend on your computer and close the deal by telling you the one they sell you is the best you can get, they left out the unspoken words "for the price I think you are willing to pay". A laptop that balks and sputters trying to connect with other wired or wireles systems is exactly what a PC laptop does.

FYI PC World rated MacBook Pro as the best laptop for Windows last year by comparing high performance laptops of the same price range. :)

OSX itself includes drivers for almost every, if not all, printer and camera, etc out there whereby Vista has huge compatibility issues over hardwares that is made for PC by providing only 40% of them. If you do need to use a really outdated game controller that didn't include Mac driver when it ships last decade on a PC game then you can use Bootcamp for gaming on a MacBook Pro, as said it's one of the best gaming laptop rated by PC World. If you are playing modern games on a Mac, I am sure you can spare a new usb controller for that purpose.

I second James Jimmerson as I can't think of something I want to do that couldn't use Mac or Safari to finish, hmm, except getting virus infected on purpose. :)

In this economy climate, it would the luxury brands that withstand better as history has proved it time after time, most people that can afford luxury life style rarely get affected by economy downturns. Don't forget the 80/20 law.

A $2799 Mac will not exactly leave a $2799 PC in dust but does out perform the PC in most if not all situation. Please tell me an Alienware laptop matching the basic MacBook Pro 17" spec doesn't cost as much as I am unaware of that, as a $200 cheaper Alienware high performance gaming laptop equips with a slower CPU, FSB and DDR2 ram only.

People are missing the point here: this is an ad from MS, and a more than very well controlled environment which it asks the actress to find a 17" laptop for under $1000, so she had to end up with a cheap PC for the budgeting reason and only for the budgeting reason.

She may or may not satisfied with the laptop alone, but she did satisfy or should I say completed her goal of finding a 17 incher for under $1000 and went home with a free laptop. Hack, even a long time Mac user like myself, if I were given the same choice I would grab the same deal, I mean I have to and there wouldn't be another choice other than a PC, then I would sell it on ebay and buy a SSD for my MacBook Pro :)

But wait a second, what if she were asked to pick a 17" laptop for $3000 and give her a choice between a MacBook Pro and a PC cost the same? I bet she would pick the Mac without blinking and call it a Jackpot for the day. Does MS dare to try that?

Besides, MS didn't tell her the true that a same spec PC laptop will cost more than the MacBook Pro she would like to pick. Time after time, reports from hardware price checking companies have confirmed this: a matching spec PC will cost 10%-20% more than a Mac. Please don't forget the total price of ownership for MS installed PC is much much higher and that would widen the gap to probably more than 30%.

Normally a salesman is the best for judging what you want to spend on your computer and close the deal by telling you the one they sell you is the best you can get, they left out the unspoken words "for the price I think you are willing to pay". A laptop that balks and sputters trying to connect with other wired or wireles systems is exactly what a PC laptop does.

FYI PC World rated MacBook Pro as the best laptop for Windows last year by comparing high performance laptops of the same price range. :)

OSX itself includes drivers for almost every, if not all, printer and camera, etc out there whereby Vista has huge compatibility issues over hardwares that is made for PC by providing only 40% of them. If you do need to use a really outdated game controller that didn't include Mac driver when it ships last decade on a PC game then you can use Bootcamp for gaming on a MacBook Pro, as said it's one of the best gaming laptop rated by PC World. If you are playing modern games on a Mac, I am sure you can spare a new usb controller for that purpose.

I second James Jimmerson as I can't think of something I want to do that couldn't use Mac or Safari to finish, hmm, except getting virus infected on purpose. :)

In this economy climate, it would the luxury brands that withstand better as history has proved it time after time, most people that can afford luxury life style rarely get affected by economy downturns. Don't forget the 80/20 law.

A $2799 Mac will not exactly leave a $2799 PC in dust but does out perform the PC in most if not all situation. Please tell me an Alienware laptop matching the basic MacBook Pro 17" spec doesn't cost as much as I am unaware of that, as a $200 cheaper Alienware high performance gaming laptop equips with a slower CPU, FSB and DDR2 ram only.

@ Joe: Can't read very well huh? Open your eyes fanboy. Since I'm tired of your bad attitude I'll point out that I clearly stated my reason for switching back when I said "now I'm back with Alienware for 1 reason only-- I just like it better". This is what one might call a personal opinion, something a lot of fanboyz have a hard time accepting. Get this through your thick skull *All in all I was satisfied with my Mac. Some people just like PC better--it's not personal.* Sure, I was disappointed by the controller issue, but not enough to dwell on it. I haven't had those controllers in over two years... I bought Mac compliant hardware when it happened and ebayed the old ones. I'm not sure why you have your sights set on me but it seems to me that you're the troll since you're the only one trying to stir things up.

@KC: I have absolutely nothing against Apple, they currently lead the field when it comes to innovation. By the way, I wholeheartedly agree about the Mac outperforming the PC in a lot of situations...and I did pay a little bit more for my Alienware PC. When it comes down to it I just remembered having a better experience with my old Alienware than with my Mac and that's why I went back--personal preference.

Anybody happen to see the second commercial after the one posted above?
-Male actor looking at a Mac:
"This is sooo sexy. But, Macs, to me, are about the ascetics more than they are about the computing power."

Seriously MS?? Bottom line, you get what you pay for. If your most used programs are Outlook Express, Word, and Internet Explorer, you don't need a Mac. It would be a waste of your money. You need a $700 HP. If you want (need) a computer that is fast and reliable and can do more than surf the web, get yourself a Mac. Who says you can't buy love? It costs $2,000-$3,000.
Ok - too far. But I am a proud convert to the Mac world and will never go back to a Piece-of-Crap. I think my MBP could even beat up Chuck Norris. I do. Really. Chuck Norris.

and... AMD... still funny, even way down here. Guess all the used car salesmen quit and started selling PC's.

Wow. The author here obviously is a rich, egotistical snob.

The whole point wasn't about "getting the best money can buy", it was about buying a computer that wouldn't require her to eat at a poor shelter after the purchase.

If you honestly think dollar amount is in any way an indication of quality, I have a 1997 Saturn that I can sell you for $250,000.

@ James H.
I totally agree with and respect your choice since it's your money and you are of the king when it comes to what you want to pay for your hard earned money. Although I would hope you sticked with Mac, :P so we can have 1 more user against MS's poor innovation and monopoly abuse towards computer hardware & software advancement. That said, I am glad you can be fare to both sides of the story and well understand the facts unlike some people never tried a Mac jump to the misled conclusion that Mac is more expensive. I also wanted an Alienware for gaming sometime ago and I know it's one the best machine for games but I do hope you can come back to the Mac community after you get bored with games. ;o

@Hurr Durr Submarines
She didn't have to pay a single cent for it! She got it for free!

@KC: I actually repurposed my Mac as an obscenely awesome multi-media center--it's currently hooked up to my big screen Sony Bravia w/ Bose surround sound...so technically I'm in both the the Mac & PC communities--think of it as a sort of dual citizenship ;)

Just wondering why she didn't buy a Microsoft computer?

The fact is that "Lauren" didn't get what she wanted. She got what fit the search parameters - that is, what Microsoft and the ad agency wanted her to find. She won the challenge and got a free laptop; no wonder she was happy.

I'd be happy if I won a car, no matter what kind it was. But that's the salient point - my happiness would be about having won, period. It would have nothing to do with whether the car was the best there was, or a complete pile of crap.

The real story here is that Microsoft has nothing to come at Apple with, except that its OS runs on third-party hardware that generally costs less than a Macintosh. Imagine Pepsi running spots that say, "we cost less than Coke." Microsoft is now marketing itself as a "value brand," which is tantamount to admitting that they've lost the brand wars to Apple.

Honestly, i don't understand any of this discussion because people seem to think that Lauren and her incredibly overpriced VW Bug would have been better off with a Mac.

While this is the case, there are too many people like Lauren already buying Macs and iPods and I don't care about people like her in any way.

I would much prefer to see people like her buying a Windows box because then she wouldn't be taking up space in my world. She wouldn't be in the Apple Store clogging up the genius bar line when i have a legitimate need (turns out my MacPro had a bad video card - not i'm up and running getting stuff done with my MacPro)

In fact, just stay the hell out of my club, okay? I like my club, that's why i'm in it, and the people that are already in it I like because they're not stupid like Windows users.

Seriously - Mac users - if you have a brain - STOP trying to get Windows users to buy Macs.

We didn't need Windows users for 20 years, and i don't know why the fsck we need them now.

"You get what you pay for, unless you're stupid. In that case, you get what you deserve." - Bruce McCormack

Why is this ad drawing so much ire? Why is it taken at face value.

Imagine Lauren given a check for $25,000 and sent over to the BMW dealership with this requirement: "Find a car that has four wheels and four doors, and if you can have it under $25,000, we'll pay for it"

Of course she will come out empty handed, disappointed and a sad. "I'm just not cool enough for a BMW"

When ushered to the Honda dealership, though, she would find plenty of cars for under $25,000, and she would be so happy with any of them.

It's called branding. Apple can charge $2,800 for a 17" laptop because they can. The value of the brand you buy into does count.

Funny, as I sit here trying to rescue my daughter's iTunes collection and my wife's photo collection off of my Windows partition that is infested once again with another insidious bug that will require me to re-install the OS - the 'cool factor' doesn't even come into the question. After what, eight YEARS on the market, MS *STILL* can't secure their operating system?

This is what this country's about. 'Best' is different for many of us -- and we need maximum choice to achieve the greatest happiness. Multiple choice from a few pre-selected options doesn't cut it. I happen to be able to afford the Mac; but my employer will only give me $1500 for a work-sponsored machine. I'm getting both; and can afford to - lucky me! But, the girl in the ad got what's best for her. She probably needs money for other things, too -- like keeping her car safe for the road. She's doing what's best for her! God Bless Liberty and protect us from anything that tries to take it away or put limits in it!

I am a media designer and basically career video producer since the 1970s.
I just read every entry in this string above mine at this time. Here's my 2 cents worth while I'm rendering a video on my Windows 7 system.

I graduated from The Illinois Institute of Art at Schaumburg, a Chicago Art School. My BFA degree is in Multi Media / Web Design. We were taught cross platform using both Macs and PCs from 2001 to 2004. I watched PCs and Macs get traded out, upgraded and worked on with similar frequency. The electronic maint. dept were pretty much all Mac users who constantly harped on the superiority of Macs even though most of them had PCs at home because they couldn't afford Macs. Ernesto is one that comes to mind.

The software available to me in this constantly changing computer environment is quite varied and even though it takes some time to go through it all, I enjoy the choices available to me for my PC needs, including many of the FREE choices. This is the way the market has always been for me from the early days and as such, I finally just stopped shopping for MAC software all together. Now, I don't even own a Mac, even though Mac has always been known as really owning the pro video production industry.

For me, once the video has been rendered out of the editing realm, the platform is no longer an issue. None of my clientele has ever been forced to watch a video only on a WMV format, and FLVs play on everything.

For me, the battle was over back when MAC supported environments were more difficult to come by and everything was so much more expensive. Not unlike the VHS/Beta battle where the formats were very similar and VHS won out due to better and timelier marketing.

What it boils down to for me is that the inferred inadequacies of Windows are not bad enough for me to suffer all that switching to MAC would include.

If I were in a MAC studio (I am self employed), I might seriously look at switching to PC because I have to upgrade equipment and software regularly anyway, and in this current small business economy which is not a friend of the current elected US Administration which means "It ain't gettin' better any time soon", the lower upgrade costs are a real factor.

Hey, anyone here need a web video produced? I'm a crack editor. ("Crack" in this case is not a drug term for those of you who are younger than my sock collection).

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