Recently during his Worldwide Partner Conference keynote Kevin Turner, Microsoft's COO, informed partners of an interesting development. Apparently Apple has taken notice of Microsoft’s Laptop Hunter ads... and really don't like them.
Apple doesn't like them to the tune of having their lawyers contact Microsoft, telling them stop running the ads.
Below is the section from Kevin Turner's keynote talking about how Apple isn't a fan of the new ads:
"And so we've been running these PC value ads. Just giving people saying, hey, what are you looking to spend? "Oh, I'm looking to spend less than $1,000." Well we'll give you $1,000. Go in and look and see what you can buy. And they come out and they just show them. Those are completely unscripted commercials.
And you know why I know they're working? Because two weeks ago we got a call from the Apple legal department saying, hey -- this is a true story -- saying, "Hey, you need to stop running those ads, we lowered our prices." They took like $100 off or something. It was the greatest single phone call in the history that I've ever taken in business. (Applause.)
I did cartwheels down the hallway. At first I said, "Is this a joke? Who are you?" Not understanding what an opportunity. And so we're just going to keep running them and running them and running them."
So does Microsoft finally have this advertising thing figured out? Looks like they might be on the right track... finally!
It goes to show that some people can dish out, but just can't take it. Frankly, I'm surprised that MSFT has shown as much restraint in their obvious rebuttal to the endless tirade by Apple... many of which hit FAR below the belt!
I find both the laptop
I find both the laptop hunter ads as well as the Justin Long Apple ads to be equally as annoying.
but, if the ads are working for them - more power to them.