Viddler

In the past couple of months Microsoft has been producing a series of commercials entitled “Laptop Hunters”. In the commercials an actor assumes the role of a person looking for a new computer. Microsoft says if she finds something for under $1,500, then the person can keep it.

Here’s a couple of the ads:

I believe the actor doesn’t actually get to keep the computer. The aim of the commercial is to show that you can buy a really good portable computer running Windows for less than $1,500. Everyone knows that’s possible; tell us something we don’t know. It’s well-known in that Apple community that the buyers/actors in the two commercials above actually bought computers that wouldn’t really fit their needs and they could have bought a Mac laptop with faster speeds and better software.

Disclaimer: I own two Macs and one Windows laptop. Therefore, I may lean in favor of Macs.

Apple has made a direct comeback to the Laptop Hunters commercials with their latest Get a Mac ad entitled “Elimination”.

Thanks to Engadget (subscribe) for providing the video.

It’s interesting how the only thing that really sells the Mac in that commercial is the fact that they can’t run viruses and other malware. Mac’s can run Windows via Boot Camp or virtualization software, so they can technically get viruses on them, but you’d be silly to allow that.

Apple also just released a couple more ads that have more truth to them regarding customer service; Apple Stores have humans called Genuises that can help you with anything. Microsoft is actually planning to open their own retail stores to compete with Apple Stores. This just means more competition and Apple, no doubt, will jump ahead with something else.

Read more to see another Laptop Hunters video that actually features a decent computer.

The computer young “Jackson” ends up getting in this ad is actually a decent computer — Sony VAIO FW Series. Even with the stock specs it’s darn good for under $1,500. I paid twice that (in Australian dollars) for my MacBook Pro featuring similar specs.

Eh. What do you think of the whole Mac vs PC hype?