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Microsoft Tries a "Switch" Campaign
Twirlip of the Mists writes "There's a new page on Microsoft's web site that tells the first-person story of an unnamed 'freelance writer' who made the switch from the Mac to Windows XP. The author of the page -- who never identifies herself, and who could very easily be fictional or a composite sketch -- says 'Windows XP gives me more choices and flexibility.' How, you ask? Why, through Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, and modern operating-system features like separate accounts for each user and easy access to the Internet, of course. Maybe somebody should email Microsoft and let them know that the Mac has had all of these things for years now ... nah. It'd just embarrass them. Anyway, it's an entertaining read that's good for a laugh." Update: 10/14 21:12 GMT by P : Apparently, Microsoft has taken the page down, but Google has it.
IIRC, Microsoft targeted such an ad campaign at Mac people a couple years ago, albeit to get them to use IE & Office for Mac, not switch altogether. The campaign featured what were purported to be testimonials from satisfied customers, but M$ tipped its hand when it launched the ads too quickly, and had "customers" discussing their experience with the latest versions of M$ wares a few days before said versions actually shipped.
While they certainly may be lying, every switcher with an internet presence denies recieving a single dollar from Apple (although they did get lunch).
ZOMG I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ON MACINTOSH VERSUS WINDOWS, VI VERSUS EMACS, AND HOW YOU'RE NOT A DORK
Take a look here:3 7
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=17
Looks to me like it's a real person. And looks to me like it was a real interview.
Look at the article 'she' shows an example of a file open box .... obviously her real name is 'Don Funk' and quick google search shows 'her' email address is 'donfu@microsoft.com'
If the linked to site doesnt work for you (it doesnt for me under mozilla 1.0), get the image directly from here
Compare it to MS's image
This kid is probably one of the best 13 year old writers I've ever seen! Encarta must save him so much time that he doesn't have to go to school anymore. He can continue with his modeling/freelance writer career.
Hey, there's a new encyclopedia - it's called "Google"!
And what about these people?
http://www.microsoft.com/insider/printhelp/
They're all smiling 'cause their #!@%ing XP printer driver finally installed. (sorry, couldn't find this in the stock photo archive. I'm sure it's there though)
This girl is obviously smiling because her Windows PC didn't crash and lose her History paper last night: href=http://www.microsoft.com/insider/homeoffice/ Stock Photo
Now here's a good one: http://www.microsoft.com/insider/productivity/
Stock Photo
Here dad is helping figure out what "fatal error in krnl32.dll means". Say, isn't that a mac they're using?
What the hell are these two looking at? http://www.microsoft.com/insider/finance/
Ah well, I think the whole site is just one big stock art catalog. Once again Microsoft doesn't create anything original...
I'll agree the Apple ads are kind of dumb, they have no substance, but look at what MS had up:
They didn't mention that both MS Office and Internet Explorer are available for the Mac, and in fact IE is the only browser that comes preinstalled. Also almost every review of Office v.X said it was better than the Windows version. Same is true of IE for Mac.
I wont even get into that Mozilla is every bit as fast as IE. ;)
This "switch ad" was just bogus. I guess that's why they pulled it! I'd wager someone at MS wrote the story and the photo of the woman was is just a stock photo. This is the kind of thing they pulled sending letters to newspapers and congressmen!
She also wrote:
Can't get much better than a PowerBook G4 if you ask me! Besides the fact that most best selling writers use Apple laptops.
MS ads are not more intelligent, they are less fluffy, but also less factual.
And Sara, we know OS X is better than XP! It does show more copying on MS' part... got to get that X in the name! :P
-- if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic - Lewis Carrol
The AP already picked up this story, and tracked down the marketing company hired to create this fake ad. The woman, Valerie G. Mallinson of Shoreline, Wash works for a public relations firm, Wes Rataushk & Associates Inc. Microsoft hired Rataushk to produce fake testimonials when their own research turned up no usable customers. Yahoo peoplefinder lists: Steve and Valerie Mallinson, (206) 367-1953, 2203 N 106th St, Seattle, WA 98133, if you want to call and ask her about the ad in question.
At 5foot3 and 200 lbs, I'm sure Valerie is not the woman in the stock photo.