Dovella Go Microsoft !!!!!!!

Oct 23, 2008 at 7:34 AM

I found this interesting article and wanted to share with you

By Tweak Vista

Apple latest PC vs. Mac ads would like you to believe Microsoft is spending almost all of its money on advertising instead of improving Windows. Instead of the usual funny jab at Windows Vista, Apple is making accusations as to where Microsoft is spending its money. It’s no secret Microsoft is investing significantly in improving Windows with the upcoming Windows 7 release and Windows Vista SP2 but it’s less clear exactly how much it is spending compared to Apple. Since Apple’s ads are criticizing Microsoft on how much they spend on advertising, how much does Apple spend as well? And how much does that compare to improving their products?
The answers to both of these questions can be found in the annual financial reports both companies are required to file with the SEC.

The Facts:

Continue here

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My question is this.

There is no authority in U.S. that monitors check the contents of an ADS ?
Maddus Mattus Do, or do not. There is no try. - Yoda

Oct 23, 2008 at 7:43 AM

Breaking down multi billion dollar companies into their spending by the dollar, priceless!

To answer you question;

I have no idea if the US has any kind of content checking agency, I think that they let it regulate itself on their own. If something is incredebly wrong, Microsft would sue the pants off Apple.

But Microsoft shouldnt complain, bad publicity is still publicity.
Bass I need better writers.

Oct 23, 2008 at 9:22 AM

Wow, those facts were very convincing. </sarcasm>

First he shows that Microsoft spends more then twice on advertising then Apple does. Fine he says, Microsoft is a bigger company, lets break it down per capita...

And what do you know, Microsoft still spends more money on advertising then Apple does per capita.

So given this information he declares victory. (??????) Apparently pointing to how Microsoft spends more money on R&D. I am not exactly sure how he equates R&D to "fixing Vista", but somehow I don't think they are the same thing.

Well thank God he doesn't have to argue viewpoints for a living, because that was simply terrible.
InkMaster Extraordionaire

Oct 23, 2008 at 10:58 AM

I think the most important fact flew over your head - that fact being that these are <<<ads>>> and nothing more. Thats what ads are for, to steal customers from your rivals. If all ads would just be facts and made in a way to not hurt any company's feelings (boo hoo hoo) then nothing would ever get sold, simple as that. Its all just business, nothing more, nothing less.
mVPstar I'm white because I smelt an onion.

Oct 23, 2008 at 12:45 PM

Bass said:
Wow, those facts were very convincing. </sarcasm>

First he shows that Microsoft spends more then twice on advertising then Apple does. Fine he says, Microsoft is a bigger company, lets break it down per capita...

And what do you know, Microsoft still spends more money on advertising then Apple does per capita.

So given this information he declares victory. (??????) Apparently pointing to how Microsoft spends more money on R&D. I am not exactly sure how he equates R&D to "fixing Vista", but somehow I don't think they are the same thing.

Well thank God he doesn't have to argue viewpoints for a living, because that was simply terrible.

Well, that's not exactly why his analysis doesn't mean anything. His analysis assumes that both companies ONLY make OSes such that the figures for marketing and R&D apply to OS X and Windows. It's still possible that most of MS' marketing figure goes to marketing the Zune, 360, and other more consumerish products. For Apple, the money would be split between the iPod family and Mac. A proper analysis would isolate figures just for the OS side of things for both companies.
spivonious

Oct 23, 2008 at 1:09 PM

If MS wanted to, they could sue Apple for slander. I'm glad there's no government agency that watches advertisements. "Sure, I'll pay more taxes for you to fact-check commercials all day."
Dovella Go Microsoft !!!!!!!

Oct 23, 2008 at 1:32 PM

spivonious said:
If MS wanted to, they could sue Apple for slander. I'm glad there's no government agency that watches advertisements. "Sure, I'll pay more taxes for you to fact-check commercials all day."

this is sad and dangerous.
I'd love a serious and tight regulation on the Web and TV , in this period, for a newbie is very difficult to distinguish a Review or a sponsor.
GoddersUK My five year mission: To boldly split infinitives that no man has split before!

Oct 23, 2008 at 1:57 PM

Some of the iPhone ads got withdrawn in the UK after the advertising standards agency found them to be too misleading.
Dovella Go Microsoft !!!!!!!

Oct 23, 2008 at 2:05 PM

GoddersUK said:
Some of the iPhone ads got withdrawn in the UK after the advertising standards agency found them to be too misleading.

Tv or Web?

The Web is a weapon too dangerous because extremely out of control, every day I happen to observe articles "Sponsor" unmarked review.
evildictaitor strcpy(malloc(4), "Oh noes!");

Oct 23, 2008 at 3:09 PM

There is no authority in U.S. that monitors check the contents of an ADS ?

Yes it does. It also has powers to look into false claims or underhand advertising practises, but neither of these would apply, since Apple, while giving a very "colourful" view of facts - and carefully choosing the facts that suit its purposes - isn't actually breaking any laws or advertising standards.

If Microsoft wanted to "play the game" they could take Apple to court for slander, or contest the figures given with the advertising standards agency, or launch a counter-campaign. The problem with all of these is that they can backfire rather spectacularly. Microsoft might be forced to concede figures they'd rather not in a slander case (and may very well lose - thus validating Apple's point). The ASA might hold that Apple is being reasonable in their adverts, although might insist that Microsoft - while implied, should not be named in the adverts (which is why it's I'm a PC - not I'm a Windows PC), and a counter-campaign might make people see Microsoft as responsive and childish - and if they do a bad job it makes Apple look good by comparison and gives free media-publicity to their "Get a Mac" campaign, and Microsoft might ironically lose a lawsuit if Apple launch one against the counter-ads.
BlackTiger If you stumbled and fell down, it doesn't mean yet, that you're going in the wrong direction.

Oct 23, 2008 at 3:37 PM

If I would be a Microsoft I would say "Yes, fruit-pickers, we can spend 300m on anything!"

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Miceosoft $ 300 m ok , and Apple?

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