Microsoft has been taking so many shots at Apple as of late that you could be forgiven for thinking we’ve slipped back through a wormhole to 1996. This tendency doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, either, if you go on Microsoft’s latest ad.
Called “Let’s dance,” the ad compares Lenovo’s Yoga 3 Pro convertible laptop to Apple’s MacBook Air, showing them side-by-side and comparing them on size and features. And, wouldn’t you know it, Microsoft’s preferred option comes out on top.
The spot points out that the MacBook Air — once the world’s thinnest notebook — is an unacceptably thick 17mm compared to the 13mm Yoga 3 Pro. On top of this, the ad notes that the Yoga 3 can also be used in “tent” position, as well as functioning as a tablet. Finally, it attacks the MacBook Air for its lack of touchscreen.
A noted, this isn’t the first time Microsoft has targeted Apple in its ads. Recent Microsoft ads have mostly focused on the supposed superiority of its Cortana virtual assistant compared to Siri.
Microsoft is making a few good moves these days. Cortana is generally considered superior to Siri, the Microsoft Band looks like an unexpectedly exciting rival to the Apple Watch. And the Yoga 3 Pro, which runs on Windows, has been met with fairly positive reviews.
Now if only Microsoft could be a bit more original with its advertising…
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
28 responses to “Microsoft’s latest ad goes hard on the MacBook Air”
The Sh*tty OS.
Tal como o rabo aberto de vossa progenitora
Windows is better than OS X or iOS in the Enterprise world.
How so?
Yeah, how so? Most Corporations never upgraded from Vista, until MicroThug made them. Yeah, Windows is so much better.
Having spent more than a decade in the Enterprise IT world I can say that while windows is more prevalent on desktops the data centres don’t use it for much more than backplane systems to support frontline applications meant for the Redmond platform. They run on all the myriad flavours of Unix out there and when you consider that OSX is Unix based that should tell you something.:)
Windows is better than OS X or iOS in t̶h̶e̶ ̶E̶n̶t̶e̶r̶p̶r̶i̶s̶e̶ fantasy world.
FTFY
Como já citei, ocorre um vórtice de espaço-tempo no rabo aberto de vossa progenitora, sugando toda realidade onde o que você disse se torna realidade.
I use ASP.NET, SQL Server, and Visual Studio at work. All Microsoft. I do prefer my mackbook pro to any PC variety though.
Yawn!!! it still comes down to either Windows or OS X – I think OS X still has the overall edge!
I think they forgot the Macbook Air was made for a different purpose. It’s not supposed to be a laptop+tablet hybrid. It’s supposed to be a light laptop. They’re comparing two different devices with two different purposes, this makes no sense at all.
Peidei forte aqui
Unfortunately, the average person won’t know this.
Yup. As much sense as their software. Or phones. Or itself.
Microsoft’s advantage is user inertia. IOS and OS are plainly better than anything that Microsoft has produced. One sided biased comparisons won’t convince many people.
it’s about time MS wielded their giant purse :)
Can you play hardcore games in the Yoga 3? cause you can actually play games like call of duty or battlefield on the macbook air over OSX or running Windows through bootcamp or virtual machine.
It’s still pretty ugly, although it is getting better.
Apple is taking some legitimate hits as of late. I didn’t even know about the Yoga hybrid tablet until watching this video and as an Apple fan I have to say I am impressed at the innovation which is something I’d like to see Apple take the lead on for a change.
Times are a changing and Apple is close to being the bland Microsoft of the 90’s we all made fun of.
Windows 8/8.1 is FAIL! The start menu was the biggest pile of stinking turd. Just look up user adoption rates. I’m also pretty sure Apple stole the most PC sales for the last quarter.
Note there was no mention of battery life/weight of the devices.
OS X and iOS now so tightly integrated you don’t need Windows.
Can you make a phone call on your Windows PC through your phone..?.. No.
You still have to set the time and location on a Windows PC.
It’s $2100 too, Apple MacBook Airs start at about $1000???
$1,299.99 actually for Lenovo. Only thing that turns me down with Lenovo is Windows 8. It’s an expensive xbox 360 with incompatible games.
Not according to the AUD website, starts at $2099
http://shopap.lenovo.com/au/en/laptops/lenovo/yoga/yoga-3-pro/#tab-customize
I’ve actually been mulling over getting the Yoga 3 over the macbook air… its nearly the same price when you upgrade the air to the same RAM and HD specs. With an “HD” like screen that is a touchscreen. I have not ever owned a “PC”… but I really think its pretty innovative – and the air just seems outdated. I plan to wait till JAN for my purchase – but the Yoga is leading in my mind. I wish Apple would up the Ram and storage on the Air – so I can buy what I want stock instead of a special order and RAM tax.
-d
The same old tired debate over which OS is better. Windows or OS X. It’s really a joke. The apple fanboys are pathetic. Truly pathetic, and all come off as 10 year old boys trying to cry the loudest. Neither side can see the positive in either operating systems, and neither side can admit that neither OS is better than the other.
Says the pot calling the kettle black…
“The apple fanboys are pathetic. Truly pathetic, and all come off as 10 year old boys trying to cry the loudest.” So you’re trying to scream louder than everybody else that you have no interest in this discussion and you stand above it all, which is why you commented, right?
This site and others like it is dedicated to those whom share a common interest. Yes, these are passionate people, expressing their opinion and you clearly don’t demonstrate any maturity or sensibility.
I would never consider dropping any of my apple products including my macbook air for anything thats running windows……..especially windows 8