Mon, 03 Nov 2008 Microsoft and Apple fight it out in Birmingham UK

Dean Graham said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

It speaks volumes for Apple, who could have easily had the booth moved, made no such effort. Why? Because it brought their store tens of thousands of pounds in publicity and drew even further attention to their "I'm a Mac" advertisements. If a consumer didn't know about the Birmingham location, they certainly do now.

Ynda said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

I think this a rather desparate move by M$. They already own 90% of the market but apparently they are threatened by a re-surgent Apple. Vista (failed), Xbox (outdone by Nintendo's Wii), Zune (nuff said), Windows (CE, Mobile, whatever: out-phoned by iPhone and it that doesn't kill it then Android will) - hey, perhaps M$ is in more trouble than we think! (Fingers crossed).

Frankie said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

I think that the presence of Apple Logo near the kiosk and the thin font enables viewers to read MAC instead of I'M A PC. Even the Windows logo is a hardly visible.

Anthony Pace said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

The ads are failing so will the booths. Best publicity for Apple yet, Microsoft must really be desperate to employ this type of advertising ploy.

MacWorld Reader said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Apple has a huge store, MS has a tiny booth - a true vision of the future.

JOnny Evans said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Heh - it stinks of desperation to me, I'm with John Gruber on that one. Anyway, for old times sake, here's what I think
www.distorted-loop.com/2008/10/31/microsoft-sets-up-ad-kiosk-outside-uk-apple-store/

DJ said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Who's the plonker with the specs?

Ernie(Berts mate) said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

"Apple has a huge store, MS has a tiny booth - a true vision of the future."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

They are just PC clones now. Mac - for users who can't install drivers without a support call.

Rich said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

I'm sure if the roles were reversed and Apple had a booth outside a wildly successful Microsoft store us Apple fanboys would all be flocking there to record 'I'm a Mac' messages. This booth will likely be popular with active Apple-haters.

Andy said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

@Ernie - You're wrong : Mac users usually don't even have to install drivers ;-)

This is a sad move by Microsoft, because Macs can run Windows too (and I bet a lot of switchers will install Windows using Boot Camp or VMWare or Parallels). So ... what exactly is this advert supposed to be trying to achieve ?

Jon Bounds said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

It didn't last long - it's gone now (was in the apple store on sat).

RC said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

This isn't the first time a competitor has cheakily setup camp outside the Birmingham Apple store. HP had a booth outside pushing their laptops at one time.

P A Widall said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

If you take the P iss out of PC you get I M A C on the booth, I suggest we all take P iss out of Microsoft (again).

P A Widall said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

If you take the P iss out of PC you get I M A C on the booth, I suggest we all take P iss out of Microsoft (again).

sumguy said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

i heard the ads for I'm a PC were made on a Mac? not sure if this is true but if it is...oh boy!

Dragonfly said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

This is the sort of thing that John Hodgman's character would do in desperation in one of the adverts, with Justin Long's character coming out the Apple store asking. "What are you doing ?".

M$ must have thought "Ha Ha, that will show them, who looks like the small guy now !" :-)

Harvey said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Notice that the Apple Store is large, well-lit, sleek, open, and futuristic. The Microsoft Booth is small, dark inside, cluttered, closed, and looks like 19th century advertising copy.

With this advertising campaign, Microsoft is elevating Apple. Instead of saying that Apple makes boutique computers for artsy types, they are saying, implicitly, that Apple is a worthy competitor on all levels.

The most amusing part is that Microsoft's customers have to admit they are PCs in a confessional booth.

M.X.N.T.4.1 said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Other than on the web, they don't run the Mac/PC ads in the UK (anymore) how many people are going to get the opening reference with the guy dressed as PC?

Adrian said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

I would have thought the still windows centric world would have even stumbled over the damage the campaign caused in America. There first experience will be to encounter the booth as an obstacle and then looking to find a way around it to see the Apple Store they may have missed. Those aware of the campaign may associate the booth with one of those pitiful bums who sits around cash machines scrounging change.

MacWorld Reader said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

"Notice that the Apple Store is large, well-lit, sleek, open, and futuristic. The Microsoft Booth is small, dark inside, cluttered, closed, and looks like 19th century advertising copy."

The big difference between Apple and MS is that Apple advertises its products and MS generally just throws slogans around because everything that MS does is still in beta hell.

needlegun said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Microsoft I'm A PC Booth - has encountered a problem and needs to close... =;-)

Andy said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Would be great if MS did film people for its add there, showing the Apple store in the background. ;)

Paul Ashton said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Interesting that you were able to take a photograph inside the Bullring. It's a no-no and security will usually be on you in less than a minute.

Russ said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

Talk about an own goal by MS, it's interesting how poor our judgement becomes when we respond in fear!

Oliver W said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

I think the "I'm a PC" "I'm a Mac" adverts from Apple have run there course anyway, the jokes has worn thin. I was never a fan of the fat older PC due vs. the sleek young attractive mac chap, those sterotypes were just waiting for someone to shoot them down. If MS were gunna play the "Mac is too cool for school" card they should have played it 12 months ago, most people have forgotten about those ads now anyway.

Wow said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

That shop looks busy.

James said on Mon, 03 Nov 2008

That shops usually packed at the right time

Ernie(Berts mate) said on Tue, 04 Nov 2008

@Andy
Install a Logitech S530 wireless keyboard & mouse without drivers. It needs drivers, like most other 3rd party hardware.

Vinnie said on Tue, 04 Nov 2008

It is amusing but, as M$ is on 99% of business machines in the world and over 80% of home computers they can do what they want. Something, unfortunately Apple will never achieve.

Nammy said on Tue, 04 Nov 2008

I'm sure that if people were to visit the Apple store after the kiosk they would soon draw their own conclusions about the comparative products.

I think it's more of an attempt to get inside the heads of Mac users so they can try to counter the perception that Macs are better.

Bit of an own goal methinks - a bit like Skoda putting a kiosk outside a Ferrari dealership...

adman said on Wed, 05 Nov 2008

if everyone was wise enough to use a mac, who would we have to look down on?

Ascylto said on Wed, 05 Nov 2008

On the side of the booth ... "I'm a PC and I cheat death." ... how apt!

I think M$ should make more ads like the one they've aired. It's way too long and just shows they can't even get that right! Hasta la VISTA, baby!

DAVE said on Fri, 14 Nov 2008

Has everyone defending M$ by saying Apple is a PC clone, totally forgotten that Steve Jobs himself invented the FIRST desktop computer? M$ PC's are a clone of Apple!