Microsoft’s advertising strategy seems to revolve around sniping at the competition recently and this new TV commercial doesn’t break that trend. In the new advert, which actually does show some positive advantages of Windows 8 on a tablet, Microsoft takes quite a few pot shots at the Apple iPad competition. The ASUS VivoTab Smart and Apple iPad are actually shown and demonstrated side by side.
The advert is entitled ‘Windows 8: Less talking, more doing’ and showed up on the WindowsVideos YouTube channel. Microsoft chooses to use Apple’s Siri to voice over the ad – however she’s very apologetic about the iPad’s shortcomings during the video. First of all Siri apologises for the iOS static icon UI and not having live tiles, then apologises for not being able to multi-task, this is followed by highlighting the lack of Microsoft Office on the iPad. Finally, throwing in the towel, Siri suggests “Should we just play Chopsticks?” which is followed by an amateurish rendition of that basic tune, parodying the cutesy Apple iPad mini advertising campaign.
At the end of the advert Microsoft choose to compare the price of the 64GB iPad with the 64GB ASUS VivoTab Smart; $699 vs $449 respectively. It is interesting that Microsoft decided to show support for a PC making partner rather than promote one of its own Surface tablets.
Surface Pro available in the UK
We informed readers a week ago that today would be the launch date of the Intel i5 packing, pen toting, Microsoft Surface Pro in the UK and yes indeed it is available for purchase on the Microsoft UK store website today. It doesn’t appear to be on the John Lewis or PC World websites as I write this.
The prices are £719 for the 64 GB Surface Pro, £799 for the 128 GB Surface Pro with the touch/type covers being sold separately. You also get the chance to add Office 365 Home Premium for £79.99 at ordering time.
