If there's only one thing you've taken from Apple's various marketing salvos over the last few years, it's probably that Macs are cool and creative and PCs wear suits, work on spreadsheets and are boring. In fact, until it was brought to an end earlier this year, the ‘Get a Mac' campaign was a largely uncontested assault against Windows.
Microsoft did make a few attempts to stand up for itself, though, especially following the launch of Windows 7. This week marks the start of the company's latest campaign in the form of a new ‘PC versus Mac' website. The recently-launched page espouses the virtues of Windows by highlighting what a PC can do and a Mac can't in a similar way to Apple's own page.
Microsoft's big selling points include wider compatibility with software and peripherals, a choice of hardware configurations and colours, and an intuitive, familiar interface. Refreshingly, the site even manages to pick up on a few legitimate points outside of the normal marketing fluff. These include a touch-compatible interface and support for Blu-ray, eSATA and built-in mobile broadband.
However, we're a little disappointed that the site is so boring and, frankly, PC-like. With the exception of bizarre, unintentionally funny selling points like "PCs are always ready, willing, and most importantly able to get down to business" and the idea that the best computer is going to be the one you already know how to use, everything is very straight laced. We know Microsoft is capable of placing its tongue firmly in its own cheek, so we would have liked to have seen a little more humour.
Of course, we don't expect too many people - at least, none of our readers - to be swayed by an advertising website like this. We do have to commend Microsoft for trying though, even if the end product is a little bland. Do you have any better ideas on how Microsoft should sell Windows to the world? Pitch us your best ideas in the HEXUS.community forums.
