macnn/electronista
10/14/2008, 12:55am, EDT
Tuesday, October 14thMicrosoft still claims "Apple tax" when buying a Mac
In advance of Apple's alleged sub-$1000 laptop announcement, Microsoft's vice president of Windows Consumer Product Marketing Brad Brooks claims that potential users will still be subject to a hidden "Apple tax". According to an interview with CNET, Brooks cites the lack of Windows or the cost of adding it to the machine as a defining factor, or the availability of technology like Blu-ray or HDMI. It is interesting to note the presence of Entourage on the Mac, however, since Brooks says the lack of Outlook on the Mac is a setback.
Brooks also blasts Apple's upgradability. While most PC towers can accommodate PCI cards or other expansion methods, most Macs can only swap out the hard drive or RAM. Apple's Mac Pro offers a vast array of upgradability, but sits at a higher price point than most consumer-level PC boxes.
In addition, Brooks claims that Apple's well-known resistance to viruses and attacks is a "fallacy", before boasting Vista's increased security over XP. When asked about how it compares to the Mac, Brooks avoids a direct comparison, and instead highlights Vista's phishing protection.
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because there is no
"Windows Tax"
Virus Tax
What about the MS Virus Tax? Usability Tax? Spyware Tax? and Reformat Tax when the system crashes and screws up the HD directory? Thank-you very much but I'll pay the supposed Apple ease of use tax any day Mr. Brooks.
Worried-they're worried
Apple leaps ahead in market share with better hardware (in general) and a way better OS.
If you have nothing better and your out of ideas, then the only thing left is to lie or insult the competition.
I truly hope Apple lays down a one-two punch tomorrow. MS has it coming.
Will get fired
What an embarrassing interview.
Brilliant question btw:
"… and their customer satisfaction levels are certainly as high as any PC maker in the industry. I mean, is the argument basically that consumers just don't understand what they're getting, and for some reason think they're happy with a Mac?"
;-)
HDMI
Macs all have HDMI as standard via the DVI connection they all do. At least for the video anyway, and as the all have optical digital out they have the same audio as HDMI without the hassle of having to split leads off to go to a separate home cinema system.
As far as Blu-Ray is concerned, Microsoft is the biggest nay sayer on the format, saying the Xbox 360 will never get Blu-Ray as they see it as a 'dead format' and hi-def films as downloads are the way to go.
I'd say the lack of Outlook on the Mac is a feature.
LOL
MicroSHT and that fat fck Ballmer can go F*CK THEMSELVES. Id take an Apple tax over an 'embarrassment to humanity tax' ANYDAY.
Counter Factual remarks
I was quite surprised when Microsoft's Brad Brooks asserted that the mac had no external eSata hard drive capability. It made me wonder what that thing REALLY was that's been plugged into the expresscard slot of my Macbook Pro for the last year and a half. I could have sworn it was a controller for my external eSATA hard drives. But... I guess not?! He's right about one thing, though -- it is quite fast.
Macrobullshit as usual!
Microsoft is trying to affect in every ways the image of Apple. But the funny thing is each time they try they only sunk it self's more, giving more reasons to people to prefer a Mac with an OSX than a PC with a Windows!!! I am one of the people who switch from PC Windows to Apple Mac in last year. And let tell you something, Apple is better in every way. Until know I do everything I want with liberty and performance that I never seen.
First off dude...
buy some 'gel' will ya? That "messy hair I'm trying to look younger thing" ain't working. Your old like me. Get over it!
This "Apple Tax" is just more M$ FUD. They want to make buyers think there are hidden costs to owning a Mac. Which is really funny because the PC world is notorious for hidden costs.
Take an average PC school district and an average Mac school district and compare support costs. Guess who wins every time.
Micro who?
Windows is STILL a horrible OS. The interface of just dealing with folders and files is so far inferior to the Mac OS that Microsoft's TAX in on productivity which is far more costly in the long run. We don't even need to get into setting up other features that keep IT departments busy and well paid.
I applaud any breed of Linux for NOT being Microsoft but, they are basically another face of Windows draped over an OS that is better than DOS, NT or whatever crap MS had dredged up. Unfortunately it seems that most Linux programmers are disgruntled Windows users that have decided to create a better 'Windows' program instead of actually creating a better USER experience.
I'll stick with Apple's OS X. It's a better OS and a better User Experience. Well worth the tax.
I just wish Adobe would STOP adopting the Windows interface in it's Mac applications too. What A-holes!