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Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
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yoshi
07/25/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
I love it!! It's hilarious! I wonder how that guy felt when he was told to make the call to Microsoft.

CLASSIC!!!!
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Colonel Jack O'Neill
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
Now Microsoft should tell Apple to drop their switch ads, cause those are all lies.
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SysRq
07/24/09

@wargames2007: A very valid point indeed.
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echodubs
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
These commercials make no sense! They pick out biased consumers with absolutely no tech experience, give them a wad of cash then tell them to absolutely demean apple computers then purchase a trial-software-ridden laptop thats most likely still running Vista.. She mentioned something about the macs hard drive, and its brand but absolutely nothing about processor, memory, display, or graphics. She only took a look at the 15inch macbook and made her entire decision from that. If I'm not mistaken that Macbook price tag says 1799. Id say she spent about a good 45 minutes in that best buy like any tool would. I mean, why wouldnt someone go for the cheaper windows when you're being handed extra money and a chance to be on tv? She probably resold that dell and bought a mac. Mabye if Microsoft has someone with some tech smarts go out and buy a laptop with their own money that would be more realistic instead of trapping them into buying a craptop. But then again, who believes anything they see on TV?
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echodubs
07/24/09

@echodubs:
Also, if lauren were smart shed be able to think ahead of time and find out that the apple has the better resale value and they last much longer, only if you take care of them. You get what you pay for and im fairly sure that brain she bought was at half price.
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SysRq
07/24/09

@echodubs: But who's making the ads? Microsoft. They can say whatever they want. You're right, you get what you pay for. But for some people, a 17" screen is important but a fast processor, graphics, and memory are not. So they buy a cheap HP.I'm a Mac guy, I bought my MacBook Pro because I was willing to drop the cash for a nicer computer. That may not be important to everyone. So be it, it's their money.
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vladdybear
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
Micro$oft is dumb
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Xeno
07/24/09

@vladdybear: Putting '$' signs in words is dumb.
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valkilmerisawful
07/24/09

@vladdybear: Ending sentences without the appropriate punctuation is dumb.

Edit: Having serious issues leaving a single-sentence comment is dumb.
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Edited by valkilmerisawful at 07/24/09 5:21 PM valkilmerisawful was starred valkilmerisawful was unstarred

unwritten_law9
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
I'm still torn between OSX and Win7.
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xperiate
07/24/09

@unwritten_law9: Why would anyone pay extra for Linux with Lipstick = OSX?
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headc4se
07/24/09

@xperiate: Because it's not Linux with lipstick? Unless you consider FreeBSD, NeXTSTEP, and the Apple-developed code that combined, comprise Darwin, to be Linux. But maybe I'm just nitpicking.
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Dillinger23
07/24/09

@xperiate: Its funny you say that, when its so obvious what win7 is i don't even have to say it. Also its UNIX and that answers your question, cause i can do a fuckload more on my mac than on a PC. Its just fucking true.
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Identity (Metric)
07/24/09

@unwritten_law9: Just get both.
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Xeno
07/24/09

@Dillinger23: Except for the part where it is false. Play a BluRay movie. I dare you.
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SysRq
07/24/09

@Xeno: But Blu-Ray is a bag of hurt! Steve told me so!
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Macgyver
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
Hmmm. I just realized something about these ads. The slogan, "You find it, you keep it." implies one of a few different things, and I'm not sure which one is the case.

Does the person know MS is going to pay for whatever laptop they find? How much of the whole thing is set up? What would happen if (hypothetically) the person chose a MacBook Pro (aside from the fact that we wouldn't see a commercial about it)?

The ad implies some kind of 'blind taste test', but I'm assuming MS only pays for the laptop if you don't choose a Mac. Otherwise, are there cases where MS has paid for someone's MacBook, but we're just not seeing that in an ad. Otherwise, are we sure the consumers choice isn't swayed by the influence of the MS personnel?

Honestly curious now.
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alexvanduyn
07/24/09

@Macgyver: The adds that you see are planed from second one to 30, every frame is scrutinized, these "people" you see in the add are professional actors playing at looking like they are off the street, there is no contest, there is no winner, they do not go home with that laptop they supposedly picked. The whole thing is a fake, it is a cleverly positioned add with real live actors and a concept that that relates to the public. This is how advertising works, in a nut shell, there is NO reality in advertisements, they would not be able to sell anything that way, if there was a shred of truth to adds, the public would not buy it, that is the real truth behind advertising. Which is a sad commentary on people at large, being one of them, I buy into this crap all the time, hard not to resist, but it's all delusion, fantasy, fake, get it? The house always wins? Same deal, we all live in one giant casino, being pummelled by the house day in, day out, it's amazing we are all not dead from the overload, which I think is a form of evolution, the ability to keep moving forward without all the crap that is being shoved down our throats!
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Xeno
07/24/09

@alexvanduyn: So you're saying that a Microsoft commercial is structured in such a way as to sell Windows products? Say it ain't so!
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Macgyver
07/24/09

@alexvanduyn: I thought when the ads started Microsoft pitched them as being real. We later learned that the first 'star' was an actress, but supposedly hadn't been hired as such.

I'd not heard what you're claiming - namely that the commercials are completely fictional. Is that something that Microsoft has stated, or are you just assuming that?
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thefastest
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
they should edit it further to remove all clothing from that chick and i'd pay hundreds to watch it
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Evuk
07/24/09

@thefastest: hundreds? i pay $20 a month to see hotter girls doing even crazier things
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Evuk
07/24/09

@Evuk: sorry i was lying... the new internet involves me having to pay nothing to get me jibblies off
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
Does the Lauren Ad still show her walking in and out of the Apple store without actually looking at the machines?
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Jason Houle
07/24/09

@Lite: is on a boat.: Not really thinking that one through are you? I have seen a few of these comments. Why would you think Apple would allow Microsoft to film a commercial in their store?
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HumungaCowabunga_GitEmSteveDave promoted this comment Jason Houle was starred Jason Houle was unstarred

GitEmSteveDave_OverSleptThisMorn
07/24/09

@Jason Houle: Same reason Best Buy allows them to film in their store where they apparently have high priced computers nobody wants?
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Eavangel
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
I love my Macbook pro though. All the cosmetics just seem to justify it for me like build quality and the screen. My next laptop will most likely be a nextgen Macbook pro.

I laugh when my friend picks up his laptop and all you here is his plastic squeaking, and when he tries to show people videos but it has awful shadowing and bending with the display so people are always movie around trying to see. (an Asus N81 series, very powerful, but also very cheaply made).
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Edited by Eavangel at 07/24/09 12:10 PM Eavangel was starred Eavangel was unstarred

MacAttack7388
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
Ugh.
Even though if she went with the Mac, she'd have more computing power, portability, ease of use, resale value, etc, etc, etc.
My hatred for MS and yuppies grows every time I hear about one of these ads.
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nukee
07/24/09

@MacAttack7388: Right, because a similarily spec'd Macbook pro would've cost so much less than my HP. Also, I'm pretty certain my HP is just as easy to carry around as a Mac would be. Stop being an idiot.
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thePrototype
07/24/09

@nukee: I have a top of the line HP elitebook and a one generation old MBP. They are both in similar price ranges and I can tell you my MBP is thinner, ligther and feels a lot faster.

... and not to mention a lot sexier...
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Lite: is on a boat. promoted this comment Edited by thePrototype at 07/24/09 12:25 PM thePrototype was starred thePrototype was unstarred

StopTheLHC
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
Call me old school, but the greatest single phone call in history was made by Alexander Graham Bell
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williamgarzon
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
The commercial should have shown what happens on the Best Buy sales floor..."would you like Geek Squad to install antivirus software for ONLY 100 dollars more." They should also show when checking out, the cashier asks "would you like free trial magazine subscriptions."

Is it just me or am I the only one burnt out on Best Buy??
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HAZman27
07/24/09

@William Garzon: Luckily for you, scientists have discovered a way to refuse an offer you're not interested in: it's called saying "no."

Gamestop asks me if I want to reserve any games every time I go in, but I don't get pissed off about it or quit going there because a simple "no thanks," ends it right there.
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SQLGuru
07/24/09

@HAZman27: And I'll be a lot of the complainers about BestBuy practices are quick to say yes when the girl at the drive through asks "Would you like to upsize your combo?"

It's all about the PLUS sale because that's where the stores make their money. I can pass on those tactics easily with that scientific breakthrough you mentioned.
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R_Claw
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
Is there anyway Giz can get the deets on that hot foreign guy in the new commercial. Just wondering, because I like him even if we're not computer compatible.
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reddingofish
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
I guess that Lauren only wanted a laptop that would last her for her first year in college because that is what she got with that POS Dell.
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sdowney83
07/24/09

@reddingofish:
I, sir, would have to agree with the Dell comment.
How Dells are still being purchased is beyond me. Not only do they not last, they have THE absolute worst customer support.
As far as Macs go, IMO, have great designs and amazing support.
On the Windows side, I'd have to go with HP. I've always had good experiences HP, save for the DV6000 mobo problems.
But Dell? Yeah, they can suck it!
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Serpent2
07/24/09

@sdowney83:
hmm.. probably they are purchased because they are a good deal and are reliable. I am on my 6year for my home pc which I abuse the heck out of since I do a lot of 3D, editing and photoshop work and the laptop (1.4ghz, ati9000 pro) is about the same age and still going strong.. and my fathre's dell is even older.. maybe 8 or 9 years now and he constantly plays video games on it (halo) with out fail.
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reddingofish
07/24/09

@Serpent2: I will agree that the old Dells were great. I have a PII that is at least 10 years old and will still boot XP but anything after 2004 is crap.
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joshxcore
07/24/09

In reply to Greatest Single Phone Call in History Gets Microsoft to Change Laptop Hunter Ads
did anyone else realize that until they were ready to purchase the laptop not a single best buy employee helped them? they read the info on the price tag. when i go to the apple store i have an apple employee with me the entire time to answer any questions. i know it's not the point of this article, but i guess with apple you're also paying for great customer service
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reddingofish
07/24/09

@joshxcore:I never buy electronics in Best Buy, only music. One time I stood in front of a $2000.00 television for 10 minutes while watching the employees chat amongst themselves. I went to the manager and complained and he told me that they must have been working with other customers. I don't give a flying flip what they were doing. If I complain to the manager I expect the manager to try and sell me that TV.
That was 10 years ago and I have probably spent $50 there and half that was a gift card.
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