Why Microsoft’s “Lauren” Ad is Offensive

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Why Microsoft's "Lauren" Ad is Offensive

I noticed some tweets (join me on Twitter', @edoswald) over the past several days regarding Microsoft's latest ad from those on Redmond's side of the aisle. One of them specifically told "Mac fanbois" to "GROW UP," so I decided to post this to explain why Microsoft's latest ad is not only factually loose, but offensive as well.

"Lauren" is given $1,000 to go and get a PC. Within 10 seconds, Microsoft's already going for the gusto. She goes into the "Mac store" — red flag here already, anyone who is even remotely interested in a Mac knows it's the Apple Store — and within seconds is out saying how the only under $1,000 unit is the white Macbook.

Okay, true enough there Lauren. But in the car, she then proceeds to take it where I think the ad shouldn't have gone, and where I began to have a problem with it. "I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person," she exclaims. Wow, just wow.

So, Microsoft, apparently now bankrupt with ideas on how to fight back, needs to take it there. While yes, Apple's ads poke fun at Microsoft/PCs, it has always been in a lighthearted manner that was funny.

There was nothing funny about Lauren's delivery. In fact, it was almost said with a snarkiness that seems to try to rekindle the old "Mac users are jerks" stigma. I personally take offense to that.

Of course next they're in the Best Buy, and Lauren is just "overwhelmed" by the choices. Now, Microsoft won't tell you exactly what these computers are or do–heck, that might show the consumer you get what you pay for!

Finally she settles on a $699 HP Pavillion Notebook. The best thing about this is the fact that it has all the trappings of what drove PC users to Macs and got Microsoft sued over Vista for.

Forget about Aero, this thing does Vista Home. RAM? It's the slower DDR2 model. The screen? Reviewed as one of the worst one person had ever seen. The battery? 2.5 hours per charge. In other words, this thing IS worth only the $699 she "paid" for it.

Cheap is not better people, it never will be. While yes, Apple's products do sometimes carry some kind of premium, for the most part you will get a much better constructed product. It's worth spending the extra money.

Add to it the LIFETIME free technical support IN PERSON, and how can you argue with that. That's worth the extra money in and of itself.

Best of all? Lauren's not real. She's an actress.

So there you go. I hope Microsoft's happy...

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