There’s a lot of buzz about Microsoft’s latest ads aimed at iTunes. Apparently, the four Laptop Hunter ads Microsoft ran to target the price difference between Macs and PCs have been well-received. These new ads targeting iTunes (to promote Zune) are along the same vein.
What Microsoft is doing is finally standing up and getting aggressive in the advertising game. Up to now, most of MS’ policy was to sit and wait. I guess they got tired of that. Apple has a lot to deal with all of the sudden, having had a relatively easy target up to now.
The new ad compares Zune Pass (an MS product) with iTunes (an Apple product) and features financial planner Wes Moss. Basically, the ad compares the $0.99/song price of iTunes to the $15/month Zune Pass. To fill an iPod (120GB) would cost about $30,000 on iTunes or $15 on Zune Pass.
While the ad, of course, isn’t 100% honest, it’s making the point. Besides, as ars technica points out, it would take 166 years and 8 months for that $15/month to reach $30,000. Other limits of Zune Pass aren’t mentioned in the ad either, like the 10 songs per month carry-over that limits what you can own for $15.
The point, though, is the ads themselves and the fact that Microsoft has stepped into the marketing realm with five new ads targeted directly at their largest competitor. These ads are a direct response to the multiple Mac vs. PC ads that Apple has been running for quite some time.
As far as I’m concerned, you can attack MS and Apple all you want, but the ads themselves are entertaining and sitting on the sidelines watching the battle is fun. Really.
Here are the four Laptop Hunter Ads. Enjoy:
