New Microsoft Laptop Hunter Ad: Giampaolo
Geek In Disguise —   Giampaolo looks for a high-spec laptop that's up to his standards and under $1500 Money line “I don’t wanna pay for the brand, I wanna pay for the computer” ...

I’m a PC coz I’m really picky @ $1500
ithinkdifferent — The second ad of the Laptop Hunter’s series is up. Giampaolo gets an HP HDX, which is very powerful indeed, for under $1500. Yes, it’s another shot at Apple. And it’s getting heard out there! Good job Microsoft! ...

Microsoft’s “Laptop Hunters” #2: Giampaolo Gets an HP HDX
Alice Hill's Real Tech News - Independent Tech — laptophuntersgiampaolo.jpg By Michael Santo Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews Microsoft has released the second in its new “Laptop Hunters” ad campaign. While the first ad featured Lauren, our now favorite red-headed Microsoft spokeperson (and actress), this one features Giampaolo, who’s looking for more than Lauren was: portability, battery life, and power, for under $1,500. Some of the highlights: To start, he emphasizes he’s tech-savvy: I’m going to buy a laptop. I’m technically savvy, I know what I want. I want a computer that allows me to customize. When he goes to look at the MacBooks (Air), he says: This is so sexy. But Macs to me are about aesthetics, ...

Microsoft Releases Second 'Laptop Hunters' Commercial
MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors — Microsoft has released a second commercial in their new "Laptop Hunters" ad campaign targeting Mac prices. In the new commercial, "Giampaolo" is given a budget of $1500 with which to find to a laptop with his desired features of portability, battery life, and power. After browsing several PC's, Giampaolo takes a look at Apple's notebook offerings, but ultimately decides against them. This is so sexy, but Macs to me are about aesthetics more than they are the computing power. I don't want to pay for the brand. I want to pay for the computer. Giampaolo eventually settles on an HP HDX 16t ...

Shocking: New Microsoft Ad Implies Macs Are Inferior [Advertising]
Gizmodo — Microsoft's new Lauren is a tech-savvy engineer with a complicated, foreign name, tasked with finding a laptop that'll address his needs for under $1,500. You'll never guess what this Microsoft-paid probable-actor decided to buy. That's right, it's a not-Mac! I mean, it's an HP! It's hard to keep track, since the only complaint the commercial brings up is that Giampaolo (henceforth referred to as "John") wants to pay for the components, and not the brand. And that's a fairly reasonable point of view, according to our study of the infamous "Apple Tax." It's true, John simply cannot buy a new MacBook ...

Price and Penis Size: Microsoft fails again in PC advertising campaign
The Inquisitr » Technology — Another day, another wank of a commercial thanks to the folks at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the same people who used the Unabomber to try and sell Ask.com (used Ask.com lately? probably not ) The emphasis on price is in the new ad like the one before it, but this time we have a male character with a fancy name who’s suffering from small ...

Microsoft 2nd “Laptop Hunter” Ad
SolSie.com — Microsoft 2nd Laptop Hunter Ad Microsoft created some chatters with its first “$1000 laptop hunter” ad, it is natural to ride of this momentum for the second iteration. This time Giampaolo is looking for a $1500 laptop, he skips the “Mac store’ , instead he went to a retail computer store. He found a MacBook  but he immediately declares it "so sexy." But although she’s pretty and she might be a great one-night stand, she’s just not a good long-term lover. Is it because she’s high-maintenance? Is it because she’s flighty? No, she just isn’t intellectual enough for Giampaolo…. [image] Leave a comment Name (required) E-mail (required) URI Your ...

Second Microsoft’s Laptop Hunters Video
Mobility Site — And again in this video Microsoft mentions Apple. What did they say? Check the video. --- Related Articles at Mobility Site: New video “I’m a PC” Microsoft’s Surface Parodied at Gear Diary Microsoft’s Zune zooms into CNET Networks Check Out Microsoft’s New Security Service Have you installed Microsoft’s SMTP Patch? ...

Microsoft at it again with 2nd ad tweaking Macs
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) — Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Cult of MacMicrosoft is really working hard to get potential Mac customers to either buy or stay with Windows-based PCs. After the initial "Lauren" ad -- see BusinessWeek's take on her choice of a poorly-rated HP model, and TechFlash & Apple 2.0 on her oddly extensive acting career for someone who supposedly answered a Craiglist ad for market research -- a new ad [YouTube link] in the series launched today. Our new shopper, Giampaolo, looks at a Mac at a computer store and says it is "so sexy," but then adds that "Macs are more about aesthetics than ...

Microsoft's latest ad attacks Mac aesthetics, computing power
AppleInsider — By Prince McLean Published: 11:00 PM EST Continuing its advertising campaign which seeks to promote generic PCs running Windows as more attractive than Macs, Microsoft's latest spot plays up specifications over aesthetics as opposed to just suggesting that PCs are simply cheaper as the previous spot did. However, it end up making the opposite point instead. Following Lauren , the latest ad introduces Giampaolo, who says he's looking for portability, battery life, and power. "I'm technically savvy," he says, "I know what I want. I like a computer that allows me to customize." He's shown shopping at Fry's Electronics, where he picks up a unibody MacBook and ...

'I'm a PC, Because I'm Really Picky'
Microsoft Watch — Portability. The Mac is the better choice. The Apple computer is smaller and lighter (4.5 pounds versus 7 pounds) than the HP portable. Battery life. Apple claims up to five hours for the 13.3-inch MacBook versus up to 2 hours HP marketing material asserts for the HDX. In my testing, the MacBook gets up to 3 hours (usually less), Regardless, the MacBook better meets Giampaolo's criteria. Power. The HP laptop has a faster processor, double the memory, twice the graphics memory (and its dedicated) and a huge hard drive. The HP wins for power, and considerably so. Customization. The HDX is more configurable than the MacBook. With respect to hardware, Giampaolo ...

New Microsoft Giampaolo Commercial keeps on hitting the Apple where it hurts
I4U News — New Microsoft Giampaolo Commercial keeps on hitting Apple where it hurts Posted on Sun, 5 Apr 2009 08:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr | Topic: Technology News Microsoft released the second Laptop Hunter commerical continouing to heat up the war between Apple and Microsoft fans. This time tech savvy Giampaolo (You must just love the Ad agency to pick this name) hunts down a power user laptop for under $1,500. See the video of the ad below. Giampaolo has a just a few words for the unibody Apple Laptop, but they hurt, because of their stereotype nature. As with the Lauren Microsoft landed another great commercial here. For proof read some of the 500 comments the story ...

New Windows ad hits a nerve (again)
All about Microsoft — April 5th, 2009 New Windows ad hits a nerve (again) Posted by Mary Jo Foley @ 6:11 am Categories: Advertising , Apple , Corporate strategy , Windows client Tags: Apple Macintosh , Advertisement , Microsoft Windows , Microsoft Corp. , Laptop Computer , Desktops , Hardware , Mary Jo Foley Microsoft has launched another of its new Windows “Laptop Hunters” ads this weekend. While bloggers and journalists are spending lots of cycles dissecting everything from what the salesclerks are wearing to whether or not the “star” is an actor, the one thing I can’t help ...

The Frugal Lawyer - I'm A PC - Because I'm Frugal
Futurelawyer — I hate to revisit the Mac versus PC debate; however, in lean economic times, it should be about the price/performance ratio and NOT about the brand. Microsoft is striking back in this new ad series, in which a computer buyer buys a great computer for hundreds of dollars less than a comparable, but sexier, Mac. ...

Is the Apple press falling into Microsoft’s trap?
Brainstorm Tech: Technology blogs, news and analysis from Fortune Magazine » Apple 2.0 — Over the weekend, Microsoft (MSFT) unleashed the second TV ad in the “you find it, you keep it” series — this time swapping handsome, “technically savvy” Giampaolo for perky, red-headed Lauren De Long. Once again the camera follows a typical budget-constrained buyer on a laptop shopping spree using Steve ...

Microsoft Finally Just Admits It: Apple Macs Are "So Sexy" (CLIP)
Silicon Alley Insider — Fresh off the heels of Microsoft's (MSFT) "I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person" commercial, the company is once again taking a dig at Apple (AAPL). In the latest ad, we're introduced to Giampaolo, who goes hunting for a laptop on a $1500 budget. After checking out the Apple store, Giampaolo gushes over the Macs as "so sexy," but adds "I don't want to pay for the brand, I want to pay for the computer" and walks home with a HP (HPQ). Apple partisans are already screeching the computer Giampaolo ends up with really isn't all that great, with other tech journalists building off that to say that provoking an over-reaction from ...

While you were weekending — bashing Google, skewering Apple
GMSV — Some of the tech blogosphere chatter you might have missed if you were enjoying a healthy, analog weekend: * The ever popular “Google: Threat or Menace?” debate went up a few decibels after comments last week from two very diverse sources, media mogul Rupert Murdoch ...

Microsoft scores another hit against Apple
Hardware 2.0 — April 6th, 2009 Microsoft scores another hit against Apple Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 5:47 am Categories: Ad industry , Marketing , Microsoft Tags: Apple Macintosh , Advertisement , Apple Inc. , Microsoft Corp. , Desktops , Hardware , Adrian Kingsley-Hughes Microsoft’s latest “You find it … you keep it” ad throws another loaded hornet’s nest into the Apple camp. Apple fanboys and press, predictably, react violently, playing right into Microsoft’s hands. If you’ve not seen it yet, check out the ad: [image] Now, Giampaolo describes himself as “technically savvy”, so I’m ...

Dear Giampaulo (and Microsoft): You Had $1,500 and Blew It [TheAppleBlog]
GigaOM Network — The latest Laptop Hunter ad is out, and it went where it had no business going. The first ad featured Lauren, and setting aside that she was cute, the best thing about her was that she was enthusiastic and a non-techie. Her purchase was as much emotional as anything else. While I’d disagree with that kind of computer purchasing logic, there’s a ...

Microsoft airs second laptop ad, same as the first
Macworld — Posted on by Dan Moren Microsoft’s new ad campaign continues with a second installment of an average Joe—or, I guess, an average Giampolo, in this case—looking for a laptop. Unlike previous candidate Lauren , Giampolo bills himself as “technically savvy,” so Microsoft offers to buy him whatever laptop he finds for $1,500 or less. Where does it end , Microsoft? Will you buy a laptop for everyone in the world ? As with Lauren’s adventure, Giampolo decides to check out a Mac during his shopping spree by manhandling a MacBook, which he calls “so sexy.” Ultimately, of course—surprise!—he decides Macs aren’t for him, because “Macs, to me, are about ...

Laptop Hunters, Take 2: Still Unconvincing
Today @ PC World — Microsoft's latest Laptop Hunters commercial just came out and it is guaranteed to open up a second front among Mac and Windows fanboys. This time, our shopper is Giampaolo, a nondescript, hip young guy on the lookout for his dream machine priced under $1500 (poor Lauren, in Microsoft's first ad in this series, only got $1000). Just like Lauren, Giampaolo ends up buying an HP laptop, but as we wander through a parade of big box stores and malls, Giampaolo delivers some heavy-hitting zingers directed at Apple that have little to do with price. Giampaolo (or G,, as I like to call him) starts his quest by stating he is looking for a laptop with portability, battery ...

Latest Microsoft reality ad channels Ballmer
Insanely Great Mac — Over the weekend Microsoft launched their second Apple-poking "I'm a PC" ad.

Windows Conficker worm awakens, updates via P2P, begins to drop payload; Macintosh unaffected
MacDailyNews — Windows Conficker worm awakens, updates via P2P, begins to drop payload; Macintosh unaffected Thursday, April 09, 2009 - 12:38 PM EDT "The Conficker worm is finally doing something--updating via peer-to-peer between infected [Windows PCs] and dropping a mystery payload on infected computers, Trend Micro said on Wednesday," Elinor Mills reports for CNET. "Researchers were analyzing the code of the software that is being dropped onto infected computers but suspect that it is a keystroke logger or some other program designed to steal sensitive data off the machine, said David Perry, global director of security education at Trend Micro," Mills reports. "The software appeared ...

Pink PCs and Baseball Boys: These Microsoft Ads Are Growing on Me (But I Am Still a Mac!)
BoomTown — Okay, the Laura commercial was a little to cute for its own good and BoomTown has no interest in Giampaulo’s “really big hands.” But the latest installment of Microsoft’s real-people advertising Internet and television ad campaign called “Laptop Hunters”–this time a mother and son named Lisa and Jackson looking to score a computer–is pretty funny and sweet. Deftly lacing in baseball and playing to cute but tired cliches (did you hear–boys don’t like the color pink!), the main theme of heft value over too-thin hipness is really starting to kick in: That a person can get more ...

Microsoft spends $300 million on campaign to fortify Apple’s ‘Get a Mac’ message
MacDailyNews — Microsoft spends $300 million on campaign to fortify Apple’s ‘Get a Mac’ message Friday, April 10, 2009 - 08:59 AM EDT "After sleeping for nearly three years while Apple successfully bashed it every night on network television with the Mac vs. PC ad campaign, Microsoft has sobered up and taken the offensive over the last several months with a series of marketing messages comparing the relative prices of Macs and PCs made by Microsoft's partners," Tom Krazit writes for CNET News. "Perhaps someone at Microsoft should start to wonder what kind of branding message they are implanting in the public mind... In continuing to push this strategy, Microsoft is inadvertently ...

What Do You Think of Microsoft's Laptop Hunters Ads?
GeekSugar — The Microsoft ad people have been working on overtime on new ad angles - in the past year alone, they've had the failed Seinfeld concept, the adorable Rookies concept, and now, it's "Laptop Hunters," where cameramen document "real people" shopping for new laptops. I'm using my quotation marks liberally because the first ad features a girl ...

Which Campaign is Better: Microsoft's Laptop Hunter or Apple's Get a Mac?
Today @ PC World — [image] Microsoft has unveiled its latest "Laptop Hunter" ad , throwing back a powerful punch against Apple's long-running (and, by most counts, long-winning) campaign on coolness. Unlike Microsoft's past attempts, this new line of marketing has many ad experts taking note -- and saying maybe, just maybe, Microsoft has finally hit the mark. Microsoft's Laptop Hunter Ad The new "Laptop Hunter" spot, the third in Microsoft's latest ad series, shows a mom and son trying to find a laptop for less than $1500. Microsoft offers to pay the price of the computer if they can find one within that range. The ad follows similar spots debuted this month, one featuring a guy ...

Microsoft's laptop hunter ads spoofed with Homeless Frank
The Microsoft Blog — Since Microsoft began its newest PC advertising campaign , two more commercials have emerged. (They're embedded below.) And accordingly, the advertisements have been spoofed. Landline TV , which bills itself as "comically relevant...for about week or so," has a new ad featuring Homeless Frank. The fake ad shows an actor wearing flannel, peeing in a corner, coughing all over the place, and ultimately buying a PC to use as a visor to block out the sun while he sleeps. He didn't want the PC, which has "second-rate Korean components," and asked for the money instead. "I'm poor but I'm not retarded. Alright, these computers suck," he says. See for yourself. ...

Everybody hates the new Microsoft commercials
TV Squad — Filed under: Video, Commercials, Reality-FreeHow about you? These new ads are trying to say you shouldn't pay a lot for a computer, especially those damn Macs that, well, everyone who uses them really loves. (Disclaimer: yes, I'm typing this on a Mac.) Well, she's right about one thing: she isn't cool enough to own a Mac. Did she just call her son "dude?".   Permalink | Email ...

Apple’s Mac sales surge due in part to Microsoft’s ill-conceived ‘Laptop Hunters’ ads?
MacDailyNews — Apple’s Mac sales surge due in part to Microsoft’s ill-conceived ‘Laptop Hunters’ ads? Thursday, July 02, 2009 - 06:31 PM EDT "I notice that Microsoft has yet to change its TV 'Laptop Hunter' ads since Apple cut the price of Mac notebooks. Not only were those spots misleading before, but they now contain downright lies," Gene Steinberg writes for MacNightOwl. "For a while, some felt that perhaps Apple was indeed being impacted by that renewed campaign against the Mac and the perilous state of the economy... [However] according to analyst Katy Huberty of Morgan Stanley, “Apple began to outperform the broader commercial PC segment — with commercial Mac shipments up 25% ...

Microsoft: Apple Told Us to Cancel the Laptop Hunter Ads
Mashable! — By this point, 99% of you have probably seen the “Get a Mac” ads where the Mac (Justin Long) proves in 30 seconds how he’s clearly superior to the PC (John Hodgman) in every way. The result: an advertising hit. For years, Microsoft either never responded or put together ads that didn’t resonate with the public (do you remember those Seinfeld-Gates ads from last year? Yeah, I’ve tried to block those out too). However, its most recent ad campaign, “Laptop Hunters,” has been gaining traction. In fact, it’s been so effective that apparently Apple’s legal department called Microsoft and ...

Apple legal forces Microsoft to stop falsely advertising MacBook Pro price
MacDailyNews — Apple legal forces Microsoft to stop falsely advertising MacBook Pro price Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 08:51 AM EDT Apple Store "Now let's talk about Apple. What are you going to do about those Apple ads? That was a year ago. Gosh, when I went home for the holidays, brothers, sisters, cousins -- hey, hope you don't have anything to do with marketing over there at Microsoft," Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Turner said during remarks at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 yesterday. "What are you guys going to do about those Apple ads?" Turner said, "Stay tuned, stay tuned, stay tuned. Wow. Did we punch right back? The PC Hunter ads, the PC ...

Microsoft COO Received “Greatest Single Phone Call” After Apple Asked To Have Laptop Hunters Ad Removed
Pulse2 - Technology News And Reviews — This guy in the above video literally scares Apple. At the Worldwide Partner Conference Microsoft COO Kevin Turner recalled a story about how Apple’s lawyers called Microsoft to take down their Laptop Hunters advertisements. Below is the story that Turner told: And so we’ve been running these PC value ads. Just giving people saying, hey, what are you looking to spend? “Oh, I’m looking to spend less than $1,000.” Well we’ll give you $1,000. Go in and look and see what you can buy. And they come out and they just show them. Those are completely unscripted ...

Apple's panties in bunch over Microsoft ads
The Register — Apple's legal arm asked Microsoft to pull its ongoing series of Laptop Hunter ads, according to one Microsoft exec. On Wednesday, at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 ( WPC09 ), the company's COO, Kevin Turner, gave a traditional partner-stroking talk that alternated between thanking and exhorting the assembled Microsofties. Near the end of his 8,000-word homily, however, he related a phone call that prompted the crowd to break into applause. And you know why I know they're working? Because two weeks ago we got a call from the Apple legal department saying, hey - this is a true story - saying, "Hey, you need to stop running those ads, we lowered ...