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Microsoft to Apple: Bring It On

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 11, 2009 9:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – With its snazzy ads and iPhone groupies, Apple has been winning the Mac vs. PC wars, but Microsoft is ready to strike back, Peter Burrows writes in BusinessWeek. Positioning itself as a cheaper alternative, the company has launched its own slate of “uncharacteristically cool” TV ads and is offering a version of Windows, normally about $70, for $15.

Sales of Windows have rebounded since last year, and Microsoft expects to increase its momentum with the release of Windows 7, which it promises will be easier to use. Still, one analyst said consumers might resent having to pay for an upgrade, and although Microsoft has found some success with its ads, one exec says, “We’re not cool yet.”

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Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer delivers the keynote address at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (AP Photo)

Microsoft products are offered for sale at a store in Chicago. (Getty Images)

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This is one out of three Microsoft Laptop Hunter ads. (LinkTamake)

Giampaolo who is on a strict $1500 budget, finds his perfect laptop an HP HDX. (Elink247)

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We're not cool yet. Trust me, my daughter tells me that every day. But we're having a lot of fun telling our story. It's been a long time coming. - Brad Brooks, Microsoft VP
for consumer-product marketing

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