Apple Pokes Fun at Vista's $300 million Advertising Budget

Not one to sit idly by while its nemesis gets a $300 million makeover, Apple is out with two new commercials, one of which directly comments on the amount of money Microsoft is spending on its current advertising campaign. In the ad, we see PC divvying up Microsoft's budget allocating the lion's share to the ad campaign and a minuscule amount to fixing Vista's problems.

Mac comments on the seemingly illogical allocation which causes PC to think for a minute before he reallocates in a manner not quite expected by Mac. It's pointed commentary on the all too common viewpoint advertising can cure all ills.

While $300 million is certainly a lot of money, it is, no doubt, far less than what Microsoft spends on the development of Vista. Still, the commercial is timely and continues to effectively poke holes in the, rightly or wrongly, tarnished Vista.

It may all be moot in a year or two when Microsoft releases Windows7, Vista's replacement. Not unsurprisingly, the lackluster, ho hum sounding Windows7 clearly aims to leave Vista and all its associated baggage behind. Not that Windows7 won't be anything other than Vista in new clothing with, perhaps, a new tie.

The second new commercial, V Word, humorously eludes to the baggage Vista has collected with PC buzzing over every mention of the word Vista in the commercial. If we were Microsoft, we'd put all our money into funding a brand name funeral for Vista and introduce a completely different brand, even if it is the same thing as Vista under the hood. Hey, car makers do it all the time.