“A new ranking of global brands shows Microsoft’s reputation sinking in recent years. Among the possible factors: Apple’s ‘I’m a Mac’ ads,” Ina Fried reports for CNET.
“Microsoft lands at No. 59 in the rankings for 2007, down from No. 11 in 2004, according to the survey from CoreBrand released Wednesday,” Fried reports.
“‘The effect of Apple’s ‘Hi, I’m a Mac’ advertising campaign may have taken its toll on Microsoft,’ CoreBrand CEO James Gregory said in a statement,” Fried reports.
“Some other tech firms have also seen their brand on the move. Motorola has dropped to No. 94 from No. 83 in 2006, while Toshiba rose 10 notches over the prior year, to No. 71. And as for that Cupertino, Calif.-based troublemaker, I couldn’t find it on the list,” Fried reports.
MacDailyNews Note:
• Apple dominates UK list of coolest brands with 3 in top 20 – September 14, 2007
• Survey shows Apple near top of U.S. consumers’ most-trusted brands – April 25, 2007
• Apple #1 brand in North Amercia, #2 after Google in global rank – January 26, 2007
• BusinessWeek survey: Apple’s global brand value grows 14-percent – July 28, 2006
• Apple the most popular brand in U.S. and Canada; close second to Google in global contest – January 22, 2006
• Apple Computer among top gainers in BusinessWeek’s 2005 Top 100 Global Brands list – July 22, 2005
• Apple ousts Google as top global brand – January 30, 2005
• Apple take number one spot in US & Canada ‘Brand of the Year’ survey – February 04, 2004
• Interbrand names Google, Apple top two ‘Global Brands of the Year’ – February 03, 2004
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Adam W.” for the heads up.]
While Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign certainly has its sting, perhaps an even greater factor is that the world is just finally waking up as they watch Microsoft do what it’s always done: labor to release derivative, junky products that were obviously inspired by Apple?
The chrome-plated turd that is Vista, the brown turd that is Zune, the abandoned “PlaysForSure” partners, the massive Xbox “Red Ring of Death” hardware failures to the tune of $1+ billion, the screwing of 300,00+ Xbox customers with obsolete HD DVD doorstops, the goofy, unprofessional, truth-bending and oft-nauseating CEO Ballmer constantly sticking his big fat foot into his even bigger, fatter mouth… It all adds up.
Microsoft CEO Ballmer talks Zune, laughs at Apple iPhone:
Direct link via YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oGaZIKYvo
MS was ranked #11? What the Frak!!!!
@KingMel
Don’t you mean the “big ass Zune Feel”? You will probably have to pull it around on a wagon….or what MSFT will call an “advanced mobility device.”
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Amazing to hear MDN talking about Ballmer being “unprofessional” when MDN itself is often characterized by childish personal attacks — for example, if the person being discussed is overweight.
You forgot the most important of them all… Alan Turing!
– jacob
Cue ZuneTang’s retarded retort in 3…2..1….
I don’t think the Get a Mac ads had anything to do with it. Microsoft is perfectly capable of shooting themselves in the foot–and calling it an innovation. I think the main reason for this is that Microsoft is no longer making products for users, just for partners. A good example was the Zune, which was not designed to steal Apple’s users, but Apple’s suppliers. They are so busy trying to buddy up with the industry that they’ve forgotten that without users, there’s nothing.
AAAARRRGGGHH!!! Ballmer kills me simply saying ‘innovation’.
@Cubert
No major difference in performance. A slight improvement in frame rates on games. Not as noticeable as the Leopard 10.5.2 update.
I installed SP1 on two machines. An SLI rig and a MacBook Pro. Both machines have been getting nVidia driver lockups from time to time. On the SLI rig, one of the Microsoft patches that promises to fix the problem only makes it worse. It is a BSOD instead of a driver lockup. SP1 installs that patch, so I now need to roll back that machine. I have not used SP1 long enough on the Mac to see any issues.
I will say this: 32 bit Vista on my MackBook was the easiest Windows install I ever did in my entire life. Apple did a great job making it easy. It is also the most reliable Windows system that I have ever used. My only issue has been with games that get that stupid nVidia driver lockup. nVidia won’t take responsibility for it and it is pissing me off.
Here is another thought. I still have my original 128k Mac (Upgraded to Mac Plus). How many PC owners still have a PC that they bough in 1984?
Absolutely, jacob. Turing should be on the list. Sad ending to a brilliant mind.
@BSOD,
But, is your 128k Mac still running? If so, what OS?
Someone woke up and told the world the Emperor wasn’t wearing any clothes…
In this case, perhaps it was Apple.
ORRRR perhaps it’s because MS:
1] Promised big things in Vista, then pulled them all out.
2] Knowledge that Vista was completely mis-managed leaked out years before Vista was launched. Started over in 2004.
3] Lack of Vista confidence stalled new OS sales.
4] MS has poorly managed the conversion from 32bit OS to 64bit OS, not to mention the thousands of drivers that are of issue.
5] One month before Vista went RTM, MS was still trying to work out their graphics accellerated GUI technology, which beta testers proved were was too resource hungry.
6] Hardware requirements are higher than the expectations of their customers.
7] Vista is slower than XP (and customers know it).
8] Gamers hate Vista because it’s unstable and requires too much hardware resources (resource hog).
9] Vista doesn’t present potential customers with any innovation, just a cleaned up version of XP.
@Cubert
It is not a 128k anymore, it is a Mac Plus. It has System 6 and and external SCSI drive. I have not booted it in ages, but it still works.
I used it for Hypercard development. I know I have some neat applications on it. One of them was a Help Desk application that was light years ahead of its time when I wrote it.
Finally ordered my first Macintosh (a Mac Pro) just a few minutes ago. Advertising had nothing to do with it. Vista, with its forced hardware upgrade, was a factor. Microsoft’s “Genuine Advantage” program and general embrace of DRM was another.
I’ll be giving my new Mac a thorough test. I’ll push all the buttons, and see how far I can take it. I might write a few programs for it (leaning towards Java). I’ll see how intuitive it is, and how hard it is to shift to a different OS.
Meanwhile, I’ll keep my HP with XP Media Center edition going alongside it–to watch TV on, at the very least. Got a dual-input monitor so I can switch back and forth between the two without having to use a KVM switch. If the Mac turns out to be better, I’ll continue with Macs. But I’ll keep an open mind, and subject the Mac to the same scrutiny I apply to Windows.
MDN Magic Word: “training.” Appropriate, I suppose.
“6] Hardware requirements are higher than the expectations of their customers.”
Rather hardware requirements have been set too LOW. They originally wanted to set them higher, but dropped them when asked to by Intel. It can up in the current court case.
… speaking of which is it surprising that MS are dropping in people’s estimation when they’re constantly trooping in and out the courts?
Of course, there’s such a thing as a frivolous lawsuit, so it’s not just the being taken to court: rather it’s the revelations that come out in court … when their own documents are before the court … well …
You only have to read MS’s own internal mail to see what they really think and what things they’re up to behind closed doors. No wonder they deliberately destroy so much email these days.
or as someone in a decent non media spun reality would put it….
the truth about Microsoft finally having an effect
MDN take is good, but he forgot to mention Google, which is Microsofts biggest thorn on their foot. Even bigger then Apple. Microsoft’s failure to be able to compete in this arena can not be more clearly represented by their desperate move to buy Yahoo. MS has been in a downward spiral. I have always said it. Microsoft will fall from within. The larger the giant the bigger the fall.
@ Ampar,
What about Leon, Chuck and Dick?
They only invented the first LCD screen in their garage in Hoboken.
Ina Fried = Microsoft toady with zero credibility.
I have an operational 1982 IBM PC.
I also have an operational 128k Mac.
Oh, and a 1 MB Macintosh Plus too.
I also have a NextStation fully operational.
And (hehehe!!) an beautiful original Apple ][ working too.
You forgot the fridge sized turd that is the new WOW surface turd.
MDN is on a roll!!! LOL
“The chrome-plated turd that is Vista, the brown turd that is Zune, the abandoned “PlaysForSure” partners, the massive Xbox “Red Ring of Death” hardware failures to the tune of $1+ billion, the screwing of 300,00+ Xbox customers with obsolete HD DVD doorstops, the goofy, unprofessional, truth-bending and oft-nauseating CEO Ballmer constantly sticking his big fat foot into his even bigger, fatter mouth… It all adds up.”
The survey was done by a company called Superbrands. Here’s their specs for companys that qualify and the presidents email addy.
Stephen.cheliotis@superbrands.uk.com
“Brands are rated on the following three factors; 1) Quality, i.e. does the brand represent quality products and services? 2) Reliability, i.e. can you trust the brand to deliver consistently against its promises and maintainproduct and service standards across all customer touch points? 3) Distinction, i.e. is the brand well known in its sector, is it suitably differentiated from its competitors and does it have a personality and values that make it unique within its market place. All three factors are considered essential ingredients in a Business Superbrand. In addition all highly rated brands must stand up against the following definition; “a Business Superbrand has establishedthe finest reputation in its field. It offers customers significant emotional and or tangible advantagesover its competitors, which (consciously or sub-consciously) customers want, recognise, and areconfident about investing in. Business Superbrands are targeted at organisations (although notnecessarily exclusively so)”. Stephen Cheliotis, Chairman of the Business Superbrands Council commented at the launch ‘weshould congratulate all 500 brands who have been awarded Business Superbrand status. Beatingthousands of other brands from all fields of industry they represent the business branding elite andcan be proud of their achievement. Owning a strong brand is key to having a successful business, although the need to develop and invest in a brand has only recently been considered a priority inmost business-business markets, making these winners even more noteworthy.””
@BSOD,
That’s SWEEEEET!
I love when MDN posts that vid of Ballmer. Can’t get enough of that and his inventive stats: “let’s say we have 20% of that high end market”.
It’s the lack of vision and the crap products that have caught up with them. A series of funny, well-crafted ads alone did not do this.
Bring out the deck chairs!