With all of the money that Microsoft is throwing at advertising now, I'm starting to wonder what Microsoft is thinking.  But a little digging gets me really confused, so I'm writing this to help sort it out for myself (and anyone else who considers themselves to be "Technically Savvy").  So please forgive the ranting if it goes there.

In an economy that is pushing consumers to be tighter and tighter with their wallets, Microsoft has opened up their wallets to the Mac based advertising firm of Crispin Porter + Bogusky.  So far they have come out with the Seinfeld ads, the Mojave experiment, I'm a PC (but really use a Mac), and now laptop hunters.  Disregarding the first three advertising campaigns and their new tag line, "life without walls" (which I'm sure you can see the irony if your product is called Windows), let's just look at the recent advertising campaign  ... Laptop Hunters ... or how HP got in bed with Microsoft and what Microsoft is doing to support HP.

Now you may say, "Chris, why do you care?  You guys write about mods & macs."  You're right.  Of course there is the usual Mac vs. Windows thing going on, but for me I dislike the sketchiness of this particular advertising campaign and the back room transactions that are probably taking place.  Specifically the "Lauren" shot and how it really turned out to not be what it appears at first.  So when the second ad comes out with someone who says they are a "Technically Savvy" person, I think ... no, they're not.

So in the second ad spot, Giampolo is looking for a $1500 laptop and finds one for $1099.  Great deal Giampolo!  Now what was it you said you were looking for ...

• Portability
• Battery Life
• Power (CPU)
• Ability to Customize

And you bought a HP HDX notebook.  Uh.  I guess when he found out that he could keep the notebook he got a little excited and forgot what he was looking for.

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

The HP HDX laptop is running DDR2 memory.  While cheaper it is older, but you get what you pay for.  Portability?  Weighing in at just over 7 pounds I'm not sure how portable it will feel after a few months.  Battery life?  Let's just say the average reviewer gave it 2 hours, unless you bought the extended power pack that goes on the back of it (and added even more weight to the laptop).  Now here's something that sparked my interest.  The "Ability to Customize". hurm ... that is odd ... SINCE HE BOUGHT IT OFF THE SHELF! 

This guy ... is an insult to actual "Technically Savvy" people.  No "G".  You're not technically savvy.

Now on to the more interesting part of the whole show ... HP & Microsoft.  Oh yeah, you thought I was just ranting about Giampolo.  Now maybe it's me and my conspiracy theories, but isn't it interesting that the computers the "Laptop Hunters" have picked so far have been HP's?  Isn't even MORE interesting that Microsoft is extending the XP license to HP until 2010, where everyone else has the license until mid 2009.

You don't need to believe in conspiracy theories to see what I'm saying ...

HP helping Microsoft in ads
+ Microsoft giving HP extended XP license
= HP may be the only OEM to offer XP downgrades for nearly a year.