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Mac User #001 · Dec 12, 2007, 03:23 PM

It might just be me, but something about that seems a little strange...

peeb · Dec 12, 2007, 03:28 PM

Why? A lot of Mac users are also Windows users.

Mac User #001 · Dec 12, 2007, 04:28 PM

Yes, I know that. But that doesn't seem to warrant the need for ads being placed on a site dedicated to Mac's. No, I guess that makes perfect sense, don't mind me...

Even if it makes sense, it looks a bit odd.

TETENAL · Dec 12, 2007, 04:30 PM

They are? Do you have link?

If you are talking about a banner ad, then the question should rather be: Why is Microsoft advertising on MacNN? And why shouldn't they? Macs run Windows too, so they are potential customers who pay good for Windows. More than a PC OEM.

Most likely the banner ads are handled by a third party though and neither MacNN nor Microsoft have direct control of what gets shown where.

design219 · Dec 12, 2007, 04:40 PM

Because Microsoft has lots of money.

sek929 · Dec 12, 2007, 04:41 PM

Back in my day we ran OSX on a PPC, and we were damn happy to do so!

The Godfather · Dec 12, 2007, 05:53 PM

More importantly, Mac users have considerably more disposable income than PC users. So that money might as well go to a Windows Vista license for Bootcamp/VirtualBox/etc.

Big Mac · Dec 12, 2007, 05:53 PM

Microsoft really seems to be stepping up its banner ad efforts. I just saw one of them on a site I also wouldn't have assumed to be a place M$ advertises.

ghporter · Dec 12, 2007, 07:20 PM

I'd say that this would really belong in the Feedback forum, but I'll answer the question. We sell advertising space, but have NO CONTROL OVER WHAT THE ADVERTISERS PUT THERE. (Sorry about ths shouting, but it's really not our fault!) This is why we sometimes have stupid "You've just won!!!!!!!!" animated ad crap show up, as well as all sorts of other advertising-type garbagio.

And before anyone starts charging me with "oppressing the advertising minority," I need to point out that I was BORN in that minority; my mom worked at a major agency for 30 years, I worked there in the summers, and the folks there (except the sales guys) were all wonderful and creative. The sales guys were sales guys, and couldn't help it, but they tended to be good folks. My problem with the ads we're discussing is not about advertising per se, but rather the fact that online advertising is still using a model that was apparently designed by a freshman marketing student for a class project. And he got a C. It's not smart and doesn't work. And it ticks off more people than it motivates.

Love Calm Quiet · Dec 13, 2007, 03:03 AM

And the answer to "why does Microsoft advertise on MacNN" must be several-fold:
1) More money than they know what to do with.
2) More money than brains.
3) Hope springs eternal.
4) {following up on ghporter] They've ignored the eye-tracking research that shows how powerfully visitors ignore banner ads (indeed: anything that *resembles* an ad).

PS: Let's just enjoy the benefits of their $ - and get a good chuckle at the same time.

rickey939 · Dec 13, 2007, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Microsoft really seems to be stepping up its banner ad efforts. I just saw one of them on a site I also wouldn't have assumed to be a place M$ advertises.

Playboy.com?

voodoo · Dec 13, 2007, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

Microsoft really seems to be stepping up its banner ad efforts. I just saw one of them on a site I also wouldn't have assumed to be a place M$ advertises.

nambla.org? /jon stewart

V