Go Beyond Vista. Apple starts spamming!
I am trying really hard to keep an open/unbiased opinion on the Apple vs Microsoft debate. Going beyond their regular smearing ad campaigns, they have graduated to spamming peoples inboxes (mine included). Here’s an email I received on the 4th of February.
For my skeptical readers, I’d like to first point out that this email was definetely received from Apple, and not some third party. I can say this, because the images that make up the email, http://images.apple.com/chatterbox/us/2007/02/3906/img/ttl.gif and http://images.apple.com/chatterbox/us/2007/02/3906/img/mainimage.jpg are clearly off the apple.com servers.
Apple does have some very slick products, including OSX, the iPod and hopefully the iPhone soon. Why not show these off, instead of playing dirty with their competitors. I have watched a lot of videos on on10 and Channel9 and Microsoft employees very rarely (if ever) mention their competitors, let alone speak badly of them.
Sorry Steve, but I’ve already upgraded to Vista, its simpler, more secure and way more fun”. Not to mention it works with all my stuff like my printer, camera, xBox 360, home theater system and phone.
Doing some looking around on the subject I came to Paul Smith’s blog which had this rather humorous response…
Ajit Monteiro 
What do you got against Macs?
I do not have anything against Macs. I respect their products and could see myself using them.
What does bother me, are companies that advertise by putting down competitors products.
I added this post to digg, at Go Beyond Vista. Apple starts spamming! and, got various responses saying that I had to have added myself to their mailing list at some point.
There is a possibility, although unlikely, that I signed up at some time. However, I don’t personally own any Apple products and don’t use iTunes.
To let users decide for themselves here is a list of links, to this discussion, elsewhere on the web.
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=279198
http://digg.com/apple/Apple_launches_SPAM_Campaign_Go_beyond_Vista
Although I do agree that they’re smear ad campaign is ineffective and always has been, I think the best way to determine whether or not Apple is really spamming you is to unsubscribe and see whether or not you continue to receive e-mails from Apple.
While waiting to see if Apple spams you, hears some advertising from Microsoft – http://mvpc.ytmnd.com/
Heres a whole list of funny ones http://www.internet-nexus.com/2007/01/im-mac-im-pc.htm