Following yesterday's anti-iPad Surface RT ad, Microsoft today released another new advertisement, this time targeting Apple's iPad mini. In the spot, Microsoft compares the mini to the 8-inch Acer Iconia W3 tablet, which runs the full version of Windows 8.

The ad returns to using a Siri voiceover to poke fun at the mini while demonstrating the similarities between the two tablets. Microsoft also highlights the Acer's productivity software and its gaming capabilities. "Wow, you are a real PC," says Siri.


The Acer Iconia W3, which is advertised as the smallest Windows 8 tablet on the market, has garnered lukewarm reviews for its poor 1280 x 800 display, though it does come equipped with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB RAM.

Since its launch in June, the Iconia W3 has seen significant price drops. Originally priced at $380, the 32GB version of the tablet can now be purchased for $300 on Amazon, a price point that is emphasized at the end of the ad. In comparison, the 32GB iPad mini retails for $129 more, priced at $429.

Top Rated Comments

Rogifan Avatar
155 months ago
Is this the same Acer tablet that got really crappy reviews?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
32KFJ Avatar
155 months ago
"thats really a cool ad, i'll throw my ipad mini away and buy a win 8 tablet"

- said no one ever
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gpat Avatar
155 months ago
Now, they're taking it too far. That tablet sucks. The screen isn't even IPS.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bb426 Avatar
155 months ago
....And yet the iPad mini still works 100x better while looking 100x classier, while NOT running Windows 8.

And you can't even compare App Store ecosystems.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
flottenheimer Avatar
155 months ago
Siri: "Wow. Is that Windows hiding underneath?", "Aren't your fingers a little too big for all those itsy bitsy icons?", "Driver update? Antivirus? What is this?", "...Well, you get what you pay for I guess."
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
155 months ago
Why do Microsoft keep obsessing about things like Office and such? Yes, it can run that stuff -- because it's running bloody Windows 8.

Congratulations, Ballmer. You've got an interface optimised for mouse and keyboard running on a touch-screen tablet. There's no difference to when they brought out the tablet PC around 2001. Apple's iPad was successful because it's a tablet with an OS optimised for touch, and touch only.

To paraphrase what Steve Jobs once said, he mentioned that the most difficult part of a product is deciding what not to put in. And Microsoft have tried making a product that does everything; which means it excels (no pun intended) in nothing.

The term "Jack of all trades, master of **** all" comes to mind.

Competition is good, and benefits the consumer, but Microsoft just don't get it! It's so damn frustrating how a company that big, with that much revenue and R&D can be so incompetent. They've learned absolutely nothing since their last failed endeavour in this field.

Goddammit Microsoft, get it together.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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