Apple Shoots Spitballs Back at Microsoft in New Ads

Apple is taking a few more potshots at Microsoft in two new "Mac vs. Pc" ads that went live yesterday.

"Bean Counter" (above) takes Microsoft to task for spending $300 million to advertise a highly criticized product (Vista) instead of fixing its flaws. Then there's "The V Word," which tweaks Microsoft for trying to sell a product (Vista) without mentioning it by name.

With both Apple and Microsoft directly referencing each other in their ads, this volley is getting to be a bit of insider baseball. Apple has long been lobbing spitballs at Microsoft with its John Hodgman/Justin Long ad campaign, while Microsoft's John Hodgman look alike stating "I'm a PC ... and I've been made into a stereotype," tries to win sympathy points for being used as the butt of the joke in Mac ads.

These ads may not make much sense to consumers who aren't paying close attention to the tug of war between Apple and Microsoft, but they do highlight one difference between the two companies. When Apple throws a criticism at Microsoft, it usually hits the target.

By Meghan Keane for Wired.com