The long-awaited Microsoft response the Mac/PC ads has arrived. Check out phase two of the Grand Response below…

Ok, so I can see where Microsoft is coming from. This is a Bruce-Lee-Judo-esque parry that attempts to turn Apple’s momentum back onto itself. Accept the attacker’s momentum, and then release it back upon them.

Except…not.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a valiant effort. It’s a good ad, well thought, well conceived, and entertaining. It’s very much old-school Microsoft…”where do you want to do today?” You can clearly see Microsoft’s passion for their product. They really believe in it. But, passion isn’t everything. And, in this case, I think Microsoft has missed the mark.

First of all, they play right into Apple’s hand. They admit that they’ve become a stereotype, and they blame that fact on Apple. As if Apple were the problem. So, it comes off as a little whiney.

Further, do they really think that the Apple ads would have gained so much momentum and done so much damage if there weren’t some degree of truth to them? The response totally ignores the real-world issues that millions of people have had and continue to have with Windows Vista. Blaming the problems on Apple’s ads isn’t going to solve those issues. Apple didn’t create the problems…they just capitalized on them.

The smart play would be to ADMIT the shortcomings! “Hello, I’m a PC and I really blew it with Windows Vista…” Great, now tell us how you’re going to fix it. Consumers aren’t stupid. We know when a brand has made an error. We can see it clearly. No amount of spin (a la Mojave Experiment) is going to change our minds or blind us to the truth. Nor will cameos from beautiful celebrities (sorry, Eva). As consumers, we don’t respect excuses. But, we just might reward candor.

Lastly, if I were on Mac’s marketing team, I would be salivating over this ad. I would be chomping at the bit to release a new Mac/PC ad that shows the Mac character encouraging PC to “keep on trying, buddy…we’re all pulling for you. You’re not all bad…you’re just a little…different.”

I’ll be watching with great interest to see how this all plays out.