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.
![Apple Pulls Keynote, Pages and Numbers From App Store [Update: Back]](https://images.macrumors.com/t/Okb7kitB_gNr6qe5Pex9nQIysD8=/112x112/article-new/2026/01/Apple-Creator-Studio-iWork-suite.jpg)
Top Rated Comments
- said no one ever
And you can't even compare App Store ecosystems.
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.