Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

cesjr — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:44:01 GMT

Paul - "The bad guys have owned this conversation for too long."

You mean the guys that are forcing everyone including MS to make their smartphones better? And putting pressure on MS to improve the windows experience?

Paul - "I would put things a bit differently:

Apple: Windows sucks, and we're cool. (Barely mentions own product. But remember, Windows sucks. Look at the buffoon! He uses Windows.)

Microsoft: Windows does what you want it to do. Here's how.

It's the difference between smugness and humility, really."

Barely mentions own product? They do for some of the ads and for the rest, the PC/mac comparison is implicit because the ad is highlighting a specific problem with windows or the PC experience. The whole point of these ads is that the mac doesn't have the same problems or level of problems.

This is Paul's basic problem - he simply cannot forgive Apple for claiming it has a better product. Why is this not allowed - in an ad. Isn't this normal - competitor A claiming it has a better product that competitor B? Why is this smug? It's basic business. Paul is just hyper sensitive about any claim the mac is better. Too bad, Paul. You'll have to learn to live with it.

Paul - "yert, the iCabal descends on every little tidbit they can, blows it out of proportion, and makes a mess of it. It's like politics and religion for them. That's why what Microsoft is doing is important. 1 billion people use Windows. Not 25 million of the "best" people."

ha, ha, ha - like this is not what PAUL does for apple products.

As to the billion windows users, as has been said a thousand times, quantity doesn't equal quality. In fact, usually the reverse is the case (though not always)

Paul - "but if you look at the Jobs era of Apple, you see great products, sure, but served with a heaping mountain of scorn for anyone who doesn't agree with them 100%. They're not perfect. "

"It's not OK to lie. And to denigrate people you don't agree with."

Again, all Apple is doing is saying their products are better. That's it. You can disagree with that, fine. BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH SAYING YOUR PRODUCT IS BETTER, IN A MARKETING CONTEXT. GET OVER IT, PAUL.

Paul - "And their most mindless fans, the iCabal. They're bad people. They're people who lie and lie and lie, and the fanatics just suck it up (cheer them on even) and put up with problems that would never be acceptable on the Windows side. And then they make fun of their competitors on that Windows side, all while their own OSes are being patched regularly to fix a cavalcade of problems and their cell phones can't even make calls. And god help you if you actually disagree with anything they say. That's when the whining really starts."

This is the most childish thing I've ever read. Grow up Paul. People have disagreements. Apple and many apple users think apple products (some of them at least) are better than windows (at least for some applications). Of course, people can disagree about that and have a grown up debate.

Or, like yourself, you can insult people when you disagree with them.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

DRWAM — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:23:35 GMT

I just read a bad review about the Shoe Circus ad. Like or dislike it, it's getting attention, or at least giving attention to MS, which is the starting point, get noticed. It article at Comcast stated that the ad company does make quirky ads.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

DRWAM — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:58:26 GMT

And it's free. People won't want to spend more money if they can only afford [or are too cheap] those cheap computers. But the cheapo boxes can do everything that these people need of them. Free Live services will make them more interested, especially in today's economy [and for the el-cheapos of society]. Who wants another subscription every month or year, especially when something free works almost or just as well? I am getting verbose here because I'm a consumer advocate.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

shark47 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:48:08 GMT

I think the ads showing off Windows Live will coincide with the release of the Wave 3 products. I think they're in a private beta testing phase right now. The easiest thing they can do right now is point them to liveside.net. It's probably the best resource on the Windows Live suite.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

gorath — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:47:57 GMT

I don't get it. It got my attention, but that's about it.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

Waethorn — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:46:06 GMT

@Doc:

The Dell commercials are a start. They talk about including Windows Live Photo Gallery.

I do prefer the older Windows Live videos with Catherine Keener as the narrator though. They were a little more alluring, even if her voice was a bit more whiney. The new ones seem to lack spirit. I had shown several customers those videos to show how Windows Live software was an online extension of Windows Vista, and they really liked that. The logos at the end of the video even included the Windows Vista branding paired with Windows Live so it was a good cross-promotional job.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

DRWAM — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:20:44 GMT

This is just a beginning. When commercials showing Windows Live wares gets out, and people see how much they can do with just a cheap POS from BestBuy or Dell, more Vista sales will happen. The not-so-tech savvy crowd will start buying computers with Vista. Live demos on the computer as well as live Live demos in the stores will get people more interested, since they will see how easy they can are to use and how useful they will be. IMO, that is. I think Live will be like gold.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

millsi80 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:45:17 GMT

I think there mildly entertaining and cant wait to see what comes next. As well, the new windows site with the ad up front is nice. They should use www.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx this for an ad

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

schlack2 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:09:25 GMT

If you think about it the commercial was very much like Vista. Everything is there but it's really hard to find and it's just not too intuitive for the average user.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

Waethorn — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:33:57 GMT

"What? You think I'm going to say "Oh wow! Look how cool that "Mac" guy is dressed, and check out his 'I'm better than you because I use a Mac' 'tude! I'm going to hire him because if he is cool, I'll be cool too.""

No, because anyone in their right mind wouldn't hire the guy that looks like he just got out of bed while sleeping in his clothes after a night of binge drinking.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

Waethorn — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:32:01 GMT

"Don't over think it. It's a branding message, not a giant allegory of good and evil."

If you don't see the recurring themes from Mojave, then you're blind. They are there whether you like it or not.

"Remember the American Express ads where Jerry S. hung out with Superman"

You mean the ones that compare Superman to Amex's purchase protection? Ya, I "got" that one already too....and it never aired on Canadian TV. 10 seconds on Youtube found a 1 minute version of the ad. The theme was just as obvious in that one.

BTW: I never said Seinfeld ever stood for anything in the Microsoft commercial either - he's just there for comic relief, as in the Amex one.

"Wae, if you are correct, then the commercial pretty much matchs Apple's condescending style."

Through metaphor, the tone is completely different from Apple's, sorry to say.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

techfan — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:21:23 GMT

@Waethorn: I would probably hire the "PC" guy.

What? You think I'm going to say "Oh wow! Look how cool that "Mac" guy is dressed, and check out his 'I'm better than you because I use a Mac' 'tude! I'm going to hire him because if he is cool, I'll be cool too."

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

fzanes — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:39:50 GMT

@dip

Yada, Yada, Yada...

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

Dipsh t Admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:33:28 GMT

"Seinfeld had some of the smartest writing that has been on TV EVER!"

I like Seinfeld, and his comedy routines are good. But remember that the show was more about Larry David than it was about Seinfeld.

re: Microsoft's Seinfeld ad campaign kicks off

shark47 — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 19:23:55 GMT

Here's a good article:

news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10033667-17.html

"...

Either way, Microsoft is getting killed from all sides by people that think the ad was nothing more than a waste of time and money. "Apple's ads are so much better!" they say until their hearts are content. "Who would want to buy Vista after watching that ad?" they exclaim.

Do me a favor: sit down, put your MacBook Pro away, and be quiet.

..."