Microsoft / Gates / Seinfeld first ad

[Brad Jones]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6amk3P-hY

First ad from Microsoft with Gates and Seinfeld. Do you think Microsoft is on their way to recouping the $10 million they were reported to pay Senfeild for an ad campaign?

Brad!

[PeejAvery]

Watching Bill Gates do his little "adjustment" at the end was kind of funny. Oher than that...

Microsoft should be shaking their heads in shame right now. I'm far from anti-Microsoft, but I think they took a step back with this advertising attempt. Are they even sure what they are attempting to communicate?

[MrViggy]

Yeah, I saw this during the Giants game last night (Thursday), and I really wasn't sure what they were trying to sell! If it weren't for Bill Gates, and the Windows logo at the end, I would have thought it was some new shoe store chain!!!

Viggy

[Brad Jones]

so if you were to speculate.... what do you think Microsoft was trying to get across with the ad? Some smart people had to be involved, so there has to be a point.... Right?

[kirants]

It was a cryptic ad.. and I think it is deliberate. Perhaps to garner some interest for the forthcoming ads ( I believe it is going to be a series, isn't it ? ). Am happy they are not alluding to anything Mac. Personally, I think of Mac vs. PC ads as lame and condescending.

[dglienna]

Seems to be 'WATCH THIS SPACE for something more important the next time?" :)

[Joeman]

Yeah I read that the ad was suppose to get you talking about. That seems pretty accurate since people are talking about it in this thread. I found that the ad was very silly and down right awful. It was boring to watch and just terrible to see shoes get wet like that. Try putting your computer in there aswell. Now that is funny. We will see how adjustable and flexible the electricity can be. Other than that, I think they should stop these commericals. If not, don't go to a discount store since microsoft really isn't about that. I didn't get any real message from that ad. Just that there are 2 popular people making dumb decisions.

[dglienna]

Hmmm. I was in a Beta of a service that I've forgotten the name of. Seems that I should look it up to see if I can talk about it...

[ishaypeled]

I don't think it was cryptic, just pointless, maybe other ads will have some vague connection to this one, but I hardly see the connection between the shoe store, Seinfeld and Gates (apart from Gates being a clown of course)...
I'd be more than happy to find that I'm wrong.

[cilu]

Well, I don't blame Gates for this lame ad, but Seinfeld, when the hack did Seinfeld become so bad? When I saw the title, Seinfeld & Gates I though this should be rocking... But it was quite poor.

EDIT: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/windows/featureStories.aspx?story=660dee9e-9606-4e77-843e-ed81d83c0bfe

[Khiem]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6amk3P-hY

First ad from Microsoft with Gates and Seinfeld. Do you think Microsoft is on their way to recouping the $10 million they were reported to pay Senfeild for an ad campaign?

Brad!
What do Bill and MS and Seinfield have to do with this site ? Isn't this proprietary ? In the US, that is not the only shoe store !

[tossy]

I don't think we should blame Gates for this ad... actually I was very much impressed with the title but it isn't that much interesting...

[Joeman]

If were to blame anyone, it would be the person who came up with the script for the commercial or whoever thought that it was good in the first place and decided to air it.

[PeejAvery]

The second one finally came out. I have to admit...at least I can understand the theme in this one. Oh wait, they splashed it at the end..."Perpetually Connecting." I think they need to give up on this ad campaign. It isn't connecting!

[Joeman]

This is the link where I watched it. http://www.inquisitr.com/3081/bill-gates-jerry-seinfield-microsoft-ad-2/

I must admit that this gives you nothing new, but some more lame "trials" or something. That is right. They aren't connecting. They are just bouncing to other people's houses to live there.

Maybe they are just getting people's attention to announce something. What a big surprise that will be. They have to be announcing something or they just like spending millions for nothing then?

The only message I got from it was, "It's just the way we connect with other people. Weird, annoying and not helpful."

[Brad Jones]

The only message I got from it was, "It's just the way we connect with other people. Weird, annoying and not helpful."

I saw it on TV last night during Big Brother (yes, I watch Big Brother). Wow. I have to believe the ads will come together at some point.... But then, they are using Seinfeld, so maybe they wont.....

You didn't get the idea that Microsoft is trying to understand everyday people? Or that Apple is selling the same thing over and over, they are just "putting cheese on it"? Or.....

Okay, maybe I'm stretching.....

My wife and I were both scratching our heads saying 'huh?' after the second one.....

[PeejAvery]

Wow....I never knew you were married, Brad. I'm slow.

[Brad Jones]

Wow....I never knew you were married, Brad. I'm slow.

Married with two 3-1/2 year olds. Life is crazy :D Just like a Seinfeld commercial..... ;)

Brad!

[PeejAvery]

Neat. My wife nannies for twin 3 year olds. Kind of nice to not deal with them at night. I really wish they were my kids though. I love being with them almost more than my wife does.

[Joeman]

I saw it on TV last night during Big Brother (yes, I watch Big Brother). Wow. I have to believe the ads will come together at some point.... But then, they are using Seinfeld, so maybe they wont.....

You didn't get the idea that Microsoft is trying to understand everyday people? Or that Apple is selling the same thing over and over, they are just "putting cheese on it"? Or.....

Okay, maybe I'm stretching.....

My wife and I were both scratching our heads saying 'huh?' after the second one.....


I suppose they were observing a typical household for some reason. I just don't know why.

For laying your food to represent that mac layers their os, I wouldn't know about. I do know microsoft layered their os for vista. I think it is telling people why are they doing the same old thing and why are they keeping the old and useless? If they wanted something new(food to represent or that game), I suppose they got it with novell. Linux and unix since novell owns unix's copyright.

Maybe they are holding back on telling you what it is all about until the end. Perhaps then these messages will finally connect. You know with a human robotic dancer that makes food. :D Corny, but that is only what I can come up with what is going on.

I am very curious how this plays out.

On the other note, I think linux is great for a professional that knows how to type a few command lines. Ubuntu and linux mint does a great job at doing all the command lines for you.. mostly all of them :). I will actually send a picture of my current theme on my secondary computer that runs linux, so you can see why I don't like vista. I can use xp because I am so use to how it looks that I prefer it better. Too bad vista wouldn't let you use the xp theme, but it lets you use the classic theme which is very old in the computer world.

Here is the link http://img55.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotzf5.png

I call that ok since I didn't take too much time out to make it exactly to my likens. I could have done better

[TT(n)]

so if you were to speculate.... what do you think Microsoft was trying to get across with the ad? Some smart people had to be involved, so there has to be a point.... Right?


That regular people can use windows too?
That's what the Seinfeld show was all about to begin with, ... nothing.
Just some regular guy talking about random stuff, with a touch of comic relief. (bass line kicks in here)

Oh and I love the PC vs MAC commercials, because we all can identify with them, and at least have a stress relieving laugh.
It doesn't persuade me one bit, to be fooled into getting a mac.
Not to mention that macs have similar problems(post version 9), but there aren't as many users to squawk about them.

[dglienna]

They need a 3x box that covers the mac. What's 3x? $$$ :)

[jTyler]

This commercial was lame. If I didn't already know who the characters were and what the ad was about, I would not have guessed what the product was.

Janis

[Brad Jones]

Okay, so the third one says a little more than the first two.

But then, Microsoft has come out to say that the set of three Seinfeld/Gates videos were "ice breakers" to get the campaign started. They now have three "I'm a PC" ads running.

With the "I'm a PC" ads, I think Microsoft is still missing the point. They seem to be attacking the "sterotype of a PC person "portion of the Mac ads when in reality that was the least 'aggressive' part of what Apple was doing. In my opinion, I'd like to see them address the issues that were being presented. The "security access, the blue screen of death comments, etc. Maybe that will come later.....

I could video a clip for them.... I'd say....
"I'm a PC, I'm overweight and sit around a desk all day...."
"I'm a PC, I sit by a desk and spend most of my day focused on doing things that cut my productivity...."

I wonder if Microsoft would put my clips into their ad....

Brad!

Brad!

[PeejAvery]

I agree that they are missing the whole point of advertising. Apple's commercials can be funny, and their constant bashing of PC can be annoying...but they are hitting advertising right on the nose.

I think that Microsoft needs to stay away from countering Apple completely and focus on the progression of their OS improvements.

[Joeman]

That one was better. It had more comedy in it even without seinfield. How was it funny? It made everyone say they were pcs. It was laughable. Although I know the definition of a pc, it really doesn't = a computer that runs windows. Although that is the typical use for the term. pc really equals personal computer. I really enjoyed how they implied that only civil, fun and/or outgoing people use pcs. That is just great, but what about all the negative people who use it? Did you forget about them? Did you forget how they use your "os" to hurt people because of its design flaws? Did you forget to tell them they are unaware of viruses? Well, I suppose that one is out of the question.

So out of all the ads, they are brain-washing you to think everyone uses pcs. Do you know the percentage of users who are infected by malware that doesn't know it or think they do? You know.. spyware, trojans, viruses, worms... Just becuase you use a pc, doesn't make you any different. I am sure you have been or will be infected.

They also act like their os can met to anyone's needs. Although it can for the most part with 3rd party applications, it can't even change its looks without... another 3rd party application that had to reverse engineer the os to make theses changes. How fun was that? Yes, I am talking about windowblinds. Now that it isn't free, I can't use it. So I have been stuck with this xp style for years. Did I say years? Did it flex for me? Nope :(. It stayed like that. So no, pc isn't you. It is just a tool.

What's the going price for him? Oh he is on sell today 20% off.

[MrViggy]

Well, it looks like someone has been listening to the community rant:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/19/microsoft.seinfeld.ap/index.html

No more Bill and Jerry!

Viggy