Something is wrong with Microsoft—more than usual, I mean. What the hell are they trying to do anyway? Make a movie out of these shorts? Is Bill Gates trying to become an actor now? Does anyone have any clue what’s going on? Look at the embedded YouTube video below (or check out a high quality version at Microsoft’s website) and tell me that I’m wrong. I dare you.
I mean, if all you’re going to do is show a lengthy, completely unrelated skit and throw in a Windows logo at the end, how about showing something people actually want to see—movie trailers, exclusive clips, music videos, etc.? Huh, Microsoft? If you agree, tell Jerry to ask Gates to do a hula dance onscreen (I have a feeling he won’t disagree).
I get it—these are supposed to be high class creative commercials that have a deep seated message, one that may not be immediately apparent to the casual observer. And that automatically means that these are a work of art. But when did that start selling products?
The last thing a casual TV watcher is going to do after having seen that entire commercial (it’s Gates and Seinfeld trying to be funny—who wouldn’t!) is try to figure out how that Windows logo at the end had any relation to what preceded it.
Sure, they might chuckle at Seinfeld’s dry humor and Gates’s robot act, but how does that help Microsoft?
I’m afraid that just like the eponymous show of the nineties, this ad is about nothing in particular. That might have worked for a TV show of yore, but Microsoft’s gonna have a hard time selling Vista (or anything else for that matter) using the same technique. But hey, as long as they’re amusing, keep doing what you will—at least we can get a chuckle out of the whole thing.
[via MacRumors]
This week's Economist has an interesting take on these ads. Money quote:
"the Bill Gates in Microsoft's spot has an impish side that occasionally peeks out. One of the world's richest men comes across as unassuming and approachable, the antithesis of Apple's aspirational cool, which some find annoying and snooty."
http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12209073
I like this one much more than the original, but it makes me wonder where they're airing these commercials if they are 4.5 minutes long. That's almost an entire slot for one program.
Wow us AppleDapples can be awfully tone deaf apparently. I'd rather Apple were running commercials like this than having some hipster doofus embody all the fanboy cliches.
Of course it doesn't help Apple that it quickly became apparent that John Hodgeman pwns Justin Long in all ways save time spent dating Drew Barrymore.
You're wrong. ;) I'm old enough to remember that people did not "get" Seinfeld during its first couple of seasons. The ads are about changing brand perception, rather than selling a specific product. Daniel (and the Economist) have it completely right.
I actually like these ads... :D
I liked this one better than the first one, too. Which isn't saying all that much, but they're heading in the right direction with this one.
I think it works better because:
A) they're building upon the previous spot
B) Seinfeld is only as funny as the people around him (his humor needs all the supporting cast it can get), and the family members bring human-ness & connection as well.
If they keep going this way, these spots could someday actually be entertaining.
I think its a great ad, because it makes you think of Bill Gates (the face of Microsoft as a fun character)! The ads are targeted to change the perception of Microsoft being so business like... FYI: I am a Mac OSX only user and a huge fan boy!
The Think Different campaign reestablished Apple's image and did so more effectively (and at much less expense).
These ads show that Bill Gates has a high tolerance for embarrassing himself.
The ads only purpose is to make Bill come across less stuffy. And they do a great job in doing so.
And I thought the first one was weird.
But this 4 minutes full of nothing. And if it should make Bill and Jerry look like nice guys, to me it had just the total different effect.
They appeared like total assholes to me.
Not paying the delivery boy for example.
and like others I am wondering where they plan to air it, on TV no one will sit through a 4 minute commercial, you could try the movies where people cant escape so easily, but that narrows down the audience.
If Microsoft wanted to change their perception they should just have taken the money and donated it to a worthy cause, would have achieved much more than these weirdo spots.