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Seinfeld-Windows TV Ad Anything But 'Delicious'
CWmike writes "Microsoft's $300-million ad campaign for Windows starring comedian Jerry Seinfeld launched Thursday with a long TV commercial almost entirely devoid of any talk of Windows, Microsoft or anything, really. With co-star Bill Gates, the scene is set in a shopping mall. Seinfeld, who did most of the talking, helps Gates buy a pair of shoes called the Conquistador. The commercial ends with Seinfeld asking Gates if Microsoft will "come out with something that makes our computers moist and chewy like cake so we can just eat them while we're working." Gates wiggles his rear to answer in the affirmative. The commercial ends (see video inside the story) with the Windows logo and the phrase 'Delicious.' Preston Gralla writes, 'I just saw Microsoft's much ballyhooed Jerry Seinfeld ad, and can say without equivocation it's one of the worst, most pointless ads in history. If this is Microsoft's response to the 'I'm a Mac' ads, it should fold up its tent and tell the world to switch to Apple."
Congratulations, you don't get it. I'm not going to try to make you get it, since you probably don't want to anyway. It probably just makes you feel good to dislike something popular, like you know better than everyone else. Good for you.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
It was at least better than the annoying "I'm a Mac" ad. I'd rather have nonsense.
Welcome to the fail boat. You are passenger number 1 on this particular variant. Your punishment? Reread what they wrote until you understand what "almost everyone" means. Otherwise you can keep your subjective and useless vitriol to yourself.
Since I actually have a life, my time is not free, so I would not have saved money on that deal.
First, I think what a lot of people have missed here is something basic: The market. Microsoft is not selling their product to the same people that Apple is selling to.
Your right, Apple buyers are not common folk. They are the elite of society. Buy a mac now and join them.
Microsoft has to please a lot more middle-aged corporate types,
But not 20 something start up companies, that they have nothing to do with.
and a lot of common types.
vote Obama.
Even the place this ad premiered reflects that - NFL football game. Not the Oscars, MTV Music awards, American Idol - NFL football game. Domain of white guys.
NFL... common people. Thank the stars they didn't air in during NASCAR their stock would be through the roof! Seriously are you for real? NFL, American Idol, and MTV=White guys to you? White guys are common folk?
Second, the point of the ad is not to advertise the product. Microsoft and their ad agency have probably done quite a bit of research and realized that the brand perception of Microsoft is mostly large, faceless, corporate machine.
Like Coke. Or... MTV... or the NFL... @#$@#$ I'm so white!
Insert 'evil' in there,
Exactly NFL, American Idol, MTV, and Microsoft, the Axis of EVIL! EVIL! EVIL!... Where the hell are my sharks with LASERS?
if you'd like.
I like.. I like...
The point of the ad is to put a human face on the company. "Oh look, Microsoft's founder has to buy shoes just like me!"
Or it's irony.. as in he no one really believes Bill $$$$ Gates actually shops at a discount store for shoes. It's funny get it? No? Well it wasn't that funny.
Jerry's contribution is to be annoyingly quirky, which allows Bill to be tolerant and 'humor' Jerry. The whole ad is Bill playing along even though you suspect he thinks Jerry is quite odd (also making Bill look not-so-odd by comparison.)
Jerry Seinfeld is not humored, he humors you, you don't humor Jerry Seinfeld.
Or it could just be that Bill Gates is tragically unfunny, and needs someone funny in a corporately provable way. The most financially successful sitcom in history fits the Bill.. get it... fit's the Bill... never mind.
The ad is effective for what Microsoft is trying to accomplish with it.
Which is what exactly? To win an election by putting a human side to Bill Gates?
I'm not sure what the goal of this commercial was, other than the setup for what they hope will be a series of commercials as memorable as Apples "I'm a PC" series. But their not off to a roaring start.
Except with us white guys... we just loved it!
Keep up the stereo types dude! Not sure where we'd be without those pearls of wisdom to carry us through the ages. Excuse me now, I'm going to go drink beer until I'm in a stupor, beat my wife, and get some sleep for my soulless corporate job tomorrow.
I would rather be ashes than dust!