New Vista advertisement debuts and flops
As expected, the new Windows Vista commercial with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates debuted on Sept 4th as part of Microsoft’s $300 million advertising campaign to restore Vista’s public perception problem. A perception problem that has mushroomed into everybody and their brother pouring hate upon Vista without ever having used it and one that persists despite Vista users relatively positive experience with the OS. Will this new commercial do what “The Mojave Experiment” advertisements failed to do? Umm, No. Sorry Microsoft but you have to do better than two old guys talking about shoes. Seinfeld’s whole “show about nothing” comedic approach is just so “90’s” and doesn’t carry over well to a commercial about computers. Suffice it say, Gates & Seinfeld are no Hodgman & Long. Apple can rest easy.
Tags: Bill Gates, Commercial, Jerry Seinfeld, microsoft, Windows Vista
not funny at all, more weird than anything else. Sad.
Remove Bill and let Jerry be funny, he still can do it.
Permalink | Reply
Jerry is funny but the entire commercial was a little creepy. I saw it last night on Discovery HD.
Permalink | Reply
That was horrific! I give kudos to Bill when he made his “Last Day at Microsoft” video but this was just not for him. Jerry is funny but I think they need another comedian or actor to run with this “campaign”. I don’t know why Microsoft decided to copy Apple with this type of campaign. They should just stick to the type of ads they run for Windows Server 2008…those are at the least, funny, at the IT level.
See Windows Server 2008 Unleashed: Crouching Robot commercial
Permalink | Reply
*screams from the silenced crowd*
THE KING HAS NO CLOTHES!
Permalink | Reply
I was watching this on my iPhone, and then it crashed. Coincidents? I think not.
But really… How does this commercial combat the publics perseption of Vista being a POS OS? It doesn’t. Money wasted.
Permalink | Reply
Seinfeld’s show about nothing concept may be “so 90’s” but it is still funny. It unfortunately does not work when you want to sell a half-ass OS.
What is funny is that Seinfeld always had a Mac on his desk in the show!!
Permalink | Reply
I love Seinfeld and think this has excellent potential…especially in contrast to the smug justin long whom i pray death upon nightly…BUT this did fall flat, especially the cake thing? wtf
Permalink | Reply
Dang…
I thought it was kinda funny…
And cut Bill a break.. Like he’s going to keep up with one of the funniest people ever. “Are you a shoe circus clown club member??” “Platinum!” C’mon, that was OK, right?? RIGHT?? =)
In all seriousness though, at least Microsoft is trying SOMETHING… may not be the right thing (cough, fix vista, cough), but it’s something…
Permalink | Reply
umm isnt it Hodgman & Long, e.g. Justin Long. Im not sure who Young is.
Permalink | Reply
well spend money!!! worth to go Linux or MAC. We should pitty MS that they have to come up with crap like this. Instead of developping some shitty OS and trying to boost sales after almost 2 years with an ad like this they should get the Eng’s to improve the program.
Permalink | Reply
This was pretty funny. Does notthing for Vista IMO but it was funny.
I think the Mojave Experiment ads do a lot better for Vista.
Permalink | Reply
I’ll come right out a say it. Boy, did that suck!
Permalink | Reply
Agreed - Mojave Experiment Ads, while not funny - do a TON more for Vista.
Odd commercial - wasn’t necessarily funny, wasn’t stupid - had cute moments… but it was odd. But it’s an entire commercials worth of nothing to build up to a (this part WAS funny) butt shake at the end telling us that they are working on something…
Odd. Just plain odd. I had hoped for more.
Permalink | Reply
@ejay
your right..i was thinking about young (hodgman/long) vs old (gates/seinfeld) when I was writing …
Permalink | Reply
I just watch the Microsuck, oops I mean Microsoft Ad and something came to my mind: “CONTROL + ALT + DELETE”… LOL
Permalink | Reply
I’m not a huge fan of MS, but I don’t think we can call the campaign a failure yet. However, to keep from being called a failure down the road, giving us some clue that it’s about Vista would help. This first ad could have just as easily been a setup for a series of ads talking about Bill’s “retirement.”
Permalink | Reply
How about this folks? when you bash on either MS or Apple, at the bottom of your post tell us what you have? Mac or PC? FanBoys will never change. Me? I like the commercial. That was the first of many to come, and will set the precedent for bringing Bill back as the face of MS, which it needs. At least it took the high road unlike Apple that does nothing in their commercials but slander Vista, which in reality, in its current stake is the most stable and reliable version of Windows to exist. The last line is a fact and if you have a decent speced out machine you know it. If your an Apple fan boy, you only tow the company line that Vista sucks without actually owning/using it.
me: Vista and loving it
Permalink | Reply
That credit card Bill held up with his police mugshot from the arrest when he was drag racing bulldozers was quite funny.
If you don’t know what I’m referring to, see the movie “Pirates of Silicon Valley.” The bulldozer story in that movie is true.
And being the old fart that I am, I laughed a bit at Bill’s willingness to be seen in public dressed like that, and being a bit self-deprecating.
But the cake thing? That was stupid. And bill shaking his rear? I went blind for a few minutes after that.
Permalink | Reply
It’s quite subtle. I’m surprised I liked it.
But most twentysomethings these days are irony-deaf* so they’ll probably pan it.
*I suppose living 8 years under the most ironic presidency (no, not ‘president’) during your formative years deadens your irony bone.
Permalink | Reply
well im looking at this froma marketing perspective. dosn”t grabe\ your attention or hold it for a full 6 seconds let alon 4> Im’looking for the draw but i just don’t see it. din’t this ad agency do anysurveys or research first? jeez that was boring>\. Get Dennis Miller in their ASAP
Permalink | Reply
Put a fork in Microsoft…their done!
Yikes, that was just horrid, unreal
Permalink | Reply
One of the great things about the Apple ads has always been the * absence * of dialogue and how you see the expressions on the faces of the characters.
So how the hell is this crap where Jerry never shuts up supposed to combat those great Apple ads?
Oh, right, MS ads don’t and never will….
Permalink | Reply
what do u expect….its microsoft…therefore….marketing department sucks!!! and really….like they need to prove themselves. Im an apple user…always will be…never will be another pc….but even if all consumers would switch to microsoft…..gates and co. would still have the majority of the business world…..and seriously, when has a younger generation had a majority liking to Jerry Seinfeld….the guys is just not that funny.
Permalink | Reply
The ad reminds me of those Mac ads from years ago, like, is a product being advertised? The ad lost me with the ass shake by Gates. Yikes.
Permalink | Reply
Uhhhh… Hmmm i don’t quite get it
Permalink | Reply