Microsoft tries to take their image back
In continuing with its new and “clever” line of advertising, Microsoft has temporarily ditched the Gates/Seinfeld ads in favor of reclaiming their image from Apple. As you can see in the image above, it doesn’t seem like they’re really doing themselves a huge favor by taking one of their very own employees and dressing him to resemble John Hodgman, who plays the PC character in Apple’s Mac vs. PC ads. We say all they’re doing is reinforcing or reminding us of that persona: boring, inadequate, and so easy to poke fun at. The character will even reiterate the line, “Hello, I’m a PC…” What’s odd is all the commotion about Seinfeld giving Microsoft a little boost and now they’re taking a detour for these ads which are said to have cameos of celebrities like Eva Longoria and Pharrell Williams. But apparently, the real stars of these ads are going to be everyday folks whose jobs and lives are aided by the use of MS Windows. What do you all think? Does it seem a little over-the-top or is this just what they need to take their image back - the caricature of PC created by Apple? One would be tempted to pat Microsoft condescendingly on the head saying, “Aww, how nice. You’re trying and it’s the effort that counts!”
Tags: Ads, Apple, Bill Gates, Mac, microsoft, PC, Seinfeld, Windows
I think it’s best to go directly at them, since Apple Ads are going directly at them. I liked the Gates/Seinfeld Ads too.
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I personally didn’t like the first Seinfeld/Gates commercial, but the latest one when they are staying with the family is freaking hilarious. I think that they should continue with the Gates/Seinfeld commercials because I think they will get even funnier.
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interesting.
now the best thing M$ can come up with is a rip off of the apple pc/mac ads.
amazing.
why doesn’t M$ just license OSX from apple and sell that with a windows label on it. might be the best thing M$ could do.
think of the profit M$ can gen with that move. get rid of OS r&d and with that M$ can use those profits to buy and relabel iPods as Zune’s and sell them.
hmmmmmmmmmmm
maybe that is where M$ is headed for…………………………………….
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maybe jerry could use that gem of a commercial to get the old seinfeld cast back together? god knows those characters should be out of jail by now. god knows that kramer needs a gig now to resurect his career he that ran into the toilet.
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The idiotic notion that Microsoft has to try and become like Apple is beyond me. Last I checked all these messages left on the blogs are more than likely coming from a PC if you’re at work. Even in the home, it is still about a 90-95% chance that it is coming from a PC. Apple has to take direct aim at MS because they are the ones playing catchup. Everyone at BG is clearly an Apple/iphone fan and that’s clear and dandy but isn’t the 2nd place individual that needs a pat ont he back? Correct me if I’m wrong but wouldn’t that be Apple? In the mobile sphere isn’t it still Apple even after all the iphone craze? Alright, please refute this if you can.
I mean if you need a practical everyday computing unit you are not going to pick up a MAC. It would make no sense since you would not know what the hell you were doing. That is why it is for video/photography heads, not rich kids who get MACs to be cool, which sadly is what always happens as soon as they get to school. I worked in IT at Colgate University for 4 years and every student that brought it their MACs to be fixed were idiotic things like not knowing how to turn on the wifi, not being able to force quit a program, not knowing how to open or get around in OS. Most of these individuals, mind you came in with PCs and switched to MACs since their friends had them, not knowing what the hell they were getting themselves into. It’s the fad that people cling to and after using it you realize that unless you know what you are doing, you are better off sticking with what you know, which is a PC. That would be about 90% percent of the world’s population or even higher. Some parts of the world have never even seen a MAC, let alone to know what it is, or does but I bet you they’ll know a PC when they see one.
On the ads itself, I like the direction Microsoft has been taking. They’re trying new things and that’s always good.
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The new ads will no doubt, be boring and predictable, just like M$. The Gates/Seinfeld ads had people talking and that is always good for a company. Its typical, but no unexpected of M$ not to see that.
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bayport and likeabite, both comments are completely idiotic.
“why doesn’t M$ just license OSX from apple and sell that with a windows label on it.” are you kidding? have any idea about computers at all?
“mean if you need a practical everyday computing unit you are not going to pick up a MAC. It would make no sense since you would not know what the hell you were doing.” wow you are either like 10 years old or stuck in a cave somewhere.
the ads had potential and I wanted to see them evolve, this new campaign sounds like it will show just how boring MS really is.
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Pharrell? - wtf> How much did they pay him to do a Microsoft commercial. He doesn’t even use Microsoft.
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bet the hooked phraell up with a gold PC lol or a phantomx
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this is a blog aimed at guys in the ad. You do realize that Apple’s blitz over the last four years has made PCs cool again?
Hipsters rule.
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Likeabite: thanks for the novel, which was essentially pointless beyond establishing that you seem to be in favor of a new MS slogan: “Windows- it’s what you’re wasting time on at work.” But keep in mind that, despite the market share, MS feels the need to improve their image, which is all we need to know. Did Apple ever respond to those silly Instinct commercials? No, because the Instinct isn’t a real competitor, and the market figures these things out. MS clearly fears the current market direction as people have similarly discovered that a computer needn’t be the hassle Windows makes it out to be,, hence this campaign.
What’s funny here is that I’d think that after waiting years to respond, they’d at least come in with something other than Gates doing the robot. Ultimately, like Vista, MS promised a lot in this campaign, delivered little, then basically said that if you didn’t “get it”, well, it’s because youre the kind of moron that thinks the world is flat. Nice.
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Eh, self deprecation only works when the subject isn’t already the butt of everyone’s joke. As I watch Microsoft try to change their image I can’t help being reminded of Michael Dukakis riding around in a tank. It’s all just a little pathetic.
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@Perspective
You act like the first 2 ads where all that was to the ad campaign but guess what, its not. This is going to be a multi-year ad campaign. You can see why they are trying to fix their image as all the comments about boring MS that have been posted. You can read more at this link.
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/39375/118/
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Next time you walk into an apple store and buy anything look at apples scanner gun and see who makes it! MICROSOFT! Ask what operating system runs those handheld scanners…WINDOWS!!!
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