09/04/2008, 9:15pm, EDT
Thursday, September 4thMicrosoft airs first Seinfeld ad for Windows
Microsoft tonight aired the first of its widely reported Jerry Seinfeld ads meant to restore awareness of Windows and improve Vista's poor reputation. The one minute, thirty-second segment conspicuously avoids any direct descriptions of Windows or attacks against rivals such as Apple; instead, it focuses on a chance meeting between Seinfeld and former Microsoft chief Bill Gates at a shoe store with a comedic conversation reminiscent of Seinfeld's own routines and TV show.
The only mention of Windows appears near the end of the segment, when Seinfeld asks if Microsoft is working on something to make computers "moist and chewy" and the Windows logo promptly appears.
The ad marks the effective start of Microsoft's claimed "edgy" ad campaign, which would see Seinfeld alone paid $10 million for multiple spots and the total campaign's online and offline promotions costing as much as $300 million. Company officials have acknowledged that the TV effort in particular is designed to counter Apple ads which use a similar, two-man comedy routine format that has been partly credited for helping the Mac maker's reputation.
Filed under: industry, software, Apple
Other story tags: Microsoft, Vista
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if an actor says so
If they paid an actor and the actor says it is good, what more proof could you ask for ;-)
Bill gates
Shaking his "you know what" to sell vista is a new low for him :) If he's that desperate then maybe I will buy vista... nah.. no way
Edgy campaign?
That wasn't edgy. That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen!
Edgy!
Man would that be edgy if this was 1991. They missed their edgy deadline by a mere 17 years... so close!
I do hope they paid their ad firm extra money for the extra-edgy content.
Lame
I was really looking forward to these new MS ads. This is stupider than stupid. Just plain dumb.
I think that it is safe to assume that Microsoft is now one of the lamest companies in history and they will never offer the world any great product.
Let Down
Well, that was a let down, I have to assume they will get better. I guess the only edgy TV for tonight is going to be a political convention. : (
Well that was an...
Epic fail. What does this commercial have to do with anything? And people were giving Apple crap for their commercials not explaining much...at least they mention their products. This makes me want to buy........shoes?
Success!
Suddenly, after watching this ad I find myself fully aware of Windows Vista and think it has a reputation for greatness.
Well...
Future ads can only get better... right?? Just like Windows... Right? Hmmm... Maybe not.