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@chuckb84 - But, you forget...MS does show Bill Gates, who is an icon in his own right. Most people, techies or not, recognize his face. His face is synonymous with the company, in much the same way that Steve Jobs' is with Apple or David Oreck's is with the Oreck Direct.
--tayme
fzanes said:
@Dude1313
"Also they are telling the viewer, its all about price? That what you pay is all that matters?"
I think what they are saying there is that you don't have to overspend to get a useful, quality product...Price does not always equal quality.
So many people out there have that mindset. They see the cost of a MAC vs. a PC, they don't have the background knowledge that most tech people do, so they automatically think that the MAC must be the better product based solely on the inflated price.
Ah now we are getting somewhere.
Price and quality are interesting concepts. One is a an absolute (price) and the other is suggestive (value). You can flip the argument to bottom basement PCs... Is a $299-399 a great value despite its compromises? Maybe for some.
Value is relative to the person looking at it: Some look at a Mac and see "over-priced" others see value, the same can be applied to PCs, its all depends.
The bottom line on anything is this: I don't shop based solely on price, its a factor but not the sole arbiter...
I just saw the video. Thats was funny! I actually laughed and enjoyed it. No condescending insults to the competitor. Just simple good humor and chemistry. I"m intrigued.
I actually looking foward to see more. Jerry Seinfeld is gaining brownie points with me.
So the jury is still out until we see more.
This is about image, MS's image, and it does a good job lightening the preception of stuffiness [Bill showing his card with a 20 yr old picture]. It's not a product endorsement, and it's a good start toward image revision for MS.
DRWAM said:
... [Bill showing his card with a 20 yr old picture]...
It's not just an old picture. It 's his famous mugshot from when he was arrested in New Mexico in 1977. That was a GREAT little inside joke..
WebGuy3000
Well, they DID edit out the strap holding the card with the booking information so it wasn't as obvious.
Well, I looked at the ad again (in Silverlight, no less) and while I still think many people, especially those that haven't followed what MS is trying to do (and I'm glad MS finally doing something about it), might not get it.
But...
The ad is kind of funny, or more like quirky. I kind of chuckled when Seinfeld mentioned taking a shower with his shoes of (that's freaky).
I guess I was hoping for a little more punch from MS, really give it to Apple.
The again, I like that Microsoft conducts itself respectable corporation, unlike Apple, which behaves as... well, the "Mac" in it's ads.
My response to that ad is best summed up by the typewriter guy in my user icon.
Then again, I'm one of the six people on this planet who have never found Seinfeld funny.
Also, has MS had a decent ad campaign since the awesome "Start Me Up" Win95 ads?
Add me to that groups. I've never thought that Seinfield was funny, in fact I think I have maybe seen one episode in its entirety.
techfan said:
....The again, I like that Microsoft conducts itself respectable corporation.
Hmmm...
After reading all these comments I just shook my head and had to go create an account just so I could throw in my two cents worth of, probably, pointless opinion.
First off, it was just one add to kick start a long line of such add's that are meant to improve Microsoft's, NOT Vista's or any one products, image (look to the mojave add's for that). Yet more than a few people seem to want to make a snap judgment on the add, and it's message, because.... why? I guess that's a question they will just have to ask themselves, if they care to do so.
Now, as far as the add itself... I honestly missed the first part of it since I was busy trying to figure out how an old game managed to break XP for me. Anyway, the add itself was... well, interesting. It made me stop what I was doing and really pay attention because it wasn't just another quick 30 sec spot meant to push something onto me.
Did I catch the "deeper" meaning of the add or get all of the inside jokes that might, or might not have been, there? Nope. But that's what happens when one isn't expecting to see an add that might actually make you think. But it was enjoyable and you can be sure I'll be looking for the next one, and the one after that and so on.
But, before I wrap up this rather long comment, I just wanted to point a little something out to everyone here. These add's are not aimed at us, or those who, for whatever reason, are hard liners on one side or the other. They are aimed at my mother, your father, my cousin, and everyone else who simply use a computer, be it PC or Mac, to read email, surf the web, or upload their latest pics of their dog Sammy.
People who's only real information comes from add's on TV, or the sales rep at the local computer store. People who don't honestly care about the brand, other than the fact that they have actually HEARD of it, and who just care that it'll work and do what they want without them having to call tech support every week.
@Dude1313
I meant that as in that Microsoft doesn't resort to snotty, snobby, arrogant attacks against the competition to get it's point across. Look how the "PC" guy is portrayed compared the the "Mac" guy in Apple's ads.
RunTimeError,
"I'm one of the six people on this planet who have never found Seinfeld funny."
Wait, with you, Dude1313 and me that means at least half of the people who haven't found Seinfeld funny are on this thread?
Let me translate for the absent of mind:
Shoe Circus = Apple store
Witless shoe salesman = Steve Jobs
Shoe salesman's choice of "one size fits all" = Mac OS X
People looking through Windows = People looking AT Windows
"Conquistador" = Windows Vista (obviously a play on Mojave)
People looking at "Conquistador" and realizing it's not what they thought = Mojave subjects
Buying that option from the store that wouldn't be the ideal place to buy it = putting Windows on a Mac
Bill Gate's frequent buyer card = Microsoft's past with Apple
Shoe salesman's disinterest/disdain in customer, even though it's a sale = more Steve Jobs
Bill Gate's humble attitude = Microsoft's humble attitude
Bill Gate's underwear = ???
There's more, but that's the main stuff.
"Look how the "PC" guy is portrayed compared the the "Mac" guy in Apple's ads."
http://tinyurl.com/55kp7x
If each of those guys walked into a job interview with you, who would you hire?
....ya, I thought so.
I'd say the Shoe Circus tagline is a bit confusing here. If they're taking on Apple in this commercial with hidden meanings, I'd say the slogan on the sign doesn't fit with Apple. Obviously it's targetted towards Microsoft and such....
Conflicting metaphors....
obviously the Conquistador is Windows Vista - tight (in security), but will stretch to make an adaptable fit, and as Seinfeld says: "go about your business"
Mike- a show about absolutely nothing with characters that no one would ever want to associate in real life? I'll pass and did ;)
LOL. Waethorn: I was going to post to say how thouroughly wrong your analysis was, but you've done it for me.
Don't over think it. It's a branding message, not a giant allegory of good and evil. Remember the American Express ads where Jerry S. hung out with Superman? Well, now he's hanging out with billg. That's what Jerry does. He hangs out.
(Oh, and the churro is obviously an iPhone.)
"I'd say, "sometimes a banana is just a banana""
you mean like this?:
http://blogs.mississauga.com/files/u10/jerry-seinfeld-banana.jpg
Seinfeld had some of the smartest writing that has been on TV EVER! The show is/was a classic.
Wae, if you are correct, then the commercial pretty much matchs Apple's condescending style.
Here's a good article:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-10033667-17.html?tag=TOCmoreStories.0
"...
Either way, Microsoft is getting killed from all sides by people that think the ad was nothing more than a waste of time and money. "Apple's ads are so much better!" they say until their hearts are content. "Who would want to buy Vista after watching that ad?" they exclaim.
Do me a favor: sit down, put your MacBook Pro away, and be quiet.
..."
"Seinfeld had some of the smartest writing that has been on TV EVER!"
I like Seinfeld, and his comedy routines are good. But remember that the show was more about Larry David than it was about Seinfeld.
@Waethorn: I would probably hire the "PC" guy.
What? You think I'm going to say "Oh wow! Look how cool that "Mac" guy is dressed, and check out his 'I'm better than you because I use a Mac' 'tude! I'm going to hire him because if he is cool, I'll be cool too."
"Don't over think it. It's a branding message, not a giant allegory of good and evil."
If you don't see the recurring themes from Mojave, then you're blind. They are there whether you like it or not.
"Remember the American Express ads where Jerry S. hung out with Superman"
You mean the ones that compare Superman to Amex's purchase protection? Ya, I "got" that one already too....and it never aired on Canadian TV. 10 seconds on Youtube found a 1 minute version of the ad. The theme was just as obvious in that one.
BTW: I never said Seinfeld ever stood for anything in the Microsoft commercial either - he's just there for comic relief, as in the Amex one.
"Wae, if you are correct, then the commercial pretty much matchs Apple's condescending style."
Through metaphor, the tone is completely different from Apple's, sorry to say.
"What? You think I'm going to say "Oh wow! Look how cool that "Mac" guy is dressed, and check out his 'I'm better than you because I use a Mac' 'tude! I'm going to hire him because if he is cool, I'll be cool too.""
No, because anyone in their right mind wouldn't hire the guy that looks like he just got out of bed while sleeping in his clothes after a night of binge drinking.
If you think about it the commercial was very much like Vista. Everything is there but it's really hard to find and it's just not too intuitive for the average user.
I think there mildly entertaining and cant wait to see what comes next. As well, the new windows site with the ad up front is nice. They should use http://www.microsoft.com/windows/possibilities/products/default.aspx this for an ad
This is just a beginning. When commercials showing Windows Live wares gets out, and people see how much they can do with just a cheap POS from BestBuy or Dell, more Vista sales will happen. The not-so-tech savvy crowd will start buying computers with Vista. Live demos on the computer as well as live Live demos in the stores will get people more interested, since they will see how easy they can are to use and how useful they will be. IMO, that is. I think Live will be like gold.
@Doc:
The Dell commercials are a start. They talk about including Windows Live Photo Gallery.
I do prefer the older Windows Live videos with Catherine Keener as the narrator though. They were a little more alluring, even if her voice was a bit more whiney. The new ones seem to lack spirit. I had shown several customers those videos to show how Windows Live software was an online extension of Windows Vista, and they really liked that. The logos at the end of the video even included the Windows Vista branding paired with Windows Live so it was a good cross-promotional job.
I think the ads showing off Windows Live will coincide with the release of the Wave 3 products. I think they're in a private beta testing phase right now. The easiest thing they can do right now is point them to liveside.net. It's probably the best resource on the Windows Live suite.
And it's free. People won't want to spend more money if they can only afford [or are too cheap] those cheap computers. But the cheapo boxes can do everything that these people need of them. Free Live services will make them more interested, especially in today's economy [and for the el-cheapos of society]. Who wants another subscription every month or year, especially when something free works almost or just as well? I am getting verbose here because I'm a consumer advocate.
I just read a bad review about the Shoe Circus ad. Like or dislike it, it's getting attention, or at least giving attention to MS, which is the starting point, get noticed. It article at Comcast stated that the ad company does make quirky ads.
Paul - "The bad guys have owned this conversation for too long."
You mean the guys that are forcing everyone including MS to make their smartphones better? And putting pressure on MS to improve the windows experience?
Paul - "I would put things a bit differently:
Apple: Windows sucks, and we're cool. (Barely mentions own product. But remember, Windows sucks. Look at the buffoon! He uses Windows.)
Microsoft: Windows does what you want it to do. Here's how.
It's the difference between smugness and humility, really."
Barely mentions own product? They do for some of the ads and for the rest, the PC/mac comparison is implicit because the ad is highlighting a specific problem with windows or the PC experience. The whole point of these ads is that the mac doesn't have the same problems or level of problems.
This is Paul's basic problem - he simply cannot forgive Apple for claiming it has a better product. Why is this not allowed - in an ad. Isn't this normal - competitor A claiming it has a better product that competitor B? Why is this smug? It's basic business. Paul is just hyper sensitive about any claim the mac is better. Too bad, Paul. You'll have to learn to live with it.
Paul - "yert, the iCabal descends on every little tidbit they can, blows it out of proportion, and makes a mess of it. It's like politics and religion for them. That's why what Microsoft is doing is important. 1 billion people use Windows. Not 25 million of the "best" people."
ha, ha, ha - like this is not what PAUL does for apple products.
As to the billion windows users, as has been said a thousand times, quantity doesn't equal quality. In fact, usually the reverse is the case (though not always)
Paul - "but if you look at the Jobs era of Apple, you see great products, sure, but served with a heaping mountain of scorn for anyone who doesn't agree with them 100%. They're not perfect. "
"It's not OK to lie. And to denigrate people you don't agree with."
Again, all Apple is doing is saying their products are better. That's it. You can disagree with that, fine. BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH SAYING YOUR PRODUCT IS BETTER, IN A MARKETING CONTEXT. GET OVER IT, PAUL.
Paul - "And their most mindless fans, the iCabal. They're bad people. They're people who lie and lie and lie, and the fanatics just suck it up (cheer them on even) and put up with problems that would never be acceptable on the Windows side. And then they make fun of their competitors on that Windows side, all while their own OSes are being patched regularly to fix a cavalcade of problems and their cell phones can't even make calls. And god help you if you actually disagree with anything they say. That's when the whining really starts."
This is the most childish thing I've ever read. Grow up Paul. People have disagreements. Apple and many apple users think apple products (some of them at least) are better than windows (at least for some applications). Of course, people can disagree about that and have a grown up debate.
Or, like yourself, you can insult people when you disagree with them.
