Microsoft's "I'm a PC" Ad Airs

[davepelz]

new microsoft ad just came out! at least i saw it anyway. it features a bunch of people all saying "im a pc" including astronauts, bloggers, students, researchers, farmers, and a bearded guy. actually i think its pretty good comeback to the get a mac ads, anybody else see it?

also one weird part, at the beginning it showed an email address below the character suppose to be hodges, sean@microsoft.com i think, but i could be wrong on the name...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkZdkHylJ3w

[monke]

Well there you have it.

It's ok, not anything mind blowing, but then again I didn't expect anything mind blowing.

I figured they were going to do the whole 'diverse' pc thing. :rolleyes:

[sammich]

Uh, the astronaut one is wrong.

Nothing mission critical runs windows.

[rdowns]

I'm a PC and I'm scared. LOL.

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/09/18/221800-gatespc.jpg
(http://gizmodo.com/5052051/microsofts-im-a-pc-ad-beats-seinfeld-but-not-hodgman)
Phase II of Microsoft's $300 million rebranding ad campaign started airing tonight during prime time. The ad showed a series of individuals saying "I'm a PC" in various settings.

The ad is a direct response to Apple's "Get a Mac" ads where Justin Long and John Hodgman play the Mac and PC characters, respectively. Microsoft is embracing the "I'm a PC" line in their new ad campaign. The ad is presently being hosted at Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5052051/microsofts-im-a-pc-ad-beats-seinfeld-but-not-hodgman).

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/18/microsofts-im-a-pc-ad-airs/)

[queshy]

"I sell Fish"? Randomness.

[smurfjammer]

Lame... that's all I can say!

[Eidorian]

I hope you watched it before posting...

I like this one and where it's going with all the Windows users out there.

I thought it was a pretty good "response" to Apple's ads.

arnIt's a lot more direct this time. You don't need to be a computer nerd or historian to understand all the subtle meanings of all the characters and interactions. It just boils down to there are a lot of Windows users everywhere. You don't need to fit into a stereotype but Windows lets you do what you want.

[arn]

I thought it was a pretty good "response" to Apple's ads.

arn

[Big-TDI-Guy]

So Apple - officially going to stop the "I'm a Mac" ads?

[JRomero]

It's a nice response to Apple's ads, but it lacks the elegance and wit that Apple Ads have.

[Voidness]

Beard?

Well, at least these ads make a point.

[Tofaha]

its not horrible :cool: :eek:

[Sirobin]

Definitely better, but still kind of lame. Also, the beard and fish things, so random!

[NotFound]

Nicely done Microsoft.

[zac4mac]

I'm a PC and I sell fish...
it works.

Z

[solaris7]

everyone is shrouded in the mac cloud to actually realize that it was pretty good!

[notnek]

i thought that astronaut was carl weathers for a second.

i don't believe half of those people use windows.

[Hooka]

knee jerk reaction, pc users didn't get the first set with Jerry and Bill....

[digiguy23]

Exactly how do these commercials make you go out and buy Windows? :confused:

[Enigmafan420]

I dunno-maybe I am LAME-but I think ALL of these are Lame.

Apple doesn't seem to have much to worry about.

[elpenguino]

I love the old bandwagon ploy in the commercial. "All these people use PC's, that's why you should too." Please. I learned about that logical fallacy in 9th grade.

[termite]

Wow. That's pathetic.

Also, Hodgman plays a PC, not a PC user. Though this could explain Longoria's lack of acting skills.

[hierobryan]

Lame... that's all I can say!

Not nearly as lame as Apple's stupid "I'm a PC" commercials. At least Microsoft didn't blatantly attack Apple like Apple does to Microsoft.

[achazan]

Microsoft should really put that $300 million to improving its failed Vista, that's what people want, not some lame ads.

[840quadra]

"Windows ... Life Without Walls"


Ouch!

Kind of a subtle sting to Apple's slightly walled garden, or am I reading into that a bit much? Either way, it has some creativity to it in it's own way. Curious to see what Apple's response, or new ad craze will be!.


http://forums.macrumors.com/image.php?u=47064&dateline=1165206282&type=profile

[paolo-]

Wow, that was pretty good. One thing I don't like about apple is the perception people have of their products. Bottom line, they're computers that run a special os. If you think you're above someone because your computer actually works... wait what am I saying here ? :rolleyes:

[mcarnes]

Screw Macs, I'm getting a PC.

[pinkmini4life]

i like it, i think the whole war over which is better is played out anyways... each has their ups and downs and it's all about which you prefer. i can't stand the people that look down on windows users like they're inferior or something... me? i use both, and i like it that way. so i guess i'm a mac and a pc

[notnek]

i posted on another thread about this.

did anyone think that astronaut looked like carl weathers?

[auxplage]

It was good, but all I learned from it was the usual stereotype that "PCs are for normal people and Macs are for elitists."

[MSUSpartan]

Awesome commercials.

I'm both a Mac and a PC.

[happydude]

its not horrible :cool: :eek:

but not good either. i saw it tonight and wasn't impressed.

[Cynicalone]

It wasn't terrible, but again Microsoft is copying Apple in a bad way imo.

[joemama]

Better...but are there really that many PC users out there???!!? :)

[Voidness]

Also, Hodgman plays a PC, not a PC user. Though this could explain Longoria's lack of acting skills.
That's what I thought too. Apparently Bill Gates doesn't get it. (http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/02/bill-gates-on-mac-ads-i-dont-even-get-it/)

It's funny how Microsoft is referring to this new ad as "Phase 2" of their marketing campaign.

[Eidorian]

this is playing into Apple's hands---that Apple is like the BMW of computers, and basically what people should want to save their money for.The problem being that you have to save money to buy a Mac. :rolleyes:

In doing small upgrades over the year to my tower I've gotten enough spare parts to build another PC.

[cuestakid]

and I am just still confused-

[brokoli]

good commercial, addresses well without ending up being pretentious like that apple guy in the apple commercials

[GSMiller]

It's not all that bad actually. I think now is the time for Apple to come up with a new ad campaign :p

[pomus]

The ad is nice and entertaining, but I see more truth on the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads. Not in the persona of "PC", but more in the problems that he runs into.

IOW, this ad doesn't tell me why I should buy anything Microsoft; It just reminds me of how Microsoft has the ability to fool such a diverse audience.

Again, I like the ad itself, but I would have rather had Microsoft use those Millions to create a better OS. :rolleyes: .

[miiles]

For some reason I have a feeling that NASA doesn't use Windows to power anything terribly important.

[powerbuddy]

Very well done. I thought the earlier ones were pretty lame. But this rocks!

[miiles]

I did a special study. I am an expert in studies and statistics. Ihave a pH.d in statistical research programs.

I found that most computers are Macs. PCs sell more only because they break more and must be replaced.

About 30% of the world uses Windows. and 75% uses Mac. 5% use Linux.

Mac wins whichever way you do the special research that i perform.

Your "special research" is horribly wrong.

[rpaloalto]

Wow microsuck sure is desperate.
That was so bad. They were doing pretty good with the sinefeild and bill commercials. Then they drop this one on us.

Steve Ballmer is obviously behind this decision, it's got his sign of stupidity all over it.

[space1nvaders]

MS basically acknowledged that Apple is doing a better job by acknowledging the Apple Ad campaign. Again, MS cannot come up with an original idea!

It amazes me with all the money MS has that they can't set any standards like Apple has done. They keep trying this and announcing that but not doing anything.

MAKE WINDOWS GREAT! That's the secret. Who cares about the rest. I will never go back to Windows until it is better than Mac OS X. No ad is going to make me use Windows.

[Tensakun]

I liked it--it was cute. Decent production values and snappy. Only dig at Apple was how they stereotype so simplistically. Apple ads seem kinda snarky (and, to be fair, sometimes misleading) by comparison.:cool:

[Eidorian]

That ad sucks.

All they say is Im a Mac. So what can we conclude from that? a WIDE range of people are stupid ignorant idiots who wont explore the alternatives?

Plus the beginning Justin Long look alike was cringe worthy.I like where this is going. I hope Microsoft stays on track with these ads.

[RRRize]

I'm a Mac. And if I were a PC at this juncture in time I would be so ashamed of those ads from Microsoft... I'd want to be a Mac.

[sunwukong]

Not a bad comeback, but should have been done a long time ago.

I thought it was a good response, although unclever, clumsy, obvious, tactless, pointed, non-subtle, defensive, immature (what, are they gonna cry?? mean ol' Mac making fun of them??), ham-handed, it was a solid response. A stupid response but a solid response. :D

They took the Apple ads too personal -- their response was like they were hurt, and saying directly, 'hey, i don't either suck'.

They couldn't come up with something a little more clever and fun? :confused:

It's like they're trying to capitalize and leverage all the people that feel personally wounded from the Mac/PC ads, trying to rally them all. Still no class. Although Longoria is 'teh new hotness'! :D

[adderz]

That ad sucks.

All they say is Im a PC. So what can we conclude from that? a WIDE range of people are stupid ignorant idiots who wont explore the alternatives?

Plus the beginning Hodgeman look alike was cringe worthy.

They dont explain how their product is better, they simply say alot of people use their product. Alot of people also buy Hyundai's, doesnt mean its the better alternative to a BMW.

[sonictonic]

"Windows ... Life Without Walls"


Ouch!

Kind of a subtle sting to Apple's slightly walled garden, or am I reading into that a bit much? Either way, it has some creativity to it in it's own way. Curious to see what Apple's response, or new ad craze will be!.


http://forums.macrumors.com/image.php?u=47064&dateline=1165206282&type=profile

Yeah I read that the same way. That was a blow for sure, lol.

I think the ad is a pretty good response. I like my "walled garden" and having swithced a couple years ago, I think MS did a decent job with this ad. I've actually never been a fan of the "I'm a Mac" ads anyway. I think they come across snotty. I liked the old Think Different ads a LOT...

I'm hoping this pushes Apple to think of something new and great now...

[Carl Spackler]

Terrible. This makes me long for the good old Seinfeld commercials. Which, while telling me nothing about Microsoft, did make me laugh. This just seems pathetic. All these people look like the sorts who show up at your party, but don't talk to anyone and when they do, you wish they'd never have opened their mouth. I'm a PC and I make you feel awkward.

[irishgrizzly]

Makes the point (really well) that the world and his uncle uses windows everyday to do things that matter.

Interesting the they now have to tackle Apple head-on.

[daleremote]

"...and I sell fish."

I didn't like this commercial until that line. Reminds me of a Herzog documentary for some reason. Although that would go more like "I'm a PC and I lost my legs in an industrial accident."

[slcoss]

I thought this commercial was waaay better than the other two, actually I thought it was really good, just for the exception that Microsoft still doesn't tell the public any reason why they should buy Windows, why Windows is the way to go... oh that's right, Windows is not the way to go...

[theROZ]

same old Microsoft, stealing ideas from others... look what happens when do come up with their own ****... Really HOW does this company still have influence...they have no original ideas....NONE....

[Big-TDI-Guy]

Nevermind....


I just bought a crossbow, so now i walk around the mall holding a 9th century spanish crossbow. Nobody thinks i am a PC guy anymore. i am a mac guy.

Now that, is what I call good. You should be writing the next block of Apple ads. ;)

Also, I'd pay to see that @ my local mall.

[bbydon]

I think they finally got the ad right.
I like it.

I think people can finally identify with it.

[esaleris]

Pretty impressed.

[knelto]

I'm a PC.
And I broke the dam...
And my name is Robert Paulson...

Honestly though, I liked this better than the previous series. Nothing to ride home about though and certainly not the pot shot at Apple that I was expecting...

[MacTheSpoon]

I just find it weird to think that a company with 98% of the world's market share feels threatened enough to respond to a relatively little company like Apple.

Paranoia and the ultracompetitive need to crush everyone was always a hallmark of Microsoft's culture. Guess that hasn't changed.

I also think Microsoft is deluding itself into thinking that people are switching to Macs because of Apple's advertising, when the problem is Microsoft's product. Plenty of people are switching from Vista back to XP, too, and that certainly can't be blamed on Apple.

[joepunk]

Anyone know how much Apple spends/spent on their first "get a mac" ads?

[TheAnswer]

Life without walls? Seriously?? Hmmm...I wonder what happens if I disable this firewall this Vista comes {{cough}} with {{sniffle}}. Surely {{hacking cough}} nothing {{sneeze}} bad {{pulse flatlines}}.

[iPaf]

I'm a PC, and I don't like Windows Vista.

[imdanerd]

That was just a sad attempt at trying to make an ad about people

The best part is they used Final Cut Pro to edit the commercial

Microsoft needs to realize that the cool factor that apple has is not earner overnight. It has taken apple almost 10 years to pull it off

[Lynxpoint]

cute and catchy but would not motivate me to look at the product.

For some reason every time someone said "i am a pc and..." I was trying to think of all the things "pc" could mean. Maybe it is because there is an election coming in ca and we once had a pc party....;)

[MacPossum]

I don't really see any sort of "Mac attacks" in this add. Microsoft wants to show a lot of people use PCs... so what? Everyone already knows that PCs have a much higher market share than Macs. There's nothing in there that says "Man, I wish my Mac could do that."

[Los Royers]

So what they are just saying there are more PC users, they don't mention anything on all the problems they encounter as PC users or how much user friendly Macs are. Stupid ads IMO

[Rivix]

Wow. The bias and arrogance of some of you people is so thick that you would never like a Microsoft ad. These ads are really good and the really humanize Windows. Its a great response and kind touching because it circles the globe.

Oh and these ads aren't meant to sell product!

[Big-TDI-Guy]

Life without walls? I thought M$ was headquartered in Washington, not Louisiana? When did they move?

[ylnick413]

Hi. I was a PC, now I'm a Mac.

[stephenli]

not bad. at least we know what MS is doing.
but not brilliant either.

[!¡ V ¡!]

Lame... that's all I can say!

You are entitled to your opinion, I have mixed feelings on this. However I feel its a dramatic improvement from what is out so far. :)

[drakeshipway]

if life doesn't have walls..
where do the windows go?

nice work bill!

[Shasterball]

Much better than Seinfeld because it has a point. But again, come up with your OWN idea. You have $300 million!!!!!!!! You can't get a consulting or ad firm to do something here?

[ratattak]

I'm still a Mac, but I thought this was muuuuuch better than the other 2 piles of trash.

[mrJnC]

"I'm a PC and instead of fixing my OS, I'm gonna spend a quarter billion on marketing." ;)

[match311]

Bring back Seinfeld.

[Mykbibby]

I posted my entire thoughts about it on my blog (http://macsoda.com/2008/09/19/im-a-mac-and-im-a-pc-im-obama-and-im-mccain/).

In a nutshell, I think these ads are genius, and Microsoft couldn't have done any better.

UPDATE: Waking up the next morning in retrospect, I think the ads make Microsoft look a little desparate. If they had simply removed the PC guy at the start, I think it would have been great.

[awmawm]

I sell crack ;)

[Eidorian]

"I'm a PC and instead of fixing my OS, I'm gonna spend a quarter billion on marketing." ;)The money would be much better spent on the OS. ;)

Then again the problems I have on Vista are from non-Microsoft programmers.

[Thiopentone]

About time that elitist Apple advertising series got the slapdown it deserved.

I'm a PC (five, actually), and still can't afford a Mac...

[Electrolytic]

I think this is the best one, but the mac ads are better, they have humor..

[OriginalMacRat]

Exactly how do these commercials make you go out and buy Windows? :confused:

They make you want to go out and by a "PC" with Linux.

Or a "PC" that is a Mac. :D

[jpine]

MUCHO better than the Jerry/Bill thing.

[Texas04]

i posted on another thread about this.

did anyone think that astronaut looked like carl weathers?

I don't think he was an Astronaut. It is not allowed... NASA can not be endorsed or paid by any "private" businesses. All their funding must come from the government. I am very confused as to how this is working..

[gcmexico]

I thought it was a pretty good "response" to Apple's ads.

arn
*
I must agree...we have a fight in our hands...go Apple!!!

[Mac OS X Ocelot]

I approve. Funny. Clever. I like Jerry Seinfeld, but those commercials made no sense. This people can respond to.

[awmawm]

The money would be much better spent on the OS. ;)

Then again the problems I have on Vista are from non-Microsoft programmers.

At least you seem to know where your Vista problems originate from. My Vista problems are caused by -depending on which side you are on- by "incompetent" user, MS, hardware vendor, third apps vendor, network admin, family, friends, Bush, Obama, McCain.

[mcarnes]

I'm a mac and I want to do that girl that studies the law

[megatronbomb]

Hi. I was a PC, now I'm a Mac.

lol... Apple should pick this up and run with it! :D

I was a PC *in embarrassed voice*
Now I'm a Mac. I just work.

[Stella]

Very lame.

Although, it features regular people that use windows.

I see that it can appeal to every day people. However, its still kind of lame and unimaginative.

It does get a message across, very quickly, unlike the other adverts.

[Texas04]

Is there a mirror for the "I wear a suit" ad?

[stainlessliquid]

No more Hodgman commercials. Apple just got their ass royally handed to them. They would have to be crazy to continue with those ads, they cant respond back without insulting people further.

Im just surprised it took this long to come out with a commercial that gives Apple the finger. Any PC manufacturer could have done the same thing.

[Westside guy]

Given that it was only a couple weeks ago that the news came out one of the International Space Station computers was infected with a virus, I'm not sure they should've included the astronaut saying "I'm a PC" in this ad...

[mattster16]

I can't wait to see how Apple responds to this...Apple's ad agency is very creative.

[mwxiao]

Exactly how do these commercials make you go out and buy Windows? :confused:

They don't. Actually it's they don't have to. Windows already dominate the market.

That's why there is PC in I'm a Mac commercial, while there is only PC in I'm a PC commercial.

[ylnick413]

lol... Apple should pick this up and run with it! :D

I was a PC *in embarrassed voice*
Now I'm a Mac. I just work.


I should work for Apple Marketing. :D

or...

"Once you go Mac... you never go back!"

[JackAxe]

At least these commercials have a point.

I own PCs and I prefer doing most of my computing on my Macs. That would have been my response.

Anyways, the only thing I've got from these commercials, is that MS lacks a sense of humor and their idea of what's cool is out of date.

<]=)

[Saladinos]

Alright. Too much celebrity name-dropping.

[plumbingandtech]

I'm a Hyundai.

I'm a BMW Sedan.

Sorry Microsoft. Dumb, unoriginal and desperate looking.

[skwoytek]

These a definitely better commercials.

I wonder, did Pharrell ditch his iPhone for WinMo as well?

[stevearm]

Nicely done!

[Garissimo]

The Seinfeld ads were, for lack of a better term, a train wreck. This new ad is far hipper, but Microsoft is still reacting to Apple's ads rather than putting out something original. Same can be said of Microsoft's product offerings (Zune, Vista) in comparison to Apple's recently.

[awmawm]

I'm a mac and I want to do that girl that studies the law

:( well, on second thoughts: :D

[starzplacez]

i like it, i think the whole war over which is better is played out anyways... each has their ups and downs and it's all about which you prefer. i can't stand the people that look down on windows users like they're inferior or something... me? i use both, and i like it that way. so i guess i'm a mac and a pc

uh.. you basically just read my mind.. except on the pink mini part! :D anyways, i really do like the commercial, particularly the part with tony and eva's rings! hah

[stevearm]

That was actually BRILLIANT

Great ad

Perfect strategy considering Apple's ads have the exact same line in them.

[dloomer]

Five pages and not a single comment on "I turn #2 into energy?" I'm disappointed.

[yojitani]

"Life without walls" - Doesn't work for me for a product called "Windows"....

[OriginalMacRat]

About time that elitist Apple advertising series got the slapdown it deserved.

I'm a PC (five, actually), and still can't afford a Mac...

Wow, a Windows fan boy.

Please go to Dell.com and configure a desktop with ALL the features in a comparable Mac and you won't find it cheaper.

[caprica]

Screw Macs, I'm getting a PC.

Yeah I am getting a PC too so I can smell of fish and grow a beard. Oh, hang on, that's a linux, not a PC.

Got my sterotypes mixed up.

[appleguy]

Tell tell me I am not the only one to say that was the worst ad I have ever seen

[thewizardguy]

This is all happening in true style. Mac does something spectacular (the "Get A Mac" campaign), and Microsoft capitalizes on it, does it decently, but isn't original or innovative.

Long live the cycle.
:apple:

[Eidorian]

At least you seem to know where your Vista problems originate from. My Vista problems are caused by -depending on which side you are on- by "incompetent" user, MS, hardware vendor, third apps vendor, network admin, family, friends, Bush, Obama, McCain.Vista does have quite a few quality control issues when it comes to installing non-Microsoft provided drivers and then onto a mass of applications.

I narrowed it down to lazy game programmers that still hadn't optimized the game for Vista. Otherwise I really did enjoy the extra services and Windows Media Center.

Microsoft still has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the operating system off the shell when compared to OS X. Then again Apple does have the upper hand with the operating system being made for only certain hardware models. You get working machine without additional drivers in most cases.

I'm more concerned about the applications and management choices the operating system comes with. ;) OS X wins here but Windows just works on such a variety of hardware options if you're willing to make it. Sadly this isn't the case with the majority of users.

I picked up all my hardware knowledge about computers from reading a few books. It hasn't changed that much in 20 years.

[Ryox]

Much better than the ones before, but still it could be better.

[RRRize]

I should work for Apple Marketing. :D

or...

"Once you go Mac... you never go back!"

You'd have a better shot at working for Microsoft Marketing... seems like they are just throwing money at everyone and anything that says they will help them make ads.

[Peace]

Nicely done Microsoft.

Best post.

It was done nicely. And not as brutal yet humorous as the Mac v. PC ads.

I bet we see some big name actors etc. signing up for future "episodes".

[napabar]

Absolute God-Awful.

[ayeying]

This ad is so much better then the seinfield one.

[macsensei]

Can't really hate on it. not bad. not great, but not bad

[clarkysdonga]

It's a nice response to Apple's ads, but it lacks the elegance and wit that Apple Ads have.

Agreed.

[applefan69]

Microsoft is being so ignorant,

or maybe they are cleverly ignoring a problem?

These ads of microsoft softs are to "improve" microsofts image because thanks to vista and appls ads alot of people look down on microsoft. Everyone has been slowly but surely losing respect for microsoft for a long time... its just now apple is around to make microsoft seem worse in relatvity.

Whats wrong wiht microsoft? Its simple... windows plainly cant compare to OS X, maybe a few other things the company has done *cough*copies*cough*... but the biggest reason people look more up to apple then microsoft is the OS.

Microsoft needs to realise that if they make Windows better then OS X then WITH TIME people will notice this, and WITH TIME windows will have more respect then OS X. With this comes microsofts good image, and then they dont gotta worrry about making ads to make a good image.



I mean, look at it this way:
in the 90's apple had a pretty bad imagine due to their bad OS compared to what microsoft had. No steve jobs didnt poor fairy dust on the company... steve just cleverly made apples OS stop sucking... then after that happened it was onlya matter of time before people started to notice. Now its 2008 almost 2009, and apple finally has more respect then microsoft.

[chairguru22]

The new "I'm a PC" ads are pretty nice. I think it's amusing how a Mac Forum is all hating on the PC ads but that's expected. If Apple ran this campaign everyone would be loving them and downloading them to their iPhones.

[rwvenice]

I think it's too unfocused to be a good ad. It doesn't create any excitement about their product - or about even using a computer!
Microsoft can create good ads. I personally think the 13 year-old windows 95 ad was very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM0DL5giOBU

[Thiopentone]

Wow, a Windows fan boy.
Please go to Dell.com and configure a desktop with ALL the features in a comparable Mac and you won't find it cheaper.

I built mine, sport, and I can tell you, they are. Although to be fair, I have to acknowledge the 200% markup we seem to cop from Apple in Australia...

[iNotion]

Ripppppp Ooooofffff!!
the next ad should go like this;
"I am a PC aka Pig Clone & I prefer a Mac"

[awmawm]

My wife is a PC and wonders when I will rescue her.

[thedave3000]

The obvious next move for Apple would be another 'I'm a Mac, I'm a PC' ad with Hodgman and Long in which we find PC on a movie set with cameras and back drops and high paid celebrities shooting a commercial for Vista. The possible set ups and punch lines are endless but one that would be really great is if they could get either Kramer or Newman to appear in the ad.

[arn]

Other versions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj5UyZKo2iE&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hhVjSbV_oQ&fmt=18

arn

[Agent Smith]

I think this one is far more effective than the Seinfeld ads. That said, I liked it better when it was the "I am Canadian" beer commercial...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg

...just saying...

[Arcady]

I'm still trying to figure out why I need any windows if I am living a life without walls... Where do the windows go if you don't have any walls? I guess these ads are telling me I don't need windows?

So, "I'm a PC and I don't need windows for life." Is that what Microsoft is saying? :p

[Chris Blount]

No originality whatsoever. Once again Microsoft stumbles. I can't believe you guys think it's a good comeback. It basically takes Apple's idea and spins it around.

Lame. Just Lame.

[thewizardguy]

I built mine, sport, and I can tell you, they are. Although to be fair, I have to acknowledge the 200% markup we seem to cop from Apple in Australia...

Even apple admits the hardware is cheaper than what they sell it at; you guys are talking about two different things.

For average users, a dell composed of similar things is not TOO dissimilar to an apple imac in price.

The iMac will last 2-3x longer, be more stable the whole time, and is a more elegant solution (less wires basically). It can now run windows as well, so there isn't a competition anymore.

For the custom builders, we spend as much as we want for the machine we want. The problem is, Apple doesnt have anything AS customizable for a comparable machine (IE the Mac Pro...but cheaper).

[Sonicjay]

Not bad. Much better than the Seinfeld ones

[w8ing4intelmacs]

Person 1: (directed at Person 2) "You're a slow witted dullard"

(a few minutes pass)

Person 2: "No I'm not."

[limonade]

I like it :) ! Much better than the Seinfeild ads...

[spacefm]

"ok redmond, start your photocopiers"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emeidi/43356340/

strike one;
a failed "Mohave Experiment"

strike two;
stupid irrelevant seinfeld ads.

so as not to strike out, let's go with plan C....
just get into the whole "I'm a...." as a last resort! and copy Apple AGAIN.

gates during the ad, "and i wear glasses" and then a few others...
wtf! dodge the facts and MS does the real stereotyping with comments like those during the ad.

"I am a human being!!!"
RU*******KIDDINGME! we are all human beings you idiot so don't "cry wolf" that someone was saying bad mean things to you just for you to gain sympathy.


is this supposed; to make Mac users feel guilty for feeling safer with OSX and Windows users more real with all their imperfections and everyone calling them names.
btw...was that Bill Gates carrying his own brown bagged groceries to his car...oh God, i have been wrong all this time, Bill is such a "down to earth regular guy" ...who wears glasses!


"Windows: Life Without Walls"

the best liars & manipulators in the world are masters at the art of denial.

That goes for MS and it's users.

[Eidorian]

Other versions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj5UyZKo2iE&fmt=18
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hhVjSbV_oQ&fmt=18

arnThis is a nice start.

Now Microsoft just needs to make the next version of Windows better then XP. :p

Even apple admits the hardware is cheaper than what they sell it at; you guys are talking about two different things.

For average users, a dell composed of similar things is not TOO dissimilar to an apple imac in price.

The iMac will last 2-3x longer, be more stable the whole time, and is a more elegant solution (less wires basically). It can now run windows as well, so there isn't a competition anymore.

For the custom builders, we spend as much as we want for the machine we want. The problem is, Apple doesnt have anything AS customizable for a comparable machine (IE the Mac Pro...but cheaper).I take it you've never been around for all the Apple repair extensions that have been handed out over the years.

You should see some of the dust clogged Dells from 1999 that we have in working condition. Aside from the dust and age that is. Pentium II and 440BX are love.

[tosui]

"Life without walls" - Doesn't work for me for a product called "Windows"....

Yeah. If you *had* a life without walls, you wouldn't *need* windows. Well played, Bill.

I guess my mac gives me a life without walls... and, thankfully, windows!

[RRRize]

I think this one is far more effective than the Seinfeld ads. That said, I liked it better when it was the "I am Canadian" beer commercial...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg

...just saying...

Ha!! That "I Am A Canadian" ad was awesome! Never seen that before! Cleaver post bud! :)

[Syrus28]

Pretty good, I thought...

"Windows. Life without walls" is pretty clever too... New slogan?

[stainlessliquid]

No originality whatsoever. Once again Microsoft stumbles. I can't believe you guys think it's a good comeback. It basically takes Apple's idea and spins it around.

Lame. Just Lame.

Good job figuring out the whole point of the commercial. Spinning around a stupid campaign and making their competitor look like a huge douche bag.

I love the old bandwagon ploy in the commercial. "All these people use PC's, that's why you should too." Please. I learned about that logical fallacy in 9th grade.
Not a good job for completely missing the point of the commercial.

[ChrisA]

I love the old bandwagon ploy in the commercial. "All these people use PC's, that's why you should too." Please. I learned about that logical fallacy in 9th grade.

But that is why they have to teach it again and again through the centuries to every new group of kids. Because the logical fallacy is so powerful and works well. We need to have it pointed out.

Remember Bill Gates got rich by making just one good observation -- There are a lot more people who know nothing about computers than there are experts, I'll sell to the larger group.

Seriously, how many here remember the industry before Microsoft? Back them computer companies only sold to computer professionals or a very few hobbyists. Mostly it was companies like DEC and IBM and CDC.

[triscuitbiscuit]

I think that was a very good spot... MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the Seinfeld ones that made no sense...


However did anyone hear the part "I'm a PC and I have three rings" and find any irony in it?

[polee]

Well quite an ordinary ad by microsoft. But is it tackling the root cause of os migration to leopard? Please get vista in shape first. Ads don't convince people to switch to apple or vice versa. A good operating system does that. Kudos to Mac OS. Once you go mac, you ain't going back...

[Diaresi]

Basically, Apple LIES in their ads so why shouldn't Microsoft respond?!

Apples touts (in one of their newest ads) that "Mac's are the number one notebook on college campus'"...so...Windows is the number one OS in the WORLD!

About time.

[Pippen Man]

In my opinion, it finally gets to the point. The Seinfeld and Windows Mojave ads weren't getting to the point, but with these ads, it shows how the average Joe can use Windows. Apple's "Get A Mac" campaign has just brought some heavy stereotyping of the whole Windows OS in general.

And for all the people that think that these ads are horrible, that they're just copying Apple, seriously, don't you have better things to do other then bashing Microsoft every time they say "Hi!" ? :confused:

[dicklacara]

I think it's too unfocused to be a good ad. It doesn't create any excitement about their product - or about even using a computer!
Microsoft can create good ads. I personally think the 13 year-old windows 95 ad was very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM0DL5giOBU

Now, That's a great ad.

The "I'm a PC ad", while better than the Seinfeld ads, seemed pointless. Just what was the purpose? What did I learn? What am I supposed to do?

...Elevator music for the mind!

[PURCELL429]

Yeah, alright, its better than the Seinfeld ads. I guess I could see it helping their image as a company... though not the image of their products, which was the problem in the first place. Use the $300 mil to hire some better programmers.

[St Soichiro]

I guess it is MS's contention that it is OK to be a PC. All they (and Apple) want is that you identify with their product, and thus buy more.

I'd rather not be a PC or a Mac. They are both tools that I use to for me to be me, as defined by me. But at least the Apple ads are funny.

P.S. I am a big fan of Apple products, but at the end of the day their carefully constructed image is a marketing ploy and nothing else.

[crees!]

Just watch. Apple comes back with an ad, "Look PC. First you copy our OS, and now our ads. Don't you ever learn."

[Syrus28]

Now, That's a great ad.

The "I'm a PC ad", while better than the Seinfeld ads, seemed pointless. Just what was the purpose? What did I learn? What am I supposed to do?

...Elevator music for the mind!
Did you miss the opening line??

"Im a PC, and I've been made into a stereotype", and then the commercial proceeds to show the vast, diverse amount of people who use PCs... I mean, it wasn't rocket science... :D

[dawnrazor]

nothing like a fresh creative idea to energise a brand................................................................... he said with tongue firmly in cheek :D

[breeze]

Im a PC and I sell Fish????

I these adds are all as pathetic as this they will only accelerate the desertion of microsoft and as long as Balmer sticks around, Microsoft will only continue to self destruct - Apple with the best of ads couldn't be as detrimental to Microsoft as Microsoft is to itself....Fish?!! Fish stinks.......

[ztigerpaw]

I'll admit its not bad. Just doesn't address anything but tell every uses Windows. Which we already know. :confused:

[casloncastle]

Person 1: (directed at Person 2) "You're a slow witted dullard"

(a few minutes pass)

Person 2: "No I'm not."

.... because it would be coming out of my nose right now. You summed it up superbly. Touché

[coupdetat]

I liked these ads a lot! These, and the Seinfeld ads, show that Microsoft (or, their ad agency) are thinking outside the box.

Hope Apple has an interesting retort!

[karlfranz]

Anybody else find this an ironic message of how Microsoft feels threatened by Apple's recent success?

[jazman]

It will be really interesting to see Apple's response. Do they stop as one poster suggested, or do they counter? If they run a successful counter, they could make viewers think about their (funny) ad while watching the PC ads. That would then cause Microsoft to shift yet again and stop their campaign as to not create confusion. Kind of like what Budweiser did with the counter "Referee" commercials against Miller. Remember, Miller had refs to come and flag people for drinking Bud and they would take their beer. Then Bud countered by showing the refs running and getting in a truck with the bud, drinking and hi-fiving as if it was a well orchestrated heist.

[KingYaba]

Oh, I like where these are going. I want to see a fight!

[Brendan.Porter]

Um...

A little off-message, don't you think, Microsoft?
Last I checked, Windows go into walls.

Can there be any windows in a life without walls?

...Apples grow outside.
So Microsoft wants you to leave your windowed walls behind and look at some Apples.
Right?

*backfired

[FJ218700]

seriously, Gates' screen presence has been incredible in these commercials.

I may have to finally try this Windows thing out.

Hope my Pro has enough RAM to handle it :cool:.

[gikku]

Life with firewalls

I was a PC and I moved on. :apple:

[HailToTheVictor]

"Windows ... Life Without Walls"


Ouch!

Kind of a subtle sting to Apple's slightly walled garden, or am I reading into that a bit much? Either way, it has some creativity to it in it's own way. Curious to see what Apple's response, or new ad craze will be!.


http://forums.macrumors.com/image.php?u=47064&dateline=1165206282&type=profile

Apple's "PC Guy" holding up a window and saying, "Look, Windows without walls, drops the window and glass breaks." Mac says, "Yeah, without walls windows just crash..."

[cecil444]

btw...was that Bill Gates carrying his own brown bagged groceries to his car...oh God, i have been wrong all this time, Bill is such a "down to earth regular guy"

Yeah c'mon now, are we really supposed to believe Bill Gates fetches his own groceries?! Who does he think he's fooling!?!

What a silly commercial. It starts out in a completely different place from where it finishes! More inconsistent bumbling from Microsoft.

[Randman]

"I'm Jerry.

I used to sell PCs, sort of."

[Thiopentone]

Anybody else find this an ironic message of how Microsoft feels threatened by Apple's recent success?

Er... he's scared because there's a shark beside his cage...:confused:

[macfan881]

Guys wanna know the True Irony of this

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9115120&intsrc=hm_list

the whole commercias was made on a mac

Mac 1-pc 0

[gkarris]

What kinda PC? Vista or XP? :eek:

According to this:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=407885

93% is PC....

[FJ218700]

Um...

A little off-message, don't you think, Microsoft?
Last I checked, Windows go into walls.

Can there be any windows in a life without walls?

no walls at Gates' house

[geerlingguy]

I like the part where the guy is in a shark cage, and he has a sign that says...

"I'm a PC. And I'm scared."

And scared he should be! If this is all MS can do to go against Apple's commercials, PC should be afraid. Very afraid.

[Kalison]

The obvious next move for Apple would be another 'I'm a Mac, I'm a PC' ad with Hodgman and Long in which we find PC on a movie set with cameras and back drops and high paid celebrities shooting a commercial for Vista. The possible set ups and punch lines are endless but one that would be really great is if they could get either Kramer or Newman to appear in the ad.

Yes, they should discredit themselves with that racist, classless, hack.

Ever since he lost it on stage and went on a racist spree on a member of the audience, I have never respected that man.

[khunsanook]

I want to see the ad that says...

"I work for Microsoft's advertising company...and I'm a Mac" :D

Apple's website profiled Crispin, Porter and Bogusky about their novel use of Macs, but the link now redirects...wonder why:rolleyes:

Here's the photoless cached version... (http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:MfBhNgtrqkAJ:www.apple.com/ca/pro/profiles/crispinporterbogusky/+crispin+porter+and+bogusky+macintosh&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=th&client=firefox-a)

[lgoodlove]

this is a great response to the apple ads. Stop complaining just because Microsoft made it.

I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't show steve jobs going "the era of thinking for apple to win Microsoft has to lose" or something like that then show the PC people and say "then why are you stereotyping us?"

[rckstwrz]

Wow, and it only took two years and $300 million to come up with a response.

[Masquerade]

GREAT AD! i LOVE IT! in fact they seems like real people

[edited]

[MisterK]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

personally, I love it. These are much better than the Seinfeld ones. I thought the Seinfeld ones were funnyish but was a little more confused than anything else. Deepak Chopra is hilarious. Well done to Microsoft and Crispin Porter. These will be the first Microsoft ads I will actually remember and "get".

[eidrunner247]

I like the part where the guy is in a shark cage, and he has a sign that says...

"I'm a PC. And I'm scared."

And scared he should be! If this is all MS can do to go against Apple's commercials, PC should be afraid. Very afraid.

"...all MS can do against Apple's commercials"? Maybe we saw different commercials, or have different tastes, but I thought these were pretty funny. Not saying that I'm going to get Windows, but they paint a bright picture for MS.

[Roller]

Seriously, how many here remember the industry before Microsoft? Back them computer companies only sold to computer professionals or a very few hobbyists. Mostly it was companies like DEC and IBM and CDC.

Gates' genius was in recognizing that the crop of hobbyist computers that appeared in the mid 1970's needed a high-level programming language, which led him to develop Altair BASIC with Paul Allen. DOS came several years later.

I think that these new ads are a good counterpoint to Apple's campaign by showing that people from a wide variety of backgrounds use PCs effectively.

[Cave Man]

For some reason, watching that video made me think of the song Speed Racer by Devo... :confused:

[Phillyzero]

Finally a coherent one, quite good imo.

[Dejavu]

What a stupid ad. Windows still blows.

[greg555]

Five pages and not a single comment on "I turn #2 into energy?" I'm disappointed.

That line stood out as being fake (i.e. written by writers). A real farmer would say manure.

Greg

[sushi]

These new commercials are much better than the first two with Seinfeld.

I like the part where the guy is in a shark cage, and he has a sign that says...

"I'm a PC. And I'm scared."
I liked that as well.

That line stood out as being fake (i.e. written by writers). A real farmer would say manure.
Or cow ****, or horse ****.

Oh, and I were a farmer many years ago. :)

[Surely]

At least Microsoft didn't blatantly attack Apple like Apple does to Microsoft.

^I agree with that.

It was a well-made ad.

I prefer Apple as the underdog- they seem more innovative and creative when they are.

It would be great if MS would actually improve their products instead of just launching a PR campaign to hype them and to try to make people forget about the issues with their latest OS.

MS being better would force Apple to be better.

[jo8n]

Life without walls? If you do not have walls, why would you need windows?

[brop52]

Definitely an improvement.

[karlfranz]

Er... he's scared because there's a shark beside his cage...:confused:

Wow! Really? Do you think that's what they meant? Subtle irony doesn't escape you! :rolleyes:

[twoodcc]

well, better than the last ones, but not by much

[Toeknee]

...my ass they are a "PC" I personally saw them buying a Mac back in November last year at  La Cantera...

[tsd]

So they're basing their new branding campaign on a response to and an imitation of their competitor's campaign. What this does primarily is draw more attention to Apple's campaign. Therefore, whatever benefit this has for Microsoft will be collateral, and not a direct result of the campaign. Microsoft's Creative Director should be fired.

[objc]

I thought the Seinfeld ads were better. These are kinda lame.

[ProwlingTiger]

How can Windows be a life without walls? If there's no wall, how can there be windows? Are they in the ceiling? Is there a floor window? Its one helluva paradox!

[sam-i-am]

Wow - after the last ads with Seinfeld I can't say I was expecting much, but this ad was pretty good.

What I find odd, though, is post #4 and #5 of this thread. #4 contains a quote from #5, but was not edited. How could this be, you ask? I think the poster from comment #4 lives in Switzerland near the LHC.

I'm just sayin...

[LeoFio]

Not gonna lie, those were pretty good and they have a nice slogan going on there.

[anirban]

I enjoyed them. They are all very well made commercials, and get the point across in a very diplomatic fashion.

[Phrasikleia]

Life without walls? If you do not have walls, why would you need windows?

Best comment ever.

[ortuno2k]

Exactly how do these commercials make you go out and buy Windows? :confused:

I guess they kind of hint the viewer that PC's are everywhere?

I dunno, but I thought the ad was lame.

[ezekielrage_99]

I'm a PC and hacked Sarah Palin's email account.... 1337

I'm a PC and I use solitaire.

I'm a PC and I'm an alcoholic

:cool:

[canucksfan88]

mmm actually quite good.

come on, if the mac ones were like "i am a mac" over and over again, everyone here would be saying it's pure genius.

[inblosam]

http://mdjensen.posterous.com/are-you-real

[Apple Ink]

This is going to sting but its one big BIG slap on Apple's face!

The only saving grace is that all of these have been made on a Mac

<no sarcasm intended>

[dwsolberg]

I think it's a good ad. It's message is clear, but it doesn't beat you over the head. It changes the argument to "Lot of normal people have PCs; don't attack normal people!" instead of of "Apples work, and PC's don't." I expect that Apple will resharpen their commercials to refocus the argument.

[easterncanuck]

I love the, "I'm a PC and I have 3 rings" .... are they alluding to the Microsoft XBox 3 red rings of death? LOL. Might have wanted to leave any mention of 'rings' out of the Microsoft Ads.

[floatingspirit]

I thought it was a pretty good "response" to Apple's ads.

arn

Agreed. Very interesting. It doesn't change the facts though. No matter who's a PC, PCs are still PC's.

[ventro]

Much more mature than the Bill + Jerry ones but I think the Bill + Jerry ones were funner.

[mtor82]

those ads are a great response, i'm just excited to see what apple's going to do now.

[Maxamillious]

I liked the old advertisements better. They had more entertainment value. This kinda' drives a point home however, so that's good on Microsoft.

[kobefan234]

These ads are not even comparable to the getamac ads!!¥•€€>€~€~^<€#€<€~^}*€,£~€~€<##^

[unchecked]

These definitely work better than the Seinfield ones.
Sure, no signs of the product are shown, but it does bring across the fact that windows works well enough for the majority.

While some of those scenes in the ad score, some I just don't get it:
African School: Score.
Fish: Miss.

[sharp65]

I love the, "I'm a PC and I have 3 rings" .... are they alluding to the Microsoft XBox 3 red rings of death? LOL. Might have wanted to leave any mention of 'rings' out of the Microsoft Ads.

They've been poking fun a themselves a bit during these ads. I'm not sure if that was just a coincidence or not, but you can see Gates show his mugshot during one of the seinfeld ads.

[Slim02]

No more Hodgman commercials. Apple just got their ass royally handed to them. They would have to be crazy to continue with those ads, they cant respond back without insulting people further.

Im just surprised it took this long to come out with a commercial that gives Apple the finger. Any PC manufacturer could have done the same thing.

Whore you dropped on your head at birth? Because it proved nothing other that there are a lot of stupid and cheep people out there.. Oh where does it dismiss that Windows does not have the problems that Apple ads talk about.. I was a windows user for 8 years and had problems as the apple ads point out and that was one of the reason to switch over to a Mac.. MS wasting money on ads instant of make a better OS.. if that is not lame then I do not know what is..

[Cave Man]

Where you drop on your head at birth? Because it proved nothing other that there are a lot of stupid and cheep people out there.. Oh where does it dismiss that Windows does not have the problems that Apple ads talk about.. I was a windows user for 8 years and had problems as the apple ads point out and that was one of the reason to switch over to a Mac.. MS wasting money on ads instant of make a better OS.. if that is not lame then I do not know what is..

I think you're missing his point.

[JCMusic]

only hitch - those commercials were most likely made on a Mac!

[steve-b]

I just think that, if I had 300 million going into my companies marketing campaign, I would make sure it's something that will reach people. I think these ads are average. They need to step out of the box rather then attack Apple and their trend. This seems to be an "in-house" campaign as well. Just hire a good marketing firm, and listen to what they might have to say. Use some current music trends to talk to your audience too, get in tune with what's hot. Whether it's music or films. There is obviously an issue since Apple make's the hardware and the OS/software, where Microsoft concentrates more on making just the OS/software. So it leaves less of a chance to include Microsoft in other commercials and other cross marketing opportunities. But man, I just hate how companies waste their money on bad marketing. The Seinfeld ad's were ok, but they weren't awesome either. And I'm sure for those alone cost approximately 2-5 million... Microsoft, you can do better!

--
steve.b

[ezekielrage_99]

It wasn't a bad ad from Microsoft however like all Microsoft products and marketing it really isn't original....

[Xenu007]

What Microsoft still doesn't get is that they need to INNOVATE! And apparently in their advertising too! The Seinfeld ads were a great example of what happens when Microsoft tries to innovate.

Now their entire new ad campaign is in REACTION to Apple's ads! The whole theme of this new ad campaign is reactionary and defensive! They even used the Microsoft 'trademark' approach of copying Apple by ripping off one of Apple's ad campaign's characters!

[Slim02]

I think you're missing his point.

How when he says this "Im just surprised it took this long to come out with a commercial that gives Apple the finger. Any PC manufacturer could have done the same thing." When the ad did nothing...

[Macsician]

I think these ads are much better than the pointless Seinfeld ads, however it definitely shows Windows' lack of originality when it comes to advertising. The imitation even goes as far as the end of the commercial when we hear a vaguely familiar outro song and see a single colored screen showing a small logo in the center. This isn't a ground-breaking ad campaign.

If anything, I think Apple should run with it - perhaps showing the "PC" character walking on screen dressed exactly like "Mac" and acting totally oblivious to the whole situation.

[whistler222]

for better or for worse..
it's definitely a LOT better than the Seinfeld ones..

[Anderson3133]

Terrible. This makes me long for the good old Seinfeld commercials. Which, while telling me nothing about Microsoft, did make me laugh. This just seems pathetic. All these people look like the sorts who show up at your party, but don't talk to anyone and when they do, you wish they'd never have opened their mouth. I'm a PC and I make you feel awkward.

Well put. For those of you saying "this doesn't want me to buy anything MS at ALL"

This is a "Re-branding process" it is meant to enhance the company's image amongst the public, not sell the product itself.

[compuguy1088]

Screw Macs, I'm getting a PC.

Why not have both PC's and Macs?

(Use both a macbook pro (Leopard) and a Tower (Vista x64)

[apocheir]

Wow, a Windows fan boy.

Please go to Dell.com and configure a desktop with ALL the features in a comparable Mac and you won't find it cheaper.

How about upgrading your memory from the mac store without taking out a loan? Or how choosing your own parts to make a system specific to your needs? How about a mid-range mac that you can easily upgrade?

People seem to just spit out things about Windows being a broken OS, or Mac "just working," or all PCs having viruses. Makes me wonder how much experience these people actually have with Windows.

Windows may or may not be a flawed OS, but I've never had any problems with it personally. However, on the mac I use at work I have had issues with Final Cut Pro crashing frequently, software like Compressor giving up entirely and irreparably following system updates, and it's always easier to find software to perform random tasks for my Windows machine. I've never had to reformat and reinstall everything just to compress video on my PC.

Software issues aside, almost everything that you can do with one you can do with the other. I hate to jump in on Mac v. PC arguments, but I had to comment here because I'm glad that MS is commenting on those awful Mac commercials.

The Mac commercials are so snarky and annoying it makes me want to vomit. Mac portraying itself as that "hip"/young-demographic-casually-but-well-dressed guy is so smug it's disgusting and made me hate Apple as a company, and especially their marketing department. And I don't want to see one more commercial where I have to hear a quirky female singing over simple but catchy indie music. Whether it be a commercial for a Jetta or something Starbucks related. It makes me hate the demographic, which I'm supposed to be a part of, that it's supposed to appeal to.

Kudos to Microsoft for this commercial, although I will say the Seinfeld commercial was just strange, and the "blind-Vista-test" commercial was really annoying too.

Mac would redeem themselves a little bit in my mind if they would fill the huge gap in their product line, and make their lower-end products more expandable. I could build a PC with a Core2Quad, 4gigs of ram and all the other things that I want for a decent price... while I could never afford a Mac Pro on my wages, and I wouldn't want an iMac because I want to be able to add to and remove from my system.

[compuguy1088]

For some reason I have a feeling that NASA doesn't use Windows to power anything terribly important.

Last time I recalled, Mission control's computers (Houston) use some version of Windows. The Shuttle uses some embedded OS

[Abstract]

Apple's ads really are terrible. Only Mac users like them, and even Mac users think they insult their intelligence.


These MS ads are great. I guess if they went on for years, it would get tiring, but I doubt the marketing company that made this ad would just sit on the same idea for years. They seem more creative than whoever is doing Apple's adverts (although they're not THAT creative).

[Freedomflyer]

Earlier, a Commenter said that "I learned that logical fallacy in the 9th grade."

Yes, I agree - It is a logical fallacy to appeal to the character, authority of another person to "boost oneself up". But guess what? Apple is doing EXACTLY THAT, this time "appealing" to an UNPLEASING "authority" aka UglyPCMan.
And what's more - Last time I checked, I don't see how using the "Live free or die Hard" guy isn't appealing to Ethos either...
yeah...

[Yr Blues]

I like Macs. I'm so not Justin Long. Macs are just better. Spend your millions on making a better product.

[kaiwai]

"Windows ... Life Without Walls"

Ouch!

Kind of a subtle sting to Apple's slightly walled garden, or am I reading into that a bit much? Either way, it has some creativity to it in it's own way. Curious to see what Apple's response, or new ad craze will be!.

Small problem there; how is it any different in the Microsoft world - you're still stuck using Windows. Its like going into a town and being told, "there are 100's of restaurants' and finding out that they all have the same menu. How the hell is that choice to the average consumer?

I use a Mac because Windows is completely and utterly crap. Until Microsoft gives me a UNIX based operating system with a nice GUI ontop that runs all the applications *I* want to run - they can forget about me ever using a Windows powered computer.

They've shat in their bed - its up to them to put up with the stink.

[Zwhaler]

Hey, I like it. Better than the Seinfeld ads at least.

[Phrasikleia]

Why not have both PC's and Macs?

(Use both a macbook pro (Leopard) and a Tower (Vista x64)

That would be like voting both Democrat and Republican...Like rooting for both the Yankees and the Red Sox...Like drinking both Pepsi and Coke...It's just not right! :p

[Ayria]

A great add...

I like apple - my main design computer is my Macbook Pro
I like microsoft - my secondary notebook is a Acer Aspire One Netbook (this rocks)

Who said i should choose sides - i get the best of both worlds!

(btw - the Aspire One can run OSX with a bit of tweaking! The ultimate in OSX portability!) :D

[defylogik]

I actually am really starting to like these microsoft commercials. I think it is about time that MS starts jabbing back at apple.

MS makes some really good enterprise stuff. I don't see apple making any of that stuff that actually makes the world go 'round.

[alphaod]

I like it actually. It's not as exaggerated as the "I'm a Mac" ads.

Of course I don't hate Vista in the first place, so these ads don't change much.

[mdntcallr]

not really that great an advertisement.

Kind of reminds me of REVENGE OF THE NERDS

I am a Nerd!


Hardly makes Winblows sexy

[Rivix]

Good to see this has more positive votes than negative. At least some people vote with an open mind and don't cloud themselves with their fanboyism.

[filmguy15]

I dig it, much more human. I would say comparable to Apple's ads, although a different style. Nice work MS. It's still unfortunate that it took them this long to respond. Can't wait to see Apple's next craze, that MS with then respond to.

[stcanard]

It a decent ad, honestly it is probably one of the best Microsoft has put out in a long time.

It is definitely a milestone, though, as the first time in decades (?) that Microsoft has publicly admitted to Apple being competition *

* By publicly I mean in an Advertising campaign, the vast majority of the world doesn't read tech blogs and quotes from Steve Ballmer

[Drawinz]

I liked it. I love my Mac and have no intension of changing over but I am getting a bit bored with whats coming out of Apple for the Mac these days. I am talking mainly software here. There is progress but little revolution at the moment.
If the gloves come off and these ads pose a challenge to apple there might be some real head to head competition once more, we might see something out of Apple to get excited about again rather than ipods with new colours. When rumours sites have to fill pages with news of new adverts and store openings you know things are getting dull.

[Thiopentone]

I think you're missing his point.

Gold, my friend, and you beat me to it. He needs to spell and parse properly before asking if the original poster was dropped on his head at birth.

[apocheir]

What Microsoft still doesn't get is that they need to INNOVATE! And apparently in their advertising too! The Seinfeld ads were a great example of what happens when Microsoft tries to innovate.

Now their entire new ad campaign is in REACTION to Apple's ads! The whole theme of this new ad campaign is reactionary and defensive! They even used the Microsoft 'trademark' approach of copying Apple by ripping off one of Apple's ad campaign's characters!


The problem here is that Apple has made Microsoft feel like they need to compete on the grounds of "coolness." While one could say the mac commercials were actually about the functionality of Windows vs. Mac, the real message that they sent was superficial and completely based on the appearance and personalities of the people on the screen. If they had two nerds on screen then maybe it wouldn't be image-based advertising, but... it is.

Microsoft, clearly, doesn't know how to make themselves look cool. But they're right: lots of PCs are used for very important work that is done across the planet. And a lot of people are happy with the computers and the operating system they're using to do that work. Why should they need to innovate on their advertising?

[RTiii320]

"i'm a PC just like BG" hahaha that line by pharrell speaking on bill gates was pretty funny. The commercials were not the best i have ever seen but obviously a large improvement from their seinfield ads that were a bust. Well done, who else would of grabbed a negative ad campaign and made it something to sell their product with.

[compuguy1088]

Apple's "PC Guy" holding up a window and saying, "Look, Windows without walls, drops the window and glass breaks." Mac says, "Yeah, without walls windows just crash..."

Thats exactly right...unless the window is supported by something else other than walls??

[Slim02]

Gold, my friend, and you beat me to it. He needs to spell and parse properly before asking if the original poster was dropped on his head at birth.

If you do not like it u can kiss my ass.. This is a forum on the internet not school or being payed to spell right.. Please is that all you can come up with is BS..

[techpr]

"I was a PC and now I'm a Mac"

Thanks Microsoft

[elbruelsio]

Oh and these ads aren't meant to sell product!

I don't mean to play Dvorak here, but if they're not meant to sell product then it's a waste of money!

[phillyb091]

well done microsoft. instead of taking on the mac commercials, microsoft embraced them and spun them in microsoft's favor. the message I hear from the new commercials is that microsoft is "cooler" than the justin long character because microsoft is everybody, not just a hipster and not just an office geek.

I still refuse to buy their computers, but I do admire the new ads.

to echo previous posts ... time for new marketing angle apple?

[donga]

noooooo.... pharrell?

is it safe to assume these people are not mac fans?

[OttomanUmpire]

It's pretty unusual to see a gorilla in a space -- Windows with about a 93% share -- responding so pointedly to a 7% competitor. Seems unprecedented, or at least I can't think of any examples in any other industries. Imagine Budweiser going after Rolling Rock, only worse.

Interpretation No. 1: Microsoft can brook no threat to their hegemony. Their only real competitive advantage is their ubiquity, and if the Mac OS hits a critical mass you've got the dreaded, emperor-has-no-clothes scenario. So they've got to stop the Mac OS. And Microsoft either sucks at everything else they've attempted or, as with Office, inherits market power from the dominance of the operating environment.

Interpretation No. 2: They have research that shows that things are much worse than anyone suspects. Those share numbers above probably got a big bump from mass Vista upgrades, or they don't reflect a cratered college market, or they've got a defection model that says something like "28% of non-Mac iPhone customers are switching to the Mac OS after 9 months," etc.

Interpretation No. 3: The Hodgman/Long ads are simply pissing them off, so they've got this executive-level emotional response they're projecting through their agency.

Interpretation No. 4: They've run out of ideas. They can't talk about the product, because everyone's eyes glaze over. They tried the Seinfeld thing, which was weird. They tried to do hip -- like the Zune's "Join the Social" -- and just plain can't pull it off. So they try it again, playing off the Mac's "I'm a PC" ad. Pretty good execution, but off a lousy strategy.

This is fun.

[compuguy1088]

That would be like voting both Democrat and Republican...Like rooting for both the Yankees and the Red Sox...Like drinking both Pepsi and Coke...It's just not right! :p

Ironically I'm a moderate, and have used linux :D.

(Note: only have one mac, PC's are the majority in household 4:1)