Microsoft's Holiday Ad Spreads Message of Peace Outside Apple's 5th Avenue Store

[MacRumors]

In the spirit of the holiday season, Microsoft today released a new ad that focuses on calling for peace between the company and its public rival, Apple. The 60-second advertisement sees Microsoft employees making their way from the company's new Fifth Avenue store in New York City over to Apple's flagship store to share a festive carol with the Apple employees and others.

The ad's event took place on November 16, with Microsoft employees from around the country joining together in New York City -- along with a local NYC children's youth choir -- to sing "Let There Be Peace On Earth" to a group of Apple workers. Microsoft had to get permission from Apple to film outside the storefront, according to AdAge, due to New York City's strict security rules. Beginning December 3, the ad will run on television, along with the debut of a longer two minute version online.

Most of Microsoft's messaging over the past few years has been in spots that directly compared the company's products with its rivals', with a focus on Apple, and listing reasons why customers would prefer the Microsoft option. Last year the company compared the Surface Pro 3 with the MacBook Air to the tune of a Christmas jingle for its main holiday commercial, so this year's peace-centered message is definitely a departure.

Article Link: Microsoft's Holiday Ad Spreads Message of Peace Outside Apple's 5th Avenue Store

 

[MacsRgr8]

Wow.... how times have changed.
Nice. I wonder if Apple will do something similar.

 

[aldrinjtauro]

Cold heads for the Apple employees.

 

[Sunday Ironfoot]

...focuses on calling for peace between the company and its public rival, Apple.

Peace? Don't they mean surrender?

 

[Alchemist]

Christmas Ads here in the UK are a BIG deal. Stores like John Lewis and Sainsbury's have produced truly amazing ads the last few years with messages that (in some people's eyes) transcend commercialism and capitalism. This year there isn't really one that has stood out to me... I'm amazed to say that this Microsoft advert might be the one that's impressed me the most. Nice work ad men.

 

[MonkeySee....]

Hang on. Did they just leave a store full of customers??

Oh...wait.

 

[kometen]

Very nice, very nice.

 

[3goldens]

It's pretty straightforward to me, blatant commercialism on the part of Microsoft!

 

[Noble Actual]

Hang on. Did they just leave a store full of customers??

Oh...wait.

Having been too like all the Apple Stores in Silicon Valley/Bay Area, I can guarantee you that right across from the Apple Store is a Microsoft Store and they are both filled almost anytime you go there.

Staying too much in MacRumors hurts your health. Go out a bit more.

 

[iPrabhu]

These ads are way better than comparing each other(s)/products and cat fighting.

 

[dorsal]

Not sure what the average non-tech person will take away from this ad. The MS store in Michigan is also across from the Apple store and usually has more employees than customers.

 

[pankajdoharey]

Satya Nadela is Simple Genius, if he came up with this Idea.

 

[NStocks]

LOL

They have so sing outside an Apple store to get noticed, since nobody would see them at Microsoft stores.

 

[Keane16]

Christmas Ads here in the UK are a BIG deal. Stores like John Lewis and Sainsbury's have produced truly amazing ads the last few years with messages that (in some people's eyes) transcend commercialism and capitalism. This year there isn't really one that has stood out to me... I'm amazed to say that this Microsoft advert might be the one that's impressed me the most. Nice work ad men.

I quite like the Aldi parody of the John Lewis one this year.

--------------------------------

Good to see Microsoft and Apple getting along. Hopefully the consumer wins long term with increased collaboration.

 

[nagromme]

If you're trying to remind people that the holiday is about peace and giving, not commercialism... you're always going to come off a bit awkward if you do it in the context of being a seller of tech products against a rival commercial company.

 

[mazz0]

Microsoft has its own shops?

 

[JohnApples]

Not sure what the average non-tech person will take away from this ad. The MS store in Michigan is also across from the Apple store and usually has more employees than customers.

Yeah, I've been to that one a few times. Every time there's a couple kids playing Xbox, a small handful of people talking to the employees, and maybe a couple more people playing on the Surfaces.

Not trying to bash Microsoft in any way, I do own several of their products, but perhaps putting it almost directly next to the Apple Store wasn't the best of ideas.

 

[jwm1952]

I liked it. Similar to some of the Mac and PC commercials of the past. It is in the holiday spirit and was well done.

 

[sblemmy]

Microsoft and Apple should work together to crush their real competition: Google.

 

[iAK]

that's a powerful ad... made me tear up a bit.

 

[2457282]

This was the best attempt by microsoft I have ever seen. Nice Job.

Speaking of jobs, where the MS employees handing their resumes to the Apple employees at the end of the commercial? LOL

 

[Jett0516]

Samsung will copy this.

 

[rdlink]

Having been too like all the Apple Stores in Silicon Valley/Bay Area, I can guarantee you that right across from the Apple Store is a Microsoft Store and they are both filled almost anytime you go there.

Staying too much in MacRumors hurts your health. Go out a bit more.

What are you smoking? The Apple Store in Corte Madera is almost always packed, and the MS store down way looks like a ghost town, except for the 7 or 8 bored looking employees in red, yellow and green shirts, and the 70-year-old man they're talking into buying a Windows Phone.

Having said that, it was a pretty cool ad. Except that I noticed they didn't show a shot of the inside of the store after the employees left. Because it would have been a sad, empty scene.

 

[dysamoria]

Marketing. It'll be back to negativity and bashing in time. Commercials of "holiday spirit" come off as even more insincere than usual. Bah effing humbug.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Reminds me of Burger King's McWhopper ads.