Microsoft Enlists Jerry Seinfeld in Ad War Against Apple

[MacRumors]

Microsoft Hiring Seinfeld for Major Ad Campaign



The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft is hiring comedian Jerry Seinfeld for a series of new ads in which he will appear alongside Microsoft's Bill Gates.

The new ad effort is expected to use some variation of the slogan "Windows, Not Walls," according to several people familiar with the matter. Those people say the point is to stress breaking down barriers that prevent people and ideas from connecting.

The first ads are scheduled air starting on September 4th. Seinfeld is reported being paid $10 million for his work.

The ads are part of a $300 million advertising campaign from Microsoft in an attempt to overhaul their image. Specifically, one Microsoft executive has stated that Apple's 'Get a Mac' ad campaign has had a damaging effect on Vista's image.

"We've got a pretty noisy competitor out there," Brooks said of Apple whose "I'm a Mac... and I'm a PC," commercials criticize Windows Vista. "You know it. I know it. It's caused some impact. We're going to start countering it. They tell us it's the iWay or the highway. We think that's a sad message. Software out there is made to be compatible with your whole life."

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[tjcampbell]

Another celebrity whore endorsement. Like Seinfeld needs the cash.

 

[soberbrain]

It would be sweet, if after the commercials aired, Jerry was spotted at the Apple Cubestore getting a new Mac!

Then, people would know where the MS money went

 

[byke]

If your company is a "has been" , why pay 10million for another "has been" actor?

No wonder MS is in decline based on these type of spending habits to reach a younger audience and image revival.

 

[Full of Win]

So let me guess... Apple = OS Nazi

Apple: You want different hardware? No computer for you!!

 

[FJ218700]

Seinfeld. really? What has he done in the last 10 years? I guess 18-25 yr olds are not part of Microsoft's target audience.

ironically, Jerry always had a Mac in is apartment on the show.

 

[tmelvin]

"They tell us it's the iWay or the highway. We think that's a sad message. Software out there is made to be compatible with your whole life."

LMAO. Yes, MS is so much more user friendly, and allows for all kinds of open standards...LOL...

Kind of grasping at straws really. It's sad...but funny.

 

[~Shard~]

It will be interesting to see what the approach of these ads will be. Utilizing Seinfeld has the potential to be quite successful, but if implemented incorrectly this campaign could really fall flat on its face.

 

[plumbingandtech]

A hack has been for a hack has been OS.

Yah. That will work.

 

[Abstract]

If Jerry Seinfeld is one of the headlining stars, who's below him? I'd love to see an ad with Jerry Seinfeld, John Stamos, and the guy who played Erkel, but I'd love it for all the reasons Microsoft doesn't want me to love it.


And it's crazy that HP can get Jay-Z, Pharrell, Gwen Stefani, and even Mark Cuban to do an ad for them, but Microsoft decides to go with him.

 

[dukebound85]

So let me guess... Apple = OS Nazi

Apple: You want different hardware? No computer for you!!

haha they should use that angle. i would laugh so hard

 

[rhomsy]

Didn't Seinfeld have a Mac on his desk on his tv show? I think he originally had a Mac Classic, and then he had one of those Duo Docking setups.

 

[FJ218700]

If Jerry Seinfeld is one of the headlining stars, who's below him? I'd love to see an ad with Jerry Seinfeld, John Stamos, and the guy who played Erkel, but I'd love it for all the reasons Microsoft doesn't want me to love it.

you forgot about ALF

 

[~Shard~]

Seinfeld. really? What has he done in the last 10 years? I guess 18-25 yr olds are not part of Microsoft's target audience.

Good point - he hasn't really done much lately. You'd think Microsoft would want to partner with a more current star to appeal to the younger demographic. But then again, it's Microsoft, so perhaps not...

 

[Sky Blue]

Tired, overrated comedian for a tired overrated product.

nice

 

[olliebraves20]

Unless he has become a work class programmer he isn't going to help Vista in the least.....

 

[FJ218700]

Good point - he hasn't really done much lately. You'd think Microsoft would want to partner with a more current star to appeal to the younger demographic. But then again, it's Microsoft, so perhaps not...

"Seinfeld" was probably Ballmer's favorite show

 

[Shasterball]

Now it's going to get fun!

 

[Abstract]

you forgot about ALF

What you talkin' about, Willis?

 

[dukebound85]

Tired, overrated comedian for a tired overrated product.

nice

and i bet if apple were to hire him instead, people would be praising the decision

 

[goinskiing]

Wow, Microsoft REALLY needs a new advertising team. If you that Mojave was bad, oy, this could be embarrassing for M$.

 

[~Shard~]

Didn't Seinfeld have a Mac on his desk on his tv show? I think he originally had a Mac Classic, and then he had one of those Duo Docking setups.

You are correct, he always had a Mac in his show. Of course that was just his character, not necessarily in real life - and plus, $10M might make someone consider changing their platform regardless.

 

[goinskiing]

and i bet if apple were to hire him instead, people would be praising the decision

No, I would think that it would be a terrible idea for Apple.

 

[samh004]

"Software out there is made to be compatible with your whole life."

How can anything ever be compatible when the mac version is always released much later than the windows version. Microsoft is still all talk, as seen by their latest 3D-photo idea that's still only compatible with windows.

 

[mr.light]

and i bet if apple were to hire him instead, people would be praising the decision

Not really. No. Not me anyway.