Microsoft Enlists Jerry Seinfeld in Ad War Against Apple

[Ericatomars]

no wonder...

Vista is nothing but problems... They are the reason why i refuse to get another windows computer because though it might look some what appealing, half the programs still dont work on it and its nothing except a pain in my a$$... Vista has been out for a while now and there is no reason why they shouldn't have already addressed these problems. My mom has to buy a new printer if she wants to use it with vista and when she called to try and fix it they gave her the run around and pretty much told her there in no hurry to fix it and you'll be better off buying a new one....

 

[MacTheSpoon]

How about all the people who are dropping Vista and going back to XP, how are they going to blame that on Apple's ad campaign?

They need to take responsibility for the crapware they've unleashed, not pretend that it's awesome and blame Apple's advertising. Maybe OSX is actually better than Vista, and it's not about the ad campaigns, did they ever think of that??

 

[dwd3885]

Sorry, you're wrong. There are tons of people they could have gotten that would have impressed me -- and I would have gladly said "good for them!" There are also tons of people I don't even personally like, but I would have still thought "wow, smart move."

Seinfeld doesn't fit into any of those categories...

I said MOST, not ALL. So my friend, you might be right, but I'm not wrong. Calm down

 

[DaBrain]

I'm calling people fanboys not because they love seinfeld and he's with microsoft, but because no matter WHO microsoft would have hired to do this, most people on here would have criticized it.

You May be right, BUT do ya think it might have something to do with the fact that this is an Apple/Mac forum?---))))

 

[AlexisV]

They tell us it's the iWay or the highway. We think that's a sad message.

Er, it's called advertising. It's effectiveness is measured by how much money it makes the company. Nothing else matters.

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

I have no idea how this has anything to do with the previous sentence. Weird.

 

[UnSainted]

Apple marketing?

Apple should now play on this and do "Mac vs PC" using clones of characters from the Seinfeld Show, like Kramer, George, and Elaine all trying to use Vista.

Now that would be funny.

 

[dwd3885]

You May be right, BUT do ya think it might have something to do with the fact that this is an Apple/Mac forum?---))))

well of course!! ha. but you know, it'd be nice to have a discussion, like the forums should be, not a flaming forum of fanatics who pi$$ no microsoft

 

[bigmc6000]

Sorry, you're wrong. There are tons of people they could have gotten that would have impressed me -- and I would have gladly said "good for them!" There are also tons of people I don't even personally like, but I would have still thought "wow, smart move."

Seinfeld doesn't fit into any of those categories...

Combine that with MS's amazing track record with advertising and most people are, rightfully so, skeptical that even with a good choice (Je-fafa Done-Ham .com) would be met with a "I'm not sure MS is going to be able to do this very well but I guess we'll see"

 

[sushi]

This is cool news. most of you guys are apple fanboys. If Apple hired Seinfeld for something, you would say this is the greatest thing ever!!

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Nope. Not at all.

I simply do not like Seinfeld or his shows. I know I am in the minority.

But I can take solace in that he works with Microsoft and not Apple.

 

[daddywags214]

Seinfeld = 90s

Seinfeld was "in" in the 90s. So was Windows.

 

[darthraige]

Microsoft will never be at Apples level ever again. I am sure Microsoft's Ads will suck severely. lol

 

[Unspeaked]

This thread is a classic example of Apple fanboy hypocrisy.

I have little doubt that if the article were about Apple having hired Seinfeld to do new "Get a Mac" spots for them, you'd all be drooling over the idea and talking about how he's brilliant is and how timeless his comedy is.

I actually think these ads will turn out to be some of Microsoft's best, since Mr. Seinfeld is still a pretty funny guy, and think he's a great choice to refresh Microsoft's image. They've never been about going after the Adult Swim crowd, people - Seinfeld's broad fan appeal (remember, he had one of the most popular TV shows in history and still routinely sells out arenas doing stand up) is exactly the same base Microsoft covets.

 

[batchtaster]

While it's true nobody here would be overly impressed by any choice of representative Microsoft happened to choose, there are heaps of ppl they could have gotten that were less unimpressive. eg: it was reasonably impressive that they got the Rolling Stones to agree to having their song used for Win95, even if the product itself was rancid.

Seinfeld has long since been relegated to the C List; he was always on my C List to begin with. I wouldn't want him on an Apple ad either. Even if Apple announced he'd had a change of heart and would be appearing in their ads for 1/10th of the money, I'd still switch over when his ads came on.

So, AFAIC, go for it Microsoft. You got the right man for the job.

*Click*

P.S. "Bee Movie" had precious little to do with bees. It was like an episode of Law & Order told in cartoon form. It could have used any animal or inanimate object. Dull.

 

[Unspeaked]

I am predicting a failure on this, just like everything Seinfeld has done since his show ended. Microsoft should have hired Larry David, the real talent behind Seinfeld.

You do realize Bee Movie, the only major project he's done since the show ended, earned nearly $300 million, right?

 

[Flobber88]

This answered my question of the day.

Q:What is the price of a soul?
A: $10m.

Give me a break. Not one person in this discussion would turn down that kind of money just to do a MS ad. Like one person stated earlier, Apple isn't a religion.

 

[53399]

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[gkarris]

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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...

Big Sci-Fi fan here.

Who is Seinfeld?

 

[Fuchal]

Hi ladies and gents, I'm Jerry Seinfeld. What's the deal with Vista???

 

[Snowcat001]

Wouldn't it be more logical if the ads would be of the same type 'mac vs pc'?
So Gates would be Gates of course and Seinfeld would represent apple (after all he's been known to have macs in his show.
Seinfield would then try to make a point (in a comedians way à la mac-vs-pc) about why vista s*cks and then Gates would counter him.

So I don't think Seinfield will be doing the talking about how good vista is!

This would be the funny way and: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

Or they could just talk about vista and not about apple or mac os x at all. Thus doing the more positive thing (in contrast with what apple is doing).

I like the mac vs pc ads but I think it's the wrong way to go.

 

[batchtaster]

You do realize Bee Movie, the only major project he's done since the show ended, earned nearly $300 million, right?

I think we discussed quality vs quantity in the 90s. About the time Seinfeld was relevant.

That $300 million ($287 million) was worldwide. Not that impressive really. And it didn't get a very favorable critical response either.

 

[Westside guy]

I've known a few old-school Mac fans that, for one reason or another, HATE OS X - maybe Seinfeld is one of them? Or maybe he has switched to Windows. He did a commercial for HP that touted Vista (and made a couple references to his Bee Movie) a while back.

Or, maybe he just wants the money.

Anyway, who cares? I think he's a funny guy, and think his show was great. But I'm not going to take tech advice from him anymore than I'm going to listen to Governor Ah-nold or Paris Hilton trying to tell me how to vote. It's just not relevant (and still wouldn't be, even if he were an ardent Mac fan).

 

[bergmef]

As soon as his contract is up, apple should hire him and put him in a get a mac add. That would be funny. He could hand pc the 10 million and say no thanks, I can't believe I did that, what's up with that? and the start button to log off ... what's up with that? I feel like I'm home again, thanks mac.

or show him finishing the microsoft commercial and run into the mac guy at the new york store.

'Hi Jerry, getting a new mac?'
'Sure am, just came into some money'

I would pee myself.

 

[gkarris]

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I don't think these commercials will be good either, but much of the critisizm in this thread so far has been amazingly inane.

I believe I even saw someone critisize the idea simply because Jerry is a comedian. Really, and what do you think this guy is?

Frankly, the ads will fail because Microsoft is in charge and they just don't know how to be popular. That's really all there is to it. But all the critisizm of WHO is in the ad is misplaced and beside the point.

MS is the psuedo-standard. They don't have to know how to be popular...

 

[tgildred]

lol its not like apple is a religion. id advertise for MS if I was offered 10 million without hesitation

Me too! I'd even give two big thumbs up on camera while nodding my head enthusiastically. And I can't stand Windows.

 

[ChrisA]

I'm just waiting for this to fail. $10 million for an ad campaign?! People do feature films and don't get paid as much! I like Jerry Seinfeld but he's not exactly the youngest and hippest stand up comedian out there, I think Microsoft is about 15 years too late.

Exactly what I was thinking. With Seinfeld and Gates on camera. It's like it Apple made an ad that went "Hi, I'm a PC, And I'm a PC too.."

This can't work for Microsoft. Not because the ads are bad, heck, they might even be good. But it just the numbers that don't work for them. Microsoft simply has nothing to gain. It's as if you made and ad that said "Air is good. Breath air" well how many non-breathers are there? Air can't increase it's market share. What has Microsoft to gain even of a quarter the Linux and Mac users switched to Windows, Microsoft would gain only less than 2%.

The numbers work in Apple's favor because Apple only needs a 2 percent of Microsoft's user base to switch and Apple sales go up by 50%. Microsoft simply can't increase sales any more no matter how good the ad.