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Microsoft's First Seinfeld Ad Airs: Shoe Circus

An email from Microsoft senior vice president Bill Veghte to all Microsoft employees, regarding the new ad campaign.

From: Bill Veghte
Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2008 5:37 PM
To: Microsoft - All Employees (QBDG)
Subject: Telling the story of Windows

Since it first launched nearly 25 years ago, Windows has been one of the most successful products in the history of the high tech industry. As we set our sights on the next 25 years, it is essential that we deliver incredible offerings on a great platform. We must also tell the story of how Windows enables a billion people around the globe to do more with their lives today. We must inspire consumers with the promise of what Windows uniquely makes possible across the PC, phone and web.

Telling our story means making significant investments to improve the way consumers experience Windows. To that end, we are focused on making improvements at practically every consumer touch point, from the moment they hear about the Windows brand in our advertising to how they learn more about Windows products online; from how they view Windows and try it at retail to how they use the entire range of Windows offerings – Windows Vista, Windows Mobile and Windows Live – across their whole life.

Today, we are kicking off a highly visible advertising campaign. The first phase of this campaign is designed to engage consumers and spark a new conversation about Windows – a conversation that will evolve as the campaign progresses, but will always be marked by humor and humanity. The first in this series of television ads airs initially in the U.S., and it aims to re-ignite consumer excitement about the broader value of Windows. The first television spot aired on NBC during the opening game of the NFL season and will be seen throughout the evening on various primetime programs. Worldwide, you can view this first TV spot at http://msw.

This first set of ads features Bill Gates and comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Think of these ads as an icebreaker to reintroduce Microsoft to viewers in a consumer context. Later this month, as the campaign moves into its next phase, we’ll go much deeper in telling the Windows story and celebrating what it can do for consumers at work, at play and on-the-go. At that time, I’ll be back to share more information about our plans to further strengthen the bond between consumers and Windows – one of the most amazing products, businesses and brands of all time, and, with the right tenacity, passion and agility from all of us, a story that has many great chapters to come.
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adiosjefe said:
Just wait, there is a really good ad agency behind this. They know what they are doing. They will just keep building on each commercial. But regardless, if this was the greatest commercial ever made you guys will still hate it because it's Microsoft. If you want to talk about a stupid commercial lets talk about Apple's pizza commercial. In the beginning I thought the Apple commercials were really good. They're just tired now. I think Apple needs to start something new and get rid the Mac guy PC guy. It's not getting old, it's already old.
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Actually if it WAS a good commercial we would say so no matter who it was for. Don't think everyone here is will automatically hate MS. Fact is they are a company who has not had a decent product in years. That is a simple fact and "hate" has nothing to do with it.
 
terrible ad. doesn't make any sense. they spent this much money on marketing? how does this help position vista? lol.

MacRumors said:


As promised, Microsoft has started running their new ads using comedian Jerry Seinfeld and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. The ad has already been spotted by a number of readers.

The first in presumably a series of ads show Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld in Shoe Carnival. A YouTube video is available.

Seinfeld was reportedly paid $10 million for his work in this series of ads.

Article Link
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odedia said:
I find it surprising that Microsoft is getting into the shoes business. It's not exactly up their alley.

Wait, what's that you said? They are NOT going into the shoe business?

So WTF is the purpose of this ad???

Oded S.
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Wait?! What?! you mean I was not suppose to buy shoes? Aww CRAP
 
I'm a Mac... and I'm a PC.

Sorry, childish I know, but I couldn't help myself here...

Cue PC & Mac standing at a tall meeting table with a bowl of Apples on

Mac
Hello I'm a mac.
PC (standing in Gates Conquistador shoes)
and I'm a PC.
Mac
Say, PC, I just saw your new commercial, nice shoes.
PC (Proud)
Yes, we've finally managed to produce something that is virus-free and just works.
Mac
Shoes?
PC
These aren't just shoes, these are Microsoft Conquistador 2008 Ultimate shoes.
Mac
Oh?
PC
With these shoes you can go anywhere, think "where do you want to go to today?" and these shoes you can get there.
NO need for an internet connection, you don't even need a computer.
Mac
But what about Vista?
PC
Well we hoped users would get the message, you see Atari showed us that the desert is the best place for redundant software and well, we hoped people might get the hint with the Mojave project.
PC
But with these babies...

(PC starts stomping during which the laces start to fall out)
...you can can go anywhere,do anything.
(PC Stands still realising he has no laces left)

PC
Of course, there might still be some compatibility issues, people with different feet configurations and all... ...we'll have them sorted in the first service pack.

PC, looking deflated, picks up an Apple fom the bowl, takes a bite and starts to walk off set...

PC
Say, these are delicious.

Cut to Apple logo.

Sadie.
 
That is the dumbest ad ever...without a doubt. And this is coming from no Apple fanboy - until this year 22 years unbroken DOS/Windows/Vista ownership and operation. If I were still a Microssoft shareholder I'd want my money back from the ad agency. :eek:
 
seedster2 said:
It doesn't need to talk about Vista if they are already moving towards something else.
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If they are already moving onto ‘something else’ what does that say about their own opinion of Vista? You’re saying the advert is advertising about something not in existence or for actual sale AND intentionally avoiding talking about a current product on the shelves in Vista? AND they are paying multi-millions of dollars to do so? Does this fill the potential paying customer with confidence in that company?

seedster2 said:
People will like the commercial
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Well, judging by the response on this forum, the majority are not too positive about it, or is that just them being biased? I fail to see what kind of ‘people’ will like it??? :confused: Seinfeld fans? Who else?
 
waow

Can't believe this is what they came up with, as a piece of 1 minute 30 comedy it's pretty good, but as an ad? No
Some people have posted that it could be interconnecting stories, and that would work really well, but for the first ad to have so little to do with Microsoft brand it fails, people will have no idea what's going on and switch off.

I hope Apple respond to this, drop the Mac Vs PC ads please! They are so juvenile and tell nothing of Leopard features, just that it's 'better'
Imagine an ad where it shows the iMac with the desktop showing and then launching into Time Machine with the voice over explaining it a la iPhone ads.
The people would be waow'd at this, and Vista couldn't come back at it as it's 'Shadow Copies" is a right click on the files, still works great but can't really make an ad out that can you...
 
SadieLovatt said:
Sorry, childish I know, but I couldn't help myself here...

Cue PC & Mac standing at a tall meeting table with a bowl of Apples on

Mac
Hello I'm a mac.
PC (standing in Gates Conquistador shoes)
and I'm a PC.
Mac
Say, PC, I just saw your new commercial, nice shoes.
PC (Proud)
Yes, we've finally managed to produce something that is virus-free and just works.
Mac
Shoes?
PC
These aren't just shoes, these are Microsoft Conquistador 2008 Ultimate shoes.
Mac
Oh?
PC
With these shoes you can go anywhere, think "where do you want to go to today?" and these shoes you can get there.
NO need for an internet connection, you don't even need a computer.
Mac
But what about Vista?
PC
Well we hoped users would get the message, you see Atari showed us that the desert is the best place for redundant software and well, we hoped people might get the hint with the Mojave project.
PC
But with these babies...

(PC starts stomping during which the laces start to fall out)
...you can can go anywhere,do anything.
(PC Stands still realising he has no laces left)

PC
Of course, there might still be some compatibility issues, people with different feet configurations and all... ...we'll have them sorted in the first service pack.

PC, looking deflated, picks up an Apple fom the bowl, takes a bite and starts to walk off set...

PC
Say, these are delicious.

Cut to Apple logo.

Sadie.
Click to expand...

Apple needs to cue this ad up IMMEDIATELY and pay you a fortune - it would be one of the best "come-backs" in history, and relegates the Seinfeld first commercial to the old "oh yeah" category of lame responses...:D
 
When I first saw it, I was like "WTF is this for?" and then the Windows logo appeared. I wasn't sure what it was supposed to be for, but it was cute. Honestly, it's better in some ways than Apple's ads. Apple's ads make Mac users look like jackasses w/ all the Windows/PC bashing, IMO. The MS ad didn't bash anyone. While I like how the MS ads didn't bash anyone & had Jerry Seinfeld, but I just didn't really see what it was trying to promote.
 
Didn't read through all of the pages of the thread, but it appears that I'm like most people here: Enjoyed watching the ad, would have had no idea what it was supposed to be saying. Seinfield is funny, and Bill did good, but it served absolutely no purpose. In fact, for those of us a little more informed, it was even more confusing since I no longer associate Gates directly with Microsoft, now that Ballmer's running the company. Gates and Seinfield are two has-beens that need to fade into history together. They both deserve their entries into the encyclopedias of the world, but their time is done.

jW
 
Bill Gates the smartest man in the world

To be the richest when your product is the worst: you are the smartest
 
Wait - I don't get it! Why was there a Vista logo at the end of the commercial. This will confuse people. Still, all things considered, Shoe Circus will have a significant bump in sales. I wonder if there is one near me...
 
Marvin1379 said:
I don't know. I don't get it. Perhaps it's the first in a series, a teaser if u will, that just preps us for the subsequent ones.

We'll wait to see what m$ has crafted this time.
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I already said that! ;)

fivepoint said:
This simple ad is obviously part of a much larger campaign in which each ad will be tied to the one preceding it. The danger of these ads, however lame they may seem right now, is that they take the same approach as the Apple ads do by attempting to build a long-term audience and tell a story over the course of the campaign. People will tune into each episode (if for nothing else than to see Jerry) and follow the story closely. The only problem with that story, is that it won't be beneficial to Apple, and if it attacks the Apple ads directly, that could spell trouble.

In general, I agree with my initial assessment of "WTF?" but I can guarantee they are going to get much better and much more clear from this point forward. Expect Microsoft shills like Paul Thurott and the like to be championing the content in these ads.
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dstrauss said:
Apple needs to cue this ad up IMMEDIATELY and pay you a fortune - it would be one of the best "come-backs" in history, and relegates the Seinfeld first commercial to the old "oh yeah" category of lame responses...:D
Click to expand...

I agree
 
It's pretty obvious. It's the first ad in a series, this is just to introduce the characters. Now that Gates and Seinfeld are friends, at a later date we'll probably see them talking about Vista, using Vista, etc. I expect Seinfeld will be the one who learns Vista isn't what he thought it was and is pleasantly suprised.

It's hardly an unusual campaign. In fact, it's just like the current run of BT ads (for those in the UK), following the life of a man in a relationship with an older woman who has children. Or the Nescafe advertisements from years gone by.

I find these kinds of campaigns are actually pretty effective to be honest.
 
Gad, how boring and unfunny

No MS bashing here. Just a boring, pointless commercial. I'd say the same if Apple had made this one. This is going nowhere.
 
That is probly the worst commercial to change the look of microsoft. Look at apples ads everyone knows them and are unique. That was just blah...plus i hate jerry seinfeld
 
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