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Microsoft's Next Seinfeld Ad Airs: 'New Family'
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Wow. That took some effort to compile all of those, but I think you left out my personal favorite: the one with Mini Me and Yao Ming on a plane with their 17" and 12" Powerbooks respectively. Gotta love that one.
These ads are absolutely horrible.
Unfunny, irrelevant, and they only accomplish at driving home just how uncool and out of touch Microsoft is when it comes to consumers.
Unfunny, irrelevant, and they only accomplish at driving home just how uncool and out of touch Microsoft is when it comes to consumers.
My knowledge of Mac is not as good as those of Microsoft because I was a self-convert, Mac/Hybrid user since 2004. Here is the best of my memory:
1. OS X's kernel is UNIX based. UNIX's history can be traced all the way back to 70s (not 80s). Mach is a Micro Kernel flavor of UNIX, which found its way to OS X (Darwin).
2. Current OS X kernel is a hybrid kernel. This is the same philosophy as NT kernel. Some say NT kernel is technically superior than any current UNIX/LINUX kernels, which I believe is very possible.
3. The UI of OS X (Cocoa Framework) was originated from NextSTEP, a company started by SJ. Apple bought NextSTEP in 1996, and that's how SJ went back to Apple.
4. OS X was Apple's answer (or solution) to save itself from the long lasting OS crisis as Apple never had a mature OS that could run with protected memory and preemptive multi-tasking before OS X. The Copland was nothing but a failure in term of software development.
5. OS X versions:
10.0 Public Beta ~ 10.1: These are pretty much considered betas for most users back then. OS 9 was still the main system for most users.
10.2: first "really usable" version of OS X by most users' opinion.
10.3: I was sold on this one because and only because of Exposé.
10.4
10.5
Mac OS 9 and before had no protected memory at all. Apple could hold on during those days only because they had one thing Microsoft and Intel did not have: PowerPC chips back then was more than twice as fast as x86. That is very important for people run applications like Photoshop in those old days.
For a detailed view of OS X and its full history, this guy knows it inside out.
http://www.kernelthread.com/
Right on, my Gem City compatriot (sp?). I do not understand this campaign, not in the least. Who would watch a 270-second commercial unless they were drunk or stoned -- and what is the takeaway here that will translate into sales?
The PC people will laugh until they wet themselves.
The Mac people will mock it.
The undecided people will be puzzled.
Net result?
Seinfeld $10 million.
Microsuck -$10 million + agency fees + airtime fees + blah blah blah.
Talk about putting the proverbial lipstick on the metaphorical pig!
Have to say this was actually funny. Anyone else interprete:
"I want my room back" = I want XP back?
Not playing Ping Pong well = windows not being easy to use
"Crappy food/Gum in my roll" = subpar/crappy buggy vista
"Didn't we have this yesterday?"= Lack of real innovation with Windows OS
Old car = 'Old' hardware
Stealing mustard in the fridge/Not paying for chinese = Pirating/MS software is expensive
I'm just pulling these out of my ass but these were the interpretations that jumped at me during the ad.
PS-The ad isn't meant to sell you vista/office its just telling you MS now cares about 'real people' and wants to make things 'better'
"I want my room back" = I want XP back?
Not playing Ping Pong well = windows not being easy to use
"Crappy food/Gum in my roll" = subpar/crappy buggy vista
"Didn't we have this yesterday?"= Lack of real innovation with Windows OS
Old car = 'Old' hardware
Stealing mustard in the fridge/Not paying for chinese = Pirating/MS software is expensive
I'm just pulling these out of my ass but these were the interpretations that jumped at me during the ad.
PS-The ad isn't meant to sell you vista/office its just telling you MS now cares about 'real people' and wants to make things 'better'
I thought the commercials were entertaining, but they didn't do a THING to make me want Windows.
And while yes, people talking about the ads are what the advertising compaies are looking for, what people are ALSO talking about is how lame they are compared to the MAC commercials.
Talking about the ads = good for the advertising companies.
Talking about the ads and simultaneously THINKING ABOUT the competition = BAD for the ad. companies!
Oh well...
And while yes, people talking about the ads are what the advertising compaies are looking for, what people are ALSO talking about is how lame they are compared to the MAC commercials.
Talking about the ads = good for the advertising companies.
Talking about the ads and simultaneously THINKING ABOUT the competition = BAD for the ad. companies!
Oh well...
MacRumors forumgoers who HATE the Microsoft ad... totally unexpected.
What was actually unexpected was that I kinda enjoyed it. It started off rocky, but then it got kind of personal and interesting. I can't believe I'm saying this, but... I'm going to wait for the next installment and see what wacky, stupid adventures Gates/Seinfeld get into.
That said, it may just be my media masochism being derived from billions being spent on something that is completely contrived, manufactured, worthless, and also in a sadistic way completely useless to Windows Vista, as well as way too conceptual for any perceivable marketing effect to take hold.
What was actually unexpected was that I kinda enjoyed it. It started off rocky, but then it got kind of personal and interesting. I can't believe I'm saying this, but... I'm going to wait for the next installment and see what wacky, stupid adventures Gates/Seinfeld get into.
That said, it may just be my media masochism being derived from billions being spent on something that is completely contrived, manufactured, worthless, and also in a sadistic way completely useless to Windows Vista, as well as way too conceptual for any perceivable marketing effect to take hold.
I hear you in all man, but its not a very good argument to turn around the words...I could do the same thing with MAC ( ha ) all day
For what this has caused on a MAC site...the ad has done its job.
Consider my post a non-arguing argument
Not really tried to make an argument: just in my honest opinion, these ads (2 of them so far) are bad ads (for the purpose of advertising). Even though considering what Microsoft is using the ad for, it is still a terrible way to deliver a message to its audience - geeky and dry.
Did I dislike these ads? Yes, because it is just so hard to watch the lack of marketing talent.
Did I enjoy a laugh? Yes, but more of a laugh at Microsoft for its lack of marketing talent (or tastes).
Should Mac users and funs worry about these ads? Nope. We'd better worry about SJ's health more than anything else.
Microsoft can do better than this, well, maybe not. More than often, they just don't get it.
For some reason, now I really want to get a PC with vista on it.
I'm thinking about HP DV-5 intel 2.4ghz core2duo, 2gb ram, 250gb hdd... $700 from bensbargains.net
of course i'll have to dual-boot vista and leopard in case i want to switch back to mac.
but yeah, i find the commercial strangely effective at making vista look palatable.
I'm thinking about HP DV-5 intel 2.4ghz core2duo, 2gb ram, 250gb hdd... $700 from bensbargains.net
of course i'll have to dual-boot vista and leopard in case i want to switch back to mac.
but yeah, i find the commercial strangely effective at making vista look palatable.
funny sketch, questionable ad
this is a funny sketch.
but I don't think microsoft should focus on chasing after a "cool, funny, real people" image. apple has already wrapped "cool, funny" nicely.
instead, microsoft should focus on chasing after a "reliable, solid platform" image, especially since that is the major stain on their image right now. trying to match or outdo apple with a "cool" image is a waste of time.
kudos for comedic sketch, but it leaves me with no greater impression of microsoft. they would have been wiser to invest the $10 mil seinfeld check in software development.
this is a funny sketch.
but I don't think microsoft should focus on chasing after a "cool, funny, real people" image. apple has already wrapped "cool, funny" nicely.
instead, microsoft should focus on chasing after a "reliable, solid platform" image, especially since that is the major stain on their image right now. trying to match or outdo apple with a "cool" image is a waste of time.
kudos for comedic sketch, but it leaves me with no greater impression of microsoft. they would have been wiser to invest the $10 mil seinfeld check in software development.
Neither: It's about Microsoft, well sort of.
It's typical Microsoft: if you don't get it, it means you are not "Microsoft enough" to understand it, and consider it a fortunate thing
because the other side of the story = 10+ years of frustration to just make the shxx work. 
Now that I've seen this one I think I see where they are going with them. It's suppose to show you that Microsoft isn't just a bunch of suits taking your money but they are a company of real people that really care (although their OS doesn't really show that in my opinion ... utter crap).
Gates: "Why are we doing this again?"
Seinfeld: "Why Bill? Because as we discussed, you and I are a little out of it. You living in some kind of a moon house hovering over Seattle like some sort of mothership. I got so many cars, I get stuck in my own traffic. We need to connect with real people."
Grandma: "Who took my teeth out of the freezer!?"
Seinfeld: "That's real!"
Gates: "Yeah, I felt that."
Me: Hahahaha, Brilliant!
I hate to say it but I actually liked this one. The beginning was rocky as some one already mentioned and Gates' acting is atrocious but Seinfeld's humor is spot on as usual for him.
Gates: "Why are we doing this again?"
Seinfeld: "Why Bill? Because as we discussed, you and I are a little out of it. You living in some kind of a moon house hovering over Seattle like some sort of mothership. I got so many cars, I get stuck in my own traffic. We need to connect with real people."
Grandma: "Who took my teeth out of the freezer!?"
Seinfeld: "That's real!"
Gates: "Yeah, I felt that."
Me: Hahahaha, Brilliant!
I hate to say it but I actually liked this one. The beginning was rocky as some one already mentioned and Gates' acting is atrocious but Seinfeld's humor is spot on as usual for him.
I just find it creepy and awkward without the edge of genius of something like Eraserhead.
It's almost like they were appearing in some film student's short expressing what a commercial would look like without a message.
Seinfeld has definitely packed on a few pounds.
It's almost like they were appearing in some film student's short expressing what a commercial would look like without a message.
Seinfeld has definitely packed on a few pounds.
I always liked this one. Toasted Bunny.
While looking for it, found this never seen before mac commercial.
While looking for it, found this never seen before mac commercial.
I'm confused too. Is the food meant to represent Windows Vista, the family they're staying with meaning 'Microsoft' and the reactions to their complaints on this forum to their reaction about the food - is it implicitly saying to end users, "you have no bloody right to complain about Windows Vista! you're a guest in the Microsoft house!"
More pointless crap put out by Microsoft with no actual point to begin with. Stop making their products suck and then maybe people will buy them.
this commercial is a little bit annoying
but at least it is not as annoying as the "Hi, i'm a mac" commercials.
i feel embarrassed that i use macs every time i see those commercials. does anybody feel this way?
but at least it is not as annoying as the "Hi, i'm a mac" commercials.
i feel embarrassed that i use macs every time i see those commercials. does anybody feel this way?
I laughed. Seinfeld and Gates are poking fun at themselves. I don't really expect Microsoft ads to play well for a Mac-bias audience, though.
To all of you moaning and complaining about how bad the ad is and how it won't sell any copies of Vistas.... umm, definately Microsoft needs to get those extra sales because like if they don't they will go out of business soon.