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Microsoft's Next Seinfeld Ad Airs: 'New Family'

I like how people say Windows 7 will be a "fixed" version of Vista.


Can someone actually tell me whats "broken" ?

As i've said before, I've been using Vista for 2 years. Never encountered a real problem with the OS since the very first couple of weeks.
 
I enjoyed it, I think too many people are over critical because its not Apple. Give Microsoft a break, everybody deserves second chances. 🙄
 
Big Superbowl finale?

Here's my prediction.

Jerry showing Gates how the real world works...Then eventually, Gates turns the tables to show what Microsoft can do, and the series ends with Jerry evangelizing to the average Joe on some big ass finale on Superbowl Sunday??? Reminds me a little of the old AT&T ads that used to tell a story and had little product advertising.

I think the ads are clever, misunderstood, just like MS...and I'm a hater!
 
Long version better than the short

I saw the short commercial last night and just now watched the long version and the long version is far superior. When it's shortened, too many parts just don't make sense. I guess these days that's ok as many folks will be moved to watch the long version on places like utube. Still, I think they might be better served by going with say 1 minute commercials that stand alone but have a unified message. This way you're not dependent on having to have someone see everything to get your "big picture".

AAMOF, these commercials might simply reflect how Microsoft still doesn't "get it" when it comes to the "common person". They take a concept that has value, over engineer and over think the problem and spend way too much money and add too many "features" and in the end have an unwieldy mess. These commercials are looking like they perfectly reflect that. One positive thing about Apple's commercials (even if they are getting a bit long in tooth) is that Apple gets to the point ("look, you can make cool stuff that regular folks want to do"). There are now 2 commercials totaling over 5 minutes and in the end, they are probably going to say basically the same thing, but just like their software, it took way to long and too much thinking to get there.

It's actually fascinating and I'm sure there are some college folks out there that will devote some rather longish papers on how these commercials seem to perfectly reflect their corporate sponsors.
 
My take on the M$ Ads

The ad producers know that any straight message related to tech from MS is going to be skeptically received. So they are creating a small comedy skit and tacking the M$ message to the end in the last ten seconds.

The comedy is the foot in the door.

So the campaign is not introducing something new or countering the Apple ads. The campaign is helping Microsoft maintain it's place in the consumer mindspace for computing products.

At the same time, the skits show the humanity of BG. Smart but human to broaden the consumer appeal of windows.

Consider what a tough assignment this would be if you were an ad agency... They have to decide what is the best way to respond to the Apple ads. Clearly, the thing not to do is to directly address the Apple ads.
 
I like this

kingjr3 said:
Here's my prediction.

Jerry showing Gates how the real world works...Then eventually, Gates turns the tables to show what Microsoft can do, and the series ends with Jerry evangelizing to the average Joe on some big ass finale on Superbowl Sunday??? Reminds me a little of the old AT&T ads that used to tell a story and had little product advertising.

I think the ads are clever, misunderstood, just like MS...and I'm a hater!
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But how does "what microsoft can do" answer back to what Jerry is showing gates. How does MS help you buy shoes that fit. How does MS help a family such as the family shown in the second commercial?

I still think windows is the "full employment act for computer geeks". Computer geeks recommend windows so that their clients will need their help and generate billable hours. Sorry, but that what I saw over the last 13 years.
 
The way I see it they are trying to make a point about how technology is imbedded in our lives, and that ultimately people make their own decisions no matter how tech companies try to streamline it.

In contrast to the Mac ads that are against a pristine white background, their ad is set in messy reality. I kind of see Sienfeld as the obtrusive "hardware" and Gates as obliging but bluntly questioning "software". They are planted in this house and the family members view them differently in their own way. For example the old woman is quite indifferent to them and complains that they are taking up her space. The girl is resentful and tries to sabotage them (hacker virus anyone?). The young kid thinks the games are cool. The mom views it like keeping up with the Joneses with the fancy mustard.

In the end it's about Microsoft keeping an open mind and letting people be, doing what they will with technology, while Apple wants us all to live in stark white lofts with shiny smooth objects that conceal the messiness of life.
 
killerwhack said:
The ad producers know that any straight message related to tech from MS is going to be skeptically received. So they are creating a small comedy skit and tacking the M$ message to the end in the last ten seconds.

The comedy is the foot in the door.

So the campaign is not introducing something new or countering the Apple ads. The campaign is helping Microsoft maintain it's place in the consumer mindspace for computing products.

At the same time, the skits show the humanity of BG. Smart but human to broaden the consumer appeal of windows.
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I think you're spot on. Although, as an ad guy, let me add this: MS spent a lot of money for Seinfeld and knew they had to come out swinging with something totally original and totally creative. They accomplished this, but this being Microsoft, the product is over-engineered and bloaty. I'm nearly certain these did not do well in focus groups but the ad guys persuaded them to use the spots anyway. Their humor is "too hip for the room." (Also, they're a bit smug.)

An an alternative theory, I have never, ever, not once, met an ad guy who didn't use Mac. So maybe this is an act of sabotage. ;-)
 
phinnaeus said:
I don't get any sort of "buy windows" vibe, but honestly, I thought it was pretty funny. Seriously, just looking at is as some sort of skit that has nothing to do with Microsoft or Seinfeld.
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It's about contextualizing Bill Gates. Microsoft feels that the identity of the company is dragged down by a broad consensus that Bill Gates is elitist and out of touch with common folks. Ironically, this attempt to reconnect him with the user base really shows how out of touch he and Microsoft truly are. Still, lots of people will think it's funny because the jokes are so off-the-shelf.

phinnaeus said:
I dunno what I'm trying to say here. It is funny to see two people from such an upper crust interacting like that.
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Another irony here: both Gates and Seinfeld come from humble backgrounds. They're not upper crust, they're new money acting like new money. Granted they are new LOTS of money, but upper class they ain't.

Finally, seeing Bill Gates shake his ass will go down in my mind as one of the low points of western culture since the invention of the transistor. Mind poison.
 
MS is going to be a perfect example of how to ruin a company in 20 years, no matter how succsessful or rich (or even a monopoly).

These adds no matter how good they are, no matter what can be destroyed with one Apple add....

Steve Balmer on camera saying the Iphone would be a fad and a failure circa 2007.... end of story.

MS has to rescue a sinking ship by sellin good products with innovative software and hardware taht doesnt fail or simply does not work:

Failing XboX360 consoles anyone? My kid its on its numer 4 one!

The Zune....well after seeing the new nanos, OMG where do I start.

Vista and its painfuli slow entrance to market not to mention the incredibly prone to crashes (just like system 7 remember?).

Anyways I find it amusing that they dont even advertise their products BECAUSE THEY DONT HAVE TO, they STILL OWN the market, but they are slowly loosing it...

One last comment the part where they practically steal the Pizza from the delivery boy is the the funniest part but also send the WORST MESSAGE EVER.

Ill wait for the 3 one just to see how bad these can get.
 
Snowy_River said:
In so far as seeing an ad informed me of a new product that I then decided to buy, yes. In fact, it happens somewhat regularly. The fact that I research the purchase before making it doesn't invalidate the fact that often it starts with an ad. And if that weren't the case, then why would any company bother to spend money on ads?
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My point concerned major tech products. Which apple product were you informed of via an advert? I know that most peoples first experience of the Macbook air was a TV advert, but I doubt anyone on this forum hadn't learnt through macworld or tech blogs. Nobody on this forum was going to go out and buy a PC based on this advert. We are not even the target audience.

Okay. As ads, these seem rather pointless. I understand some of what they're trying to do, but that doesn't change the fact that I don't see them as being all that successful. There have been a number of ads that I have truly enjoyed over the years. Frequently, I don't remember what the ads are for. This begs the question, despite the fact that I liked them and I remember them, are they actually successful ads?
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They are trying to improve Microsofts image, and they just released something that people are liking and will remember. Bill gates presence in these is gonna mean you remember its for Microsoft too. The measure of success should be if the average opinion of Microsoft goes slightly up or down based on these.
By contrast, I don't really like these ads. They seem to be taking some of the worst aspects of Seinfeld (a TV show that I enjoyed some of the time and loathed the rest of the time) and applying them to commercials with BG in them. This, in general, leaves me cold. Then you add in the fact that there isn't really a clear product being advocated (soft cake-like computers? amoeba's with a blog?) and you end up with what seems to me to be a truly pointless ad. Does the ad have entertainment value? Marginal. But does it at least convey a strong message about the product? No.
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Since the 80s its become far more important to push a brand, and then attach products to that brand than simply push products. Microsoft don't need to push Vista too much, its actually selling quite well.

Now, I will freely grant that I may have a minority opinion about the entertainment value of these ads, as I am aware that I am in the minority in my opinion of the Seinfeld TV show. But, this is, after all, my opinion.
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Totally. While i like these, oddly Im not a very big fan of seinfeld, just never really got it.

Okay, so, to this last part I have to say "grow up". This is a Mac board. Have you ever visited a PC board? I have. People on PC boards tend to be even harsher toward Apple than people here are toward MS. Sure all companies are driven by money, but from the perspective of a lot of people here, MS takes this to a new extreme. Remember all the different pricing options for Vista? A bit ridiculous. In any event, the expression of this perspective, correct or not, by calling them Micro$oft or M$ hardly seems such a crime. I can't tell you how many times I've seen people write "CRApple" or "Macincrap" or, one of my favorites: "Most Applications Crash In No Time Or the System Hangs = M.A.C.I.N.T.O.S.H."

I guess my point is that any time you go somewhere where you'll find fanatics, you're going to find slurs being slung against the other guys. Personally, I don't consider myself to be a fanatic. I like Macs better than PCs, but I work with both and I can see the strengths and weaknesses of both. Mac's aren't perfect, and PCs aren't spawns of the evil one (and Bill Gates isn't the evil one 😉 ). So, when I'm on this board, or a PC board, I just let those slurs go by. Sometimes I'm amused by them. Other times I ignore them. I suggest you work toward the same.
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I visit PC boards that I find respectable. An abundance of comments about Macs being **** would put me off straight away. I can ignore these if I want, just like you can ignore me saying how silly they are. Personally I'd like to be a member of a board that calls people out.
 
Found out this ad was done by Crispin Porter and the whole campaign is worth about $300m (including the media buy).

Crispin is known for really cutting edge, but really expensive stuff and is plagued by exactly the problem I mentioned above - being "too hip for the room." They're the ones who reintroduced the Burger King king character as well as most of the recent VW stuff. By far and away, they're the hottest shop around right now, and it doesn't surprise me that this came from them.

One thoughts: this may not be about getting Joe Average to rethink Microsoft, but about getting more sophisticated and urbane "tastemakers" to start talking about MSFT again. While the reaction to the ads have been largely negative, a lot of the smarty-pants tech-journo industry insiders really like them.
 
Scottological said:
One thoughts: this may not be about getting Joe Average to rethink Microsoft, but about getting more sophisticated and urbane "tastemakers" to start talking about MSFT again. While the reaction to the ads have been largely negative, a lot of the smarty-pants tech-journo industry insiders really like them.
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Bingo. I think you nailed it. Though, it may be a futile objective since their OS may still end up on a clunky-looking Dell.

Personally, the ads do nothing for me; I don't find them humorous or entertaining in the least.
 
edesignuk said:
So you say that you don't want someone screaming at you buy buy buy, but you do want to feel they're trying to sell you something, which means giving a little sales pitch.
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Heh heh. There is a huge difference between educating someone on a product (your "sales pitch") and having someone yelling and being generally obnoxious.

In my job I educate people about the product I have to offer. If I don't do this how can my clients make an informed decision?

Like you said, obviously these ads are meant for general awareness and not product awareness, but I feel they've failed there as well. My own personal feeling when I watch these ads is... nothing. Heh.

edesignuk said:
On a Mac forum there are two huge threads for each ad that has aired, I'd say they're doing OK.
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A computer messageboard isn't necessarily a good measure of success for an ad campaign by a computer company. I'm taking my wife as an unbias opinion here and she thinks they're rubbish.
 
Scottological said:
Found out this ad was done by Crispin Porter and the whole campaign is worth about $300m (including the media buy).

Crispin is known for really cutting edge, but really expensive stuff and is plagued by exactly the problem I mentioned above - being "too hip for the room." They're the ones who reintroduced the Burger King king character as well as most of the recent VW stuff. By far and away, they're the hottest shop around right now, and it doesn't surprise me that this came from them.

One thoughts: this may not be about getting Joe Average to rethink Microsoft, but about getting more sophisticated and urbane "tastemakers" to start talking about MSFT again. While the reaction to the ads have been largely negative, a lot of the smarty-pants tech-journo industry insiders really like them.
Click to expand...

It definitely has a think different feel that Apple moved away from, somewhat the same look and feel as their odd Zune advertisements, it might make them look a bit less monolithic and certainly very humble (especially compared to the Get a Mac ads).

If you were polling me, I would say:

Logic of the Ads : 1/5
Humor: 2/5
Likability 4/5
Differentness: 4/5
Did it change my feelings toward Microsoft positively? I'd have to say slightly yes, which is kind of amazing given that I really have disliked Jerry Seinfeld lately (although, I've always respected Bill Gates).

The ads have that very unassuming, indie movie feel. I wasn't alive in the 70s, but for some reason the ads make me think of the 70s, as does the type face they use for their Zune marketing and now on the Windows web-site.

Look at the play button of the flash ad here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/

It's a very simple, elegant design that isn't a copy of Apple's. It's very over-sized but with very thin lines. I like the airiness of the look.

Microsoft may be developing a sense of style and going for the think different angle as Apple builds the somewhat glut culture as it leaves "for the rest of us" toward "for everybody."
 
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