Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

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

Hmmm.

That couldn't possibly have any less to do with computers, but I must admit that I enjoy watching a bazillionaire roll up his sleeves and get a little dirty with an old standup. It almost works better as a YouTube video than a commercial, though. It's as if Jerry and Bill are working these up in their spare time for no apparent reason.
 
OK, I just don't get the connection to anything regarding an OS, except maybe, and a big maybe, the last 5 seconds of the skit when Bill does the "Robot" and you have got to be kidding me on that one.... :eek:

That's millions thrown into the toilet, but hey, they got deep pockets. :rolleyes:

A Waste of Time..:cool: Hello Apple.. :apple:
 
teejaysplace said:
That couldn't possibly have any less to do with computers, but I must admit that I enjoy watching a bazillionaire roll up his sleeves and get a little dirty with an old standup. It almost works better as a YouTube video than a commercial, though. It's as if Jerry and Bill are working these up in their spare time for no apparent reason.
Click to expand...

No apparent reason, apparently............
 
it is a tad complicated

For all who are posting... I dont get it. Here is an interesting analysis.

http://www.tgdaily.com/html_tmp/content-view-39294-118.html

As felini said, some people see more in my movies than I put into them. But, the argunents are defendable, and as they conclude... much too complicated for people who are watching a commercial.

She's been living here twelve years. is the funniest reference. (the time Jobs has been back at Apple :))
 
^thoe guys had way too much MJ in their youth:

There's also a scene with the son, Gates and Seinfeld. They're hovering around a monitor that's flashing pretty, bright colors. We don't see what's on the screen, but the son asks, "Woah! When's this coming out?" Gates replies, "Never. And if anyone ever asks you where you got it, you don't know." This scene is a little confusing because it (14) appears to indicate that Microsoft has some cool stuff that they themselves are using internally, stuff that the public will never see. This would only serve to harm Microsoft, unless the perception here would be that Microsoft is capable of doing more than they're letting on, (15) as if the future might include at least some aspects of this currently undisclosed, hidden, super-cool thing.
Click to expand...

So its good bad or Old Granny Jobs had something to do with it?


I find it funny that everyone INCLUDING MYSELF says its a PIZZA baoy and its a Chinnesse delivery...

That add or whatever it is is MAJOR FAIL.
 
ungraphic said:
Jesus christ you fool, theres a 30 second ad and a full length ad as well. Its not epic long unless you yourself care enough to go check out the full length one, and if you do, the ads already done its job (though that comes with microsoft being a giant corporation).
Click to expand...

Who the hell said anything about watching the 4 minute version versus the 30 second. There has to be a *POINT* to the advertisement - an idea, a narrative which they are trying to communicate to the customer.

Dont tell me it was pointless too, cuz telus's non-relevant animal based ads have been some of the most effective ever in canada. I cant take you seriously when you say youve worked in advertising, somehow, i dont believe that.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, but Telecom NZ had a whole array of animal based advertisements:

Meer Cats: http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=kUNBWa3-SC8

Notice the narrative involved with it? Its clear, simple, cute, and straight to the point. Here is another one:

Spot the telecom dog: http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=y2XWdpEhZRg

Again, simple, to the point and the narrative is clear.

Here is the instant kiwi ads (scratchy tickets sold via Lotto)

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=MRiUvWzySQQ
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=2NfuniN0Sdg

Again, a nice, clear narrative.

You need to take a class i communication, because you're avoiding the issue entirely. The problem is that the ads used by Microsoft inform me of nothing, it doesn't tell me anything. It doesn't want to make me purchase a PC. It doesn't want to make me 'love' or have some sort of affinity with Microsoft or Bill Gates - it leaves me questing what the purpose of the advertisement was in the first place. It is like the Cadbury advertisement in NZ with the gorilla, it has become so bloody annoying, I switch over.

Btw, a better commercial would be something that is self deprecating - Bill Gates working in the Microsoft help desk, and grow a narrative around that.
 
Another lame commercial... Microsoft does have tons of money so I guess eventually they will get a message across as to what their selling... :p
 
SeeFlat said:
For all who are posting... I dont get it. Here is an interesting analysis.

http://www.tgdaily.com/html_tmp/content-view-39294-118.html

As felini said, some people see more in my movies than I put into them. But, the argunents are defendable, and as they conclude... much too complicated for people who are watching a commercial.

She's been living here twelve years. is the funniest reference. (the time Jobs has been back at Apple :))
Click to expand...

This analysis is a blatant crock of BS:

.........There is the 1960s style house (an overall impression of Apple), which is old. It has wood paneling in the basement, typical 60s styling on the outside, and yet there is the fundamental belief system that what they have is very nice.* This is exemplified by the fact that the family is very much focused on visuals – they don’t like the look of the car in their neighbor’s driveway, they keep the property clean and there is fancy (a bit too much perhaps) paint in the children’s room. Message: Apple in its core is old, but has some nice, clean touches here and there.
Click to expand...

Actual message: MS in it's NT core is ancient and decrepid while OS X is refined, innovative, and not laden with 'backward compatibility' code which has been crippling Windows for decades.

There are also those “fancy” symbols that go along with the overall theme that the surface matters, not the inside. A “leather” toy giraffe, cheese on the same old potatoes that are served everyday and a limited supply of Dijon mustard to spice up your life – a supply that Apple limits uses to lure Windows users into the Apple world. But the supply will run out eventually.
Click to expand...

Actual message: The innovation at Apple keeps on growing while innovation at MS has never really happened, their feeble attempts have been unsuccessful, and their future is far from promising.

(1) The scene has a typical, regular average income family sitting around a dinner table.* Everyone is passing out food and beginning to eat when the (2) wife begins making comments about appearance.* She refers to a car that's been parked in the neighbor's driveway for a while now and how it's inappropriate.* After Seinfeld complains that there was some gum in his dinner roll, (3) the wife says she has mustard with white wine sauce.* There's a comment made by the father after the grandmother says to Seinfeld, "You're in my seat funny man."* He has an almost "please kill me now" look on his face saying, "She's been here 12 years."(4) This is a reference to the time Steve Jobs came back to Apple in 1996.
Click to expand...

Actual message: perhaps she is really meant to represent Steve Ballmer on valium.

And finally, (5) Gates asks, "Didn't we have this yesterday" after being handed his meal.* Seinfeld replies, (6) "Put some cheese on it." Note all the visuals provided in this part – the fancy China and glasses, but missing essentials such as ketchup. Gum in a roll that can be patched with Dijon mustard and potatoes that can be fancied up with cheese. Message: It’s all about the facade.
Click to expand...

Actual message: Vista - Aero - it's all about the facade. Apple is about function, with innovative features which actually promote productivity.

When we finally see the outside of the house, (7) the yard is so full of bushes and plants that it's just cluttered and has no real practical use, just appearance.* Just like the (8) pool scene with the slow flowing water that never warms up making the pool experience less than it should be and the (9) grandmother cleaning up the yard with a leaf blower, all for appearance purposes.* In addition, there's a (10) table tennis set downstairs in the basement.* The wife has no real ability to play as is indicated in a few scenes.* Again, it's something that's not really used and is just there for appearance. The table tennis scene can also be interpreted in a way that you just can play with a Mac.
Click to expand...

Actual message: ironically, while you can game faster with a PC, you can be highly productive and faster on a Mac, which for the most part, runs superior software on a far superior OS.

Note: Grandma's leaf blower is actually a chain saw, trimming the hedges, perhaps symbolizing MS's patch job on Longhorn so that Vista could be released.


There are (11) two scenes whereby the father and son are eating the “mustard with the white wine”.* They are doing it secretly and for “the booze”, and are trying to escape the reality of their situation, which (12) could be likened to an Apple user's limited ability to expand their product base with lots of third party software. Of course, that “booze” will be gone eventually and what you are left with is an empty glass.
Click to expand...

Actual message: Windows has become an empty glass, empty due to all of it's numerous cracks and imperfections, while 3rd party software for the Mac has emerged at an accelerated rate ever since the introduction on OS X eight years ago.

There are (13) two scenes where Jerry is accosted separately by first the wife, then the husband, on issues of money that the other knows nothing about.* These are very likely related to the recently settled lawsuit between Apple's shareholders and board members about questionable stock option practices.
Click to expand...

Actual message: Perhaps more to do with massive payouts and lobbying to stop the bleeding from the deluge of MS's Anti-Trust Lawsuits.

There's also a scene with the son, Gates and Seinfeld.* They're hovering around a monitor that's flashing pretty, bright colors.* We don't see what's on the screen, but the son asks, "Woah!* When's this coming out?"* Gates replies, "Never.* And if anyone ever asks you where you got it, you don't know."* This scene is a little confusing because it (14) appears to indicate that Microsoft has some cool stuff that they themselves are using internally, stuff that the public will never see.* This would only serve to harm Microsoft, unless the perception here would be that Microsoft is capable of doing more than they're letting on, (15) as if the future might include at least some aspects of this currently undisclosed, hidden, super-cool thing.
Click to expand...

Actual message: Windows Vaporware, Longhorn 2003 - Vista 2007 with all hyped up features removed.

At one point, we find the entire family summoned and sitting together while the dad and mom ask their children where a leather giraffe that was place on the fireplace mantel went.* The daughter had taken it and planted it in Gates' backpack hanging on Seinfeld's bed.* She did this so the parents would believe Gates and/or Seinfeld attempted to steal the toy, and ultimately kick them out of the house.* This symbolism is also somewhat confusing, though we believe it (16) may be an attempt created (by the mind of a child) to get Microsoft out of the way, overstressing the importance of a simple and useless product with a fancy surface.

But in truth, this one leaves us a little stumped.* It does take up a considerable portion of the video though as this is one of the longest non-dinner table scenes and part of the arc which ultimately speaks throughout the rest of the commercial.* That giraffe is also mentioned as (17) being obtained in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, continuing in some ways the Spanish theme from the first commercial.
Click to expand...

Actual message: Giraffe = Mac OS. Gates was accused of stealing the user interface from Apple. Apple leased certain UI ideas from Xerox at the Palo Alto Research Center. Gate's accused Apple of originally stealing it from Xerox, which is not true - Steve Jobs actually paid for it.

In the end, the final scene once again has Gates and Seinfeld walking together.* This time they've been forced out of the "real people's" house – a “Mac” house that poses as a real people house but in fact is loaded with constraints, secrecy and negativity. They tried to adapt (check the Pizza delivery scene), but were inconvenient in the end. Both were forced out due to the planting of the leather giraffe by the daughter who just wanted her room back.
Click to expand...

Actual message: Vista is bloated with constraints, secrecy, negativity, annoyances, complications, inconveniences, resource hogging components, a poorly designed interface - an abysmal user experience overall.

And now we find them discussing the future of computing, "frog with an email, goldfish with a website, ameba with a blog."* This time, however, (18) Seinfeld gets Gates to do the robot, including the powering down phase.
Click to expand...

Actual message: Time to shut Bill and MS down, and to put them and MS's users out of their misery.

And finally, (19) the message:* "Perpetually Connecting ... PC."
Click to expand...

Actual message: Perpetually Delaying, releasing half-baked products so that you'll perpetually look forward to the next delayed update.

Kind of leaves us scratching our heads to be honest......
But we believe these commercials are too complicated to understand. But if you take the effort to dive into it, the story told is very sophisticated, more comprehensive and more elaborate than what Apple does. The problem is, that watching TV is passive activity and we rarely find people who want to think about an ad. Much of the creativity in these commercial may actually be wasted.
Click to expand...

Very much agreed
 
yyy said:
So pathetic :confused: I still think that Bill Gates' old Coca-Cola commercial was much better :p
Click to expand...
Wow, that was much better. Simple and to the point.

~Shard~ said:
The ads are funded by Microsoft as a corporation, not Bill Gates personally. Bill Gates himself has donated over half of his entire net worth to charity and is one of the largest philanthropists in the world. Say what you will about Microsoft, Windows, etc. but the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation does excellent work. :cool:
Click to expand...
Completely agree.
 
~Shard~ said:
The ads are funded by Microsoft as a corporation, not Bill Gates personally. Bill Gates himself has donated over half of his entire net worth to charity and is one of the largest philanthropists in the world. Say what you will about Microsoft, Windows, etc. but the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation does excellent work. :cool:
Click to expand...

The sad truth - after extorting billions from third world countries and our own with OEM taxes and licensing fees, Bill Gates established the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) as a charitable trust, to write of billions owed in taxes. To maintain its status as a charitable foundation, it must donate at least 5% of its assets each year. Thus the donations from the foundation each year would amount to over US$1.5 billion at a minimum. This was the only feasible tax write off Bill could pursue to avoid surrendering funds to the US Government.Kudos for Bill for working this out, however, he is not to be endeared as a saint, by any means.
 
Lesser Evets said:
This ad sums up Windows fairly well -

• Bloated content
• Moves in and disrupts life
• Distasteful
• Doesn't help particularly well
• Looks shabby
• Turgid and aloof
• Packs up when the going gets tough
• Lingers too long
• Costs too much
• Slow
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it any better! I was rolling on the floor with that one :D.

shizzlegtx:

Theres some serious hate going on.

I bet if that was Steve Jobs and not Bill Gates you guys would be saying this was genius material.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but Steve isn't dumb enough to go parading himself with some has-been at the "Shoe Circus" or at the Jones' making a fool of himself.
 
Not good...

Not amused at either commercial. Goes to show ya, even with all their money - they can't just buy everything.
 
SeeFlat said:
For all who are posting... I dont get it. Here is an interesting analysis.

http://www.tgdaily.com/html_tmp/content-view-39294-118.html

As felini said, some people see more in my movies than I put into them. But, the argunents are defendable, and as they conclude... much too complicated for people who are watching a commercial.

She's been living here twelve years. is the funniest reference. (the time Jobs has been back at Apple :))
Click to expand...

I followed the link, and it is an entertaining analysis, but it's a complete misunderstanding of the ad. We have to be kidding ourselves to think that Apple is such a great threat to M$ that these ads are aimed wholly at Apple and Steve Jobs. Apple is surely on M$'s list of concerns, but it's one of many, and M$ most certainly did not dump $300 million into a campaign against a single competitor with a relatively small market share. Sorry, but it's NOT all about Apple, even if Apple's ads ARE all about M$.
 
The old lady was definitely a rip on Steve Jobs, I picked that up as soon as they said "She's been here 12 years." As for the rest of the interpretation, who knows. All I know is that the people who Microsoft wants to appeal to are the ones who don't know all of the inside jokes planted in these ads, and they completely miss as being funny in of themselves.
 
as an advert, it is rubbish, but this time i sort of got it! i liked it though i think scienfield is boring, bill was good.
 
Still a lot funnier than those Mac Vs Pc ads.

They're just so utterly random, I can't help but laugh.
 
I came out of my mum's vagina just so I can waste almost 5 minutes of my life watching that crap!!! :eek::eek::eek:

I dont even know who Bill's mate was in that, and I dont care, it was utter bull****!!!
 
Sorry, childish follow up to https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/556832/ (#606) but again, couldn't help myself.

Cue PC & Mac, PC looks depressed, wearing his Conquistador shoes with "patches" of tape holding them together with an upright suitcase at his side.

Mac
Hello I'm a mac.

PC
(sigh) and I'm a PC.

Mac
Say PC, you're looking a little blue, are you ok?

PC
Not really, I hung out with some friends for awhile...

PC shakes his head while looking down

PC
it didn’t work out that well.
Mac
Oh
PC (resentful)
Look, we can't all be a bright and cheery as you and your new iPods you know.

PC
with all your bright colours, cover flow and that 'tilty' thing.
Mac
Hey PC, it’s ok.
PC (calmer)
Sorry, It's not fun when your friends cast you aside; throw you out, I guess I just don’t connect with people like I used to.

Mac
Say, I've got an idea, you’ve still got me, we're still friends, how about I put some music on, turn the volume up get a bit of a party going.

Mac
With iTunes 8 I can see all of my albums by their covers...

Mac (Pulls out a new iPod Nano out of his pocket):
...and there's more space on these new iPods so I can store more music.

PC
I don't know, maybe I...

Mac
C'mon, it could be fun.

Mac
Look...

(Mac shows PC his iPod)

Mac
I've got all sorts on here, some "Bowie", "They might be giants"


(PC starts to smile, nods and starts to look like he thinks its a good idea)

PC (nervously)
Yeah, maybe I should.


PC starts nodding more profoundly, turning mild head banging

PC (looking more positive)
Yeah... Yeah... Lets rock.

Cut to Apple logo.

Sadie.
 
SadieLovatt said:
Sorry, childish follow up to https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/556832/ (#606) but again, couldn't help myself.

Cue PC & Mac, PC looks depressed, wearing his Conquistador shoes with "patches" of tape holding them together with an upright suitcase at his side.

Mac
Hello I'm a mac.

PC
(sigh) and I'm a PC.

Mac
Say PC, you're looking a little blue, are you ok?

PC
Not really, I hung out with some friends for awhile...

PC shakes his head while looking down

PC
it didn’t work out that well.
Mac
Oh
PC (resentful)
Look, we can't all be a bright and cheery as you and your new iPods you know.

PC
with all your bright colours, cover flow and that 'tilty' thing.
Mac
Hey PC, it’s ok.
PC (calmer)
Sorry, It's not fun when your friends cast you aside; throw you out, I guess I just don’t connect with people like I used to.

Mac
Say, I've got an idea, you’ve still got me, we're still friends, how about I put some music on, turn the volume up get a bit of a party going.

Mac
With iTunes 8 I can see all of my albums by their covers...

Mac (Pulls out a new iPod Nano out of his pocket):
...and there's more space on these new iPods so I can store more music.

PC
I don't know, maybe I...

Mac
C'mon, it could be fun.

Mac
Look...

(Mac shows PC his iPod)

Mac
I've got all sorts on here, some "Bowie", "They might be giants"


(PC starts to smile, nods and starts to look like he thinks its a good idea)

PC (nervously)
Yeah, maybe I should.


PC starts nodding more profoundly, turning mild head banging

PC (looking more positive)
Yeah... Yeah... Lets rock.

Cut to Apple logo.

Sadie.
Click to expand...

....as PC discretely tosses his Zune into the trash can behind him......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back