The first Windows ad from Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the ad agency that won the big $300 million contract with Microsoft, features Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. It has made its appearance on television, but you can watch it on YouTube, at the Windows homepage, stream it, or download it straight from Microsoft. Everyone at the Orbiting HQ gives the ad a big WTF, me included. Compare it to the HP ad Seinfeld did last year, and you've really got to wonder what the hell happened. The ad is set mainly in a shoe store. Microsoft and Windows are only mentioned once in the whole commercial, and we only see the Vista logo right at the end. One thing is for sure: this ad definitely does not start to tell "the real Vista story." Maybe it's lame, but the commercial is actually quite a big deal. It marks the largest consumer marketing campaign in the history of Microsoft. According to a press release, this ad is only the beginning...
Video: Seinfeld + Gates Ad
Link: Full read at Arstechnica.
And, most importantly, "WTF?" means you are talking, posting, and blogging about it. Which is the goal of the campaign.
"Any marketing is good marketing" is BS. Vista is in-famous because is slow as hell (also incompatible) and now is famous because their ads are pointless and not funny at all.
Vista is not incompatible, since SP1 was released.
The ad is not pointless. It accomplished exactly what they intended to do. Raise awareness and affiliate with Jerry.
Humor is often in the eye of the beholder. And many people find it mildly humorous, especially the Bill Gates ass shake.
So you are 0 for 4 there. Smooth move.
Vista is not incompatible, since SP1 was released.
The ad is not pointless. It accomplished exactly what they intended to do. Raise awareness and affiliate with Jerry.
Humor is often in the eye of the beholder. And many people find it mildly humorous, especially the Bill Gates ass shake.
So you are 0 for 4 there. Smooth move.
+1
"Any marketing is good marketing" is BS. Vista is in-famous because is slow as hell (also incompatible) and now is famous because their ads are pointless and not funny at all.
I'm seeing, "blah, blah, blah, Vista, blah, blah". I can actually hear the voice of a Peanuts adult, too.
Vista is not incompatible, since SP1 was released.
The ad is not pointless. It accomplished exactly what they intended to do. Raise awareness and affiliate with Jerry.
Humor is often in the eye of the beholder. And many people find it mildly humorous, especially the Bill Gates ass shake.
So you are 0 for 4 there. Smooth move.
wow and all the non geeky people which is the majority of computer uses are thinking why go to vista when it does nothing for them and was slow when they last used it.
Anyways since sp1 did sweet F all for performance for me and XP runs faster I think his more like 4 for 4. No1 is going to buy vista because of these ads and people who have already tried it definitely won't.
"Any marketing is good marketing" is BS. Vista is in-famous because is slow as hell (also incompatible) and now is famous because their ads are pointless and not funny at all.
I'm seeing, "blah, blah, blah, Vista, blah, blah". I can actually hear the voice of a Peanuts adult, too.
yadayadayada...
Damn it, i hate the common user. I spend a lot of time developing in adding blinky and shinny things instead or worthy stuff and later they complain about the performance. Luckily i can blame about the lack of memory/disk or whatever in the client side, this kind of users is usually pretty gullible (for not to say moron and/or stupid).
Oh, that's OK then...
Oh, that's OK then...
It's a disgusting waste of money. Entire movies are shot for far less than that.
What I mean by that is, that the Mac vs PC ads didn't really sell anything and were a bit pointless!!
But yes I suspect the entire ad campaign will make sense, and this makes news on the front of alot of websites so I guess its achieved its first objective anyway.
No but I do need to buy a pair of shoes.
No but I do need to buy a pair of shoes.
QFT
Jerry looks old.
Gates looks old.
Vista not even mentioned.
Duh, they're in their 50s.
I imagine more is to come.
/You'll look old too someday.
i was expecting a lot from the whole campaign, something that would top the apple ads, now, those (even though they were totally useless and made for people who dont know much about computers) were atleast funny, well shot. this was a waste of 90 seconds.
Gates was making fun of himself for being cheap with the shoes, similar to his haircuts
The subtle bit how everyone seemed to know about "The Conquistador" running a bit tight
The infamous picture of Bill on the card
And finally, the ass shake...
As many said, they need to mention the products being sold, but if this is simply an intro to a larger storyline which is intended to get people talking - it has succeeded. Lets face it, the average person is curious. Seeing this commercial won't make them dislike Windows, but it will have them wondering about the next one with more information. Neowin just happens to be a tech site where 99.9% of people are aware of the pros/cons of different operating systems and are much more technically aware than the general populace.
"What is it?"
"Leather"
And they both start nodding... That makes me laugh every time.
"What is it?"
"Leather"
And they both start nodding... That makes me laugh every time.
hahahh +1, Hats off to them.
It had me giggling throughout at bits, wont make me rush out and buy vista but doesnt mean it wasnt amusing.
It was subtle and I appreciated the little windows "advert" part right at end, not shoved right in your face if you get what i mean. Be interesting to see where this goes, even for a series of adverts hehehe.
Tastefully done for once imho. nothing more "cheesy" than products rammed in your faces with appalling ads. (confused.com
Last edited by Mando on 07 Sep 2008 - 10:25
"What is it?"
"Leather"
And they both start nodding... That makes me laugh every time.
hahahh +1, Hats off to them.
It had me giggling throughout at bits, wont make me rush out and buy vista but doesnt mean it wasnt amusing.
It was subtle and I appreciated the little windows "advert" part right at end, not shoved right in your face if you get what i mean. Be interesting to see where this goes, even for a series of adverts hehehe.
Tastefully done for once imho. nothing more "cheesy" than products rammed in your faces with appalling ads. (confused.com
He said Pleather.
This commercial didn't make a lot of sense and it wasn't even funny! I actually don't mind Vista - but wtf?
I will try to keep my shoes in the shower, just to see if the tip really works.
I don't know why Bill Gates sells shoes however.
And who is this irritating guy with a churro ?
That's right. It's an ad "about nothing."
I really do want to see more.
Of course, a few people caught on that this ad is a small part of a bigger puzzle but some couldn't quite grasp the notion that they INTENDED to leave the audience asking 'WTF'. This is not a new tactic, it is a way for the company to encourage excitement, curiosity, and questions about up-and-coming products/services that may not have even been announced yet. It's intention is to get people talking, even if the most they can come up with is "well that was retarded".
If you ask "What the bleep does that advertisement mean?" then they have succeeded and you don't even know it.
I agree it was very nice to see Bill in the ad being able to have a little fun at his own expense.
Of course, a few people caught on that this ad is a small part of a bigger puzzle but some couldn't quite grasp the notion that they INTENDED to leave the audience asking 'WTF'. This is not a new tactic, it is a way for the company to encourage excitement, curiosity, and questions about up-and-coming products/services that may not have even been announced yet. It's intention is to get people talking, even if the most they can come up with is "well that was retarded".
If you ask "What the bleep does that advertisement mean?" then they have succeeded and you don't even know it.
I agree it was very nice to see Bill in the ad being able to have a little fun at his own expense.
Exactly.. The ad did what it was supposed to do; to get people talking..
More and more people are interested in seeing what the next commercials will be.
In the end, Microsoft don't even need to advertise. Almost all computers come pre-installed with Windows and only Windows.
This ad did as it was intended, made you question it. Nothing more, nothing less. the majority of it was in a shoe store, but if you pay attention you'll notice subtle references to "The Conquistador" and Bill being cheap. Bill's a 10. etc. It's common dry Seinfeld humor.
ps yes i am aware the shares are none voting shares and i was wrong about how much they own its only about 0.04%
You just understood why you got that Mac.
And I am sure MS will be putting out more ads that tie everything together. People are just quick to judge and bash MS no matter what they do.
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