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I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen the ending yet... but seeing Bill Gates dance the robot is classic!

"Power off... ok, power on."

Ok.... I like this one a whole lot better than the first one. In fact I thought it was great.

Hmm this will be a very interesting marketing campaign, one which will hopefully have more substance than the mac campaign.

Well, it's a little better than the first one but its way too long.

The message I am getting here is:

1. People don't like us

2. We just can't seem to get along with normal people.

Some of you might have a different point of view, but this is my thought.

I certainly like the fact that the Ads are not negative and filled with lies about competition.
The recent crop of negative political Ads for state and federal elections are really in bad taste.

Hmm i think the commercial was trying to say that microsoft is trying to fix its image problem. That they dont know what real customers want but they are trying to fix that.

Atleast thats what i think the commercial meant .

I kinda liked it.

The last one was a little off but I think this one was great! I only watched the long version but I loved it. I think Bill is doing more for Microsoft's image now than he's done in years. They should really keep these coming.

How many episodes are going to be in the first season of this show?

People is talking about it, and i bet that was one of the reasons behind this campaign

I for one am quite disappointed with them. I found myself waiting to get the message. The ads just need to stay focused and get the message across in an straightforward manner.

Last edited by HappyAndyK on 12 Sep 2008 - 04:06

I'm trying not to read too much into it, since it might just be what it is, but did anyone else take the girl/giraffe bit as a jab at Apple?

o_0 i actuly kinda liked that, well done ms!

When did it become sheik to make an ad that does not actually advertise the product you're selling?

Sure, people will watch these ads if for no other reason than they have got Jerry Seinfeld in them, but the ads are just weird. I mean, It's OK to make a weird ad if you've got some message to sell or a product to push... but these things feel like messageless sit-com clips with the windows logo tacked onto the ed.

Oh, and the Bill Gates Is Cheap theme is getting a little old. He's got so much money he can pay for anything (and I do mean anything)... but he's so cheap he stiffs the delivery boy on a chinese-food delivery with Jerry Seinfeld watching? Er... you know what? That's not funny and I don't buy it.

Loved it, I really don't like Seinfeld per say, but Bill is really funny, I didn't think a REAL nerd would make me laugh, kudos Bill :yes:

sigh....I'm so going to buy Vista now....

I think the message is clear: Gotta problem with Vista? Just put some cheese on it!

OMG that was hilarious! I'm a huge Seinfeld fan, and a lot of this was classic Sein humor. He's awesome. And Gates, well, he's just that nerdy guy. :p But ya, good stuff.

"are there any monsters in this story"
"yes, but its okay - theres a firewall.."
good stuff Bill :p

worst freaking ad ever, made no sense. not even funny, I really like Seinfelds humor but that was horrible. Mac Ad's are still better than this and they're lame aswell.

OK much better than the 1st one!

I don't see why everyone is complaing this doesnt make sense... there are loads of ads out their like that - in the UK at least anyway. In fact in the UK they are the ones people talk about most, and like the most - these new 2 ads i thought are pretty funny, and even Windows have stated it will eventually turn to be more specific.

ok that was good, much better than the first.

yeah in the UK there are lots of 'random' ads which are good similar to this. I mean, I just cant stand the ads that are soo in your face which I think the Americans are used to. Its nice to have a bit of humour here and there

Uk advertising is totally different to US (for one, UK adverts dont slag the competition off, i noticed that when i was there a while ago)

one that comes to mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMcY2fw7lHk

also they arnt pushing for one ms product, there just trying to improve there image.

Liked this one .. good stuff. Also Gates looked more real in this one.

Oh and Neowin .. try linking to HQ stuff: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/

I don't mind these ads as Microsoft are trying to rebrand themselves in the advert, with the eventual outcome of advertising a product or two.
I didn't mind the first one, but I know that this is better. Grumpy old people are awesome.

Oh man, SO MUCH better than the first one. I actually was laughing at parts. Good work Microsoft, finally a commercial that's not.... lame.

I think every ones missing the point, iike the ads or not not every ones chatting about it so MS is in the news. Advertizing is actully very simple keep peoples attention.

Just like the Seinfeld show....a whole lot of crap about nothing.

looks like those two are on their way to making a tv show

people that are saying that the ads are vague, or better than the first one, etc. That's the point of this style of ad. as the series continues they will become more focused on Microsoft and Windows.
like this one shows Seinfeld's idea of connecting with people is going to live with actual people, but Gates' is making Microsoft and Windows products. there are good ads, but if you are willing to watch each one...I feel a long series coming...

Last edited by pjak on 12 Sep 2008 - 13:39

I have 2 questions:

1: Is there a thread about this?
2: Are these commercials gonna be english/USA only or are they going to be international and translated?

I rather like the ad, not sure what else to say.

they just keep on getting better, can't wait for the rest.

~X

I don't know why but I find this ad retarded and Bill Gates acting like a retard.

Last edited by Lasker on 12 Sep 2008 - 14:08

Despite there being virtually no mention of Windows (again), I really like this commercial (I wasn't too high on the shoe store one, though it did have some moments), particularly the long version. I'm liking these a lot more than Apple's desperate propaganda-riddled "I'm better than you" commercials. These at least are entertaining.

Wow, the world's richest man cannot afford acting lessons? Maybe that's his natural self but watching Bill Gates act was like watching a middle-school play, just bad. I'll reserve judgment until all the commercials are shown, but so far, not impressed. Not funny, not warm, nothing I can relate to on a personal level.

Advice: Shorten them up, good God, 4.5 minutes?

Excellent work! Nice to see a campaign break away from the tired ads we see on television now. Subtle message but memorable because of a humorous storyline.

Not sure why so many people are expecting "Mac vs. PC" ads. Microsoft is a little more grown up than that. Ok a lot more grown up. Besides, that's not the message they are trying to convey. Microsoft has always been about the big picture. I really liked their "Your potential. Our passion." campaign. These new ads are along the same lines: Looking at the big picture and how Microsoft fits in with that.

Contrast that to two idiots on TV fighting over two specific software titles (Vista, OS X), Apple is obsessively concerned with promoting it's advantages over a single Microsoft technology. They tell us nothing about Apple as a company and very little about their product.

Very cool ad! you have to know Seinfeld though, I'm pretty sure that's why so many people from outside the US don't like these new ad. Personally, I love them .

Well its more family friendly than their old Office XP add. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oINYoy98JJo&NR=1

This is seeming more and more like a pilot for a Gates and SeinfeldTV show about "nothing" *lol*

I thought it was ok, but didn't show enough about the actual products they are supposed to be promoting.

I can't believe people actually like that crap. And yes thats exactly what they are, crap.

I love Vista, but the ads are so idiotic, its pathetic.

I don't own an Apple, or plan on ever getting one, but their ads are 100x better. They don't make vague comments, they come right out say what they are trying to say.

And the fact so many here actually like them? You must be on some kind of drug. Seriously.

They are serving their purpose, people are taking notice. Whether you like them or not you are noticing them. As new ones come out it seems to be making more sense. Personally I don't find it all that fun, but still curious where its heading.

The Apple ads WORK. Love them or hate them, they work like a charm. Simple, cute, and in your face. Apple comes right out with a bold statement, and we all know that on most levels, they have the rights of the argument. Think they're childish? Who cares? They're padding Apple's bottom line. They're ballsy. They're for everyone. It's a direct, show-your-cards challenge to Microsoft. And their products sure as hell back up that ballsiness. And we've all come to recognize that Mac/PC odd-couple. They say "we're better because of a, b and c. See for yourself." I'd guess there aren't to many Apple customers going *back* to Windows, right?

I wonder why you're all so quick to praise Microsoft for putting out these ads "for smart people", that require a bit of higher-level thinking to digest, before we even see the fallout from them. Yet another learning curve by MS. Sure, most of us might get the idea anyway, but if too much thinking is required, dollars to donuts you you've lost your audience. In fact, when it comes to marketing in general, MS is the one that has a lot of growing up to do. Lots of marketing all of a sudden (over a year later!) to convince consumers that Vista isn't all that bad. No amount of marketing makes up for code that should have been overhauled completely years ago. MS isn't doing marketing, it's doing Vista damage control. But hey, thank god for near-ubiquitous licensing. The product will sell anyway due to sheer volume.

It's clever, and I "get" the idea, but from a marketing perspective, I'd hesitate to jump to any (positive) conclusions just yet. Of course, Windows techies love them, and why shouldn't they? But keep in mind they hardly represent the majority of consumers.

I'll come right out and say MS missed the boat with these. If I'm wrong you can all point fingers at me, but you'll need to wait it out.

did anyone notice that Gates was still trying to break in his Conquistadors? LOL