Nobody Will Buy a Warm and Fuzzy Bill Gates

[magik]

^ lawl sig :laugh:

[Hurmoth]

I agree with your later point about Mojave being more apt for tv, but I still hold a little bit of faith for my original argument.

MS couldn't go with a straight up Apple style ad because they would have been labeled as copying and unoriginal, two negatives they would want to stay away from. For the average consumer knowing both figures in the commercial is helpful and will bridge the gap for most people.

I'm not saying this ad was end all be all, but you can expect to see a huge leap with their next one. Once again, I'm not disagreeing with you completely because I agree at some point, I'm just saying giving the general public a little more credit.

I completely understand. They couldn't go with the Apple style because it has already been done. But I'm one of two people in my IT Department that supports over 350 Windows computers. I'm the only one who uses Vista. Average users are dumb. Sorry, to say that about them, but it is true. Even people in my own department aren't exactly intelligent when it comes to Vista. Most people aren't going to get what Microsoft was trying to say in the Seinfeld/Gates ad. In fact, the only thing that makes it an obvious Vista ad is the logo at the end that only shows for a matter of seconds.

I think, and this is just my opinion, that these ads will fail. It has to be simple for the average user. When we tried putting Vista on a few machines in the wild we constantly go calls about the Start button. People couldn't understand what happened to it. Or in Office 2007, what happened to the menus. They wanted it all back. The worst part is we even had a class with all these people and showed them how to do stuff. Clearly they didn't listen. But that is the average user. They don't want change, they don't like it.

(I'm a Vista fan by the way, I once upon a time wasn't, but have since changed--so I'm on your side, I just don't think the average user will get it)

[Echilon]

This is the first time I've watched it. To be honest he's a bit too old to do adverts, and IMO totally the wrong image. I admire him but he's a geek. Personally I think most consumers would rather have a likable face like Steve Jobs than a geek like Gates. I'm surprised he starred in the advert anyway with him leaving Microsoft to do charitable work.

[Cormier6083]

Digg it, my babies: http://digg.com/microsoft/Microsoft_s_New_..._Jerry_Seinfeld

[Hurmoth]

This is the first time I've watched it. To be honest he's a bit too old to do adverts, and IMO totally the wrong image. I admire him but he's a geek. Personally I think most consumers would rather have a likable face like Steve Jobs than a geek like Gates. I'm surprised he starred in the advert anyway with him leaving Microsoft to do charitable work.

He's still the Chairman though. He still has a vested interest in his company.

[Amano]

And the rest lose the respect for Apple in the same 30 seconds.

Exactly. I'm one of them!

[Cormier6083]

The fact that you didnt liked the Ad doesen't mean that i won't be accepted by the other 1 million or more users.

Which begs the question, if we don't get it, how will regular users understand it? We know the Mac ads are directed towards average consumers, but who are these ads directed for? Power users who don't want to switch to Vista? Average consumers?

This ad wasn't made for you becaue you are unimportant,understand it please.

Once I got through all the grammatical errors, I have to disagree with you there. :laugh:

And the rest lose the respect for Apple in the same 30 seconds.

So you're telling me that Bill Gates, one of the richest men on earth, just so happens to be in an average consumer mall, buying discount shoes, and it isn't a lie, and I'm supposed to believe it?

How am I supposed to not lose respect for that? :rolleyes:

Edited September 8, 2008 by Cormier6083

[bobbytomorow]

Getting people to "talk about them"? As opposed to what? Microsoft is the only choice we have when it comes to PCs who else are supposed to talk about? Do you suddenly forget they are a monopoly? yay who cares lets stick up for them! Pathetic.

And people were already "talking about" them, maybe you haven't heard the rumblings but here I will sum it up: "Vista sucks", "IE sucks", "dx10 sucks", thats about whet the general consensus is saying. But hey lets screw our peers opinions and lets stick up for a corporation. Sheep, lol.

[NEVER85]

Getting people to "talk about them"? As opposed to what? Microsoft is the only choice we have when it comes to PCs who else are supposed to talk about? Do you suddenly forget they are a monopoly? yay who cares lets stick up for them! Pathetic.

And people were already "talking about" them, maybe you haven't heard the rumblings but here I will sum it up: "Vista sucks", "IE sucks", "dx10 sucks", thats about whet the general consensus is saying. But hey lets screw our peers opinions and lets stick up for a corporation. Sheep, lol.

lol@your sig. Waste of hardware.

[carmatic]

those Conquistadores really do run tight, dont they?

[shakey_snake]

Microsoft decided to start doing ads to combat Apple's ads. Microsoft's marketing head stated as much. So these ads are in fact not aimed at IT departments.

That's an invalid conclusion. Just because your ads are competing for attention doesn't mean that you are for the exact same market.

If this ad has gotten your IT-dept, geekish attention, than it has done it's job.

Advertisement campaigns, like products, first start with the early adopters. ;)

Expect the next few ads to "open up" as far as their appeal goes.

You're trying to make a judgment about this before it really even takes off.

[Eric Veteran]

At least the Mac ads make points.

Yes, false ones.

People keep saying the new Seinfeld ad doesn't say anything about Windows. The conversation in the parking lot sums it all up nicely, albeit Jerry-style:

"Why don't they make an OS that's firm on the outside (security) yet tasty and chewy on the inside?"

"They do."

Edited September 9, 2008 by GreyWolfSC

[maplecookie Veteran]

Thread Cleaned

[kaiwai]

I think the purpose of the ad is that Windows Vista may not feel right at the beginning, but once you break it in, it is very comfortable (comparing shoes to an operating system I guess).

Then again, if they're going to market something using such an abstract example - they need to back to brainstorming until someone is struck by lightening.

[ichi]

I think the purpose of the ad is that Windows Vista may not feel right at the beginning, but once you break it in, it is very comfortable (comparing shoes to an operating system I guess).

And that even if you don't want a churro, you might eventually find yourself holding one :p

[Cormier6083]

People keep saying the new Seinfeld ad doesn't say anything about Windows. The conversation in the parking lot sums it all up nicely, albeit Jerry-style:

"Why don't they make an OS that's firm on the outside (security) yet tasty and chewy on the inside?"

"They do."

But what does that mean? How is that supposed to persuade me to buy Vista?

[bobbytomorow]

lol@your sig. Waste of hardware.

What a dumb thing to say. How does me preferring XP to Vista make my hardware a waste? I prefer 60fps in dx9c than 25fps for a terribly insignificant amount of gfx difference via dx10.

[Echilon]

He's still the Chairman though. He still has a vested interest in his company.

I know, but after the documentary I watched a few months ago, I got the impression that he was going to be spending most of his time with the foundation. Heading a new marketing campaign shows big involvement to me. He could have used it as a chance to publicise his eventual successor.