Comments on: Second Seinfeld Microsoft Ad Airs; What?

By: The Beta News

The Beta News — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:09:54 +0000

New Microsoft Ads Are Hilarious And Creates A Buzz…

Microsoft’s latest ads are hilarious! I admit they are a bit strange and really don’t have much of a story or message. It could remind you about a certain sitcom featuring a certain actor with a certain last name.
The $300 millon ad campaig…

By: vanni

vanni — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:57:59 +0000

These ads are funny! They are well written. and they are well done. I agree with nikolaus heger and as Mike Dammann said (and as i mentioned after the first one) theses ads are a series and there will a conclusion that drives home their point. In fact I think these ads are much funnier than the Mac and PC guys of late. Those were funny at first … now they have gotten lame. Even as a Mc user they embarrass me.

By: Mike Dammann

Mike Dammann — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:37:36 +0000

It’s confusing? You think this end is the end? You guys don’t think this is gearing towards something none of us expect?

Get real!

~ Mike Dammann

By: A.B. Dada

A.B. Dada — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:50:11 +0000

I understood both commercials immediately. They’re so off-the-wall that media people (old media and new media alike) are scratching their heads while they talk about it publicly.

Absolutely any free conversation on a marketing campaign is good for the brand. It doesn’t matter if it’s negative publicity, positive or confusion, it’s still publicity.

Excellent move on Microsoft’s part. I hope commercial #3 is Seinfeld and Gates sleeping in bed together: absolutely no conversation, barely any light, maybe a few different camera angles on S&G with Seinfeld snoring in the background and Gates tossing and turning because of it. Let it be closer to a Warhol film than an Apple commercial and even MORE people will talk about it.

Inane = different in the world of branding.

By: John Davis

John Davis — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:53:35 +0000

I couldn’t get through it. After a minute or so, I switched it off in total confusion.

What is that?

Then I read an “analysis” of it, pointing out the allusions to Mac and so on.

I hadn’t seen any of that.

Pity Ballmer isn’t in it. That might liven things up a little, charging around the set, snorting and steaming like an asthmatic bull, tossing chairs in every direction.

Good stuff.

Yours sincerely,

John Davis

By: nikolaus heger

nikolaus heger — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:07:12 +0000

I enjoyed the ad. I thought Gates was lovable and Seinfeld was funny.

Guess what? That’s exactly what these ads are supposed to convey. Gates stands for Windows, and we can see that he’s shopping at some thrifty shoe store, and doing silly stuff – and making fun of himself. I still think Vista is crap and a step in the wrong direction. I still use a MacBook Pro. But make no mistake: These commercials are genius.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:16:08 +0000

not ms bashing Watching this didn´t induce upon myself the usual nauseating symptoms I´d associate with 99% of other advertisements. I say fair play to them for lining broadcaster´s pockets with something that´s somewhat watchable.

By: James Katt

James Katt — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 11:03:39 +0000

Messages from the Commercial:
1. Windows is DYSFUNCTIONAL – HORRIBLY SO.
2. Windows (Bill Gates) is CHEAP, MEAN, and STEALS (not paying the pizza guy, stealing the giraffe from the family).
3. Windows has BUGS and MALWARE (the crazy grandmother).
4. Windows DOES NOT CARE and LEAVES CRAP (toenail clippings and gunk in your bedroom).
5. Windows WORSENS THE QUALITY OF YOUR LIFE, making you also DYSFUNCTIONAL.

Jerry Seinfeld made hundreds of millions of dollars with a comedy series about very dysfunctional people – who were in the end sent to jail for the meanness and cruelty they show to other people.

If you want to equate Windows with this type of humor, then all it does it give you a very negative feeling about Windows.

Bravo, Microsoft! Heh heh heh.

By: Josh Pigford

Josh Pigford — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:34:52 +0000

@david: I actually didn’t say that I “don’t like it”. I said I was baffled. And honestly, that’s it. I don’t dislike the ads, I just don’t get them at all and don’t see where they are going with this thing.

By: david

david — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 03:45:11 +0000

Josh,

Give us some substance on why you don’t like it. Anyone can critic, with a platform like The Apple Blog, I expect more.

By: Jens

Jens — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:17:12 +0000

This is the funniest thing!

I just love how i subscribed to the youtube show and got recomended to view the “get a mac” show.

See screenshot. Its really funny:
http://img149.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture1gq1.png

By: 5 Reasons Why Microsoft’s New Seinfeld Commercials Don’t Suck | Armchair Theorist

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:05:19 +0000

[...] or bad, the commercials got everyone talking about Microsoft, didn’t [...]

By: Eytan

Eytan — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:59:35 +0000

I actually thought it was pretty funny. Did not do a good job in so far as selling Microsoft, but definitely had me laughing more than once…

By: Sriram

Sriram — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:24:34 +0000

I am an Apple Boy myself, but I think we should give Microsoft the benefit of doubt. I agree that these ads seem pointless at the moment. But then, maybe, just maybe, they will pull a rabbit out of the hat and connect these ads at some point in the future. At which point, we will be floored. After all, these guys aren’t the world’s biggest software company for nothing. So let’s wait until we pas judgement.

By: Zippy

Zippy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:24:50 +0000

Bill and Jerry to the delivery boy: “I got nothing.” “Have a Greek coin.” That was funny.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:55:41 +0000

Well, I saw the short version last night, along with my wife. I knew what it was and thought is was just a bit creepy and weird. My wife asked me “what the hell was that?” after the commercial was over. I had to explain the first commercial and what (I think) they were trying to do with the second commercial. Needless to say, she thought it was NOT an effective ad or campaign idea and she asked if it was done by the same people who did the Jackass movie. Ouch.

BTW, my wife is in her mid-40’s and had completely forgotten who Seinfeld was and didn’t recognize Gates.

By: paul robinson

paul robinson — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:52:44 +0000

I think this 4 1/2 minute video was a riot! It reminds me of Paris Hilton and gal pal (Nicole Ritchie, sp.?) doing the simple life and living with “real” people. Jerry and Bill, particularly, are so understated in this that their funny just being there. And grandma is a hoot!

Sure, it has nothing to do with Vista, declining Microsoft fortunes, Windows, etc., but it still shows that the two guys have a sense of a humor!

By: Pchin

Pchin — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:46:13 +0000

Unfortunately, most people really miss what is happening here. This ad series represent nothing more than a very rich boy finally getting his way through his money. Bill loves the Seinfeld series and always wanted to be on the show. Shows gone but that doesn’t mean money can’t buy it back. This is Bill’s way of being on Seinfeld and hoping to promote a dying product. But as many say above, it’s telling the consumer that they, Microsoft, are just as out of touch with the average consumer as the rich are.

If nothing else, we can thank Bill for stimulating the economy with their $300M campaign.

By: Peter Garner

Peter Garner — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:34:31 +0000

I agree with #4. The ads are doing what they are meant to do, AND, I thought this one was funny (as opposed to the last one). I’m actually looking forward to the next one. Much to my shock, Bill and Jerry are good together. This, from a long-time Mac user. I won’t be switching to Windows, and I’m not sure the ads will do much to stop the bleeding, but they are entertaining.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:23:22 +0000

What a bizarre ad, I’m not even sure of the point the ad is trying to make. Its good to see a coupe of old people make fools of themselves but really. Find a good ad company and come back with something worthwhile.