Who Needs Seinfeld? Microsoft’s New Do-It-Yourself Ads
by Peter Kafka
Posted on October 29, 2008 at 8:50 AM PT
First, Microsoft tried ads starring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. Next it tried ads starring anonymous Windows fans.
Now, the next step? Why advertising starring anonymous Windows fans–created by anonymous Windows fans–of course.
MediaMemo likes the new batch, which are cobbled together from video clips that Windows users uploaded themselves.
But then again, MediaMemo has liked all of the ads that hotshot agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky has created for Microsoft (MSFT), and thinks that all of the blogosphere carping and cheering about the ads is a bit silly.
It’s also exactly what Crispin wanted us to do in the first place.
Anyway, see for yourself–and tell me what you think in the comments section (you’ll need to register to do so).
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Comments
Rather like our election process the message here seems to be that lots of ordinary people are using Windows. While they continue to co-opt use of the term “PC” to mean Windows, we can hold no malice for that as Apple does the very same thing.
Also like this election season there is nothing in the message concerning the characteristic of the product at hand. Nothing about speed, reliability, ease of use, viruses. By contrast each Apple message addresses, or at least tries to address a particular relative advantage of the Apple way of doing things.
Message theme: Windows, the operating system for people who don’t know what the term “operating system” means, and don’t care.
I know a lot of people who fall into this category, so in that sense the gist of the message is valid. I have to make a deal with my friends like this though, the deal goes like this:
“I’ll stop telling you how much better off you’d be not running Windows if you’ll stop telling me about all the problems you are having with your Windows machine.”
It hasn’t caused any of them to ask me for more information on the alternatives. But I’m happy with the deal anyway.
Posted by Mac Beach at October 29th, 2008 at 10:19 amI must say (and should have said) that I while I like the ads, Idon’t get the overall point: Who actively decides to use Windows? It’s a default position, right? So what’s the point of telling people that the OS they didn’t decide to buy is a good choice?
Posted by Peter Kafka at October 29th, 2008 at 11:48 am