Comments on: Who Needs Seinfeld? Microsoft's New Do-It-Yourself Ads http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20081029/who-needs-seinfeld-microsofts-new-do-it-yourself-ads/ by Peter Kafka Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:09:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Peter Kafka http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20081029/who-needs-seinfeld-microsofts-new-do-it-yourself-ads/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Peter Kafka Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:48:10 +0000 http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/?p=243#comment-36 I 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? I 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?

]]> By: Mac Beach http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/20081029/who-needs-seinfeld-microsofts-new-do-it-yourself-ads/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Mac Beach Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:19:34 +0000 http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/?p=243#comment-32 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. 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.

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