the first one made me go, "huh??" It took me a while b/f I realized "the show about nothing" was being played up in a commercial about nothing. But the second one was hilarious and I loved it. So far they've only showed them during things like the VMA's or big football games, and I wish they'd show them more often.
I like these waaaay better than the Mac commercials, which always were off-putting to me b/c they're negative ads at their core (lets make a series of ads denigrating PC's and featuring Hodgeman!), and I hate any kind of negative attack ads. If you have to focus on your rival, then you've got nothing good to say about yourself.
I grew up using Macs and now I use a PC. I know it's very not cool, and very not hip to say this, but I prefer my PC. There's just more that a PC can do well, even tho Macs look nicer. I also think it's kind of silly that one of Mac's talking points is "now we can work with Office and other PC stuff!" If your talking point is that you're equal to a PC, then why don't we just get a PC?
Having said that, I hate IE and I only use Firefox. I also do not have Vista, but my sisters do, and they do have trouble with it. I think Vista was a mistake and I'm glad I never upgraded.
update: microsoft is done with the seinfeld-gates gags are are starting what they call "stage 2" of their ad campaign:
QUOTE
Microsoft's new ads take a direct shot at Apple
By Laura Petrecca, USA TODAY Microsoft's (MSFT) big-budget effort to battle more than two years of Windows-bashing ads from rival Apple (AAPL)took a new turn Thursday.
After two weeks of three teaser ads "about nothing" featuring Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and comic Jerry Seinfeld, the company launched a new TV ad that directly addresses the long-running Apple campaign that personifies its Mac as a young, hip guy and a Windows PC as a clueless geek.
TECH NEWS, VIEWS: Technology Live blog
The commercial opens with a real Microsoft software designer who looks like the PC character — and is dressed to match: "Hello, I'm a PC," he says, "and I've been made into a stereotype."
The ad then cuts to a series of upbeat "I'm a PC" testimonial clips of PC users doing what they do, including a shark-cage diver, a fishmonger, a fashion designer and celebrities such as actress Eva Longoria.
Microsoft employees and founder Bill Gates also appear to declare themselves "a PC."
That ad and others to come will showcase the "diversity" of Windows users, says David Webster, Microsoft general manager of brand and marketing strategy.
"Our competition would have you think that PCs aren't interesting and interesting people don't use them," he says. Microsoft had "to take back the PC brand and tell the truth about it."
Webster says he's not worried about reinforcing a negative image by mimicking a character and tagline created by its nemesis. "The overwhelming bulk of the ad" showcases a wide range of personalities, he says.
Other elements will include print, outdoor and online ads.
Microsoft also will tap "consumer-generated content." Starting Thursday night, PC fans could upload "I'm a PC" testimonials, including photos and videos, at Windows.com. Microsoft will use select images on a Times Square video billboard, feature them in online banner ads and post them on Windows.com.
The new ads come two weeks after Microsoft launched the offbeat teasers with the unlikely pairing of Gates with Seinfeld. The TV spots — which have no clear plotline or overt Windows branding — showed them living with a suburban family and shopping at a discount shoe store. Those ads were meant to be an "icebreaker," Webster says.
But mixed reviews from bloggers and ad pros stoked Web rumors Thursday that the new ads meant Seinfeld had been fired.
That speculation is completely off-base, says Webster. "We needed to move on and start to talk about Windows," he says. "We're ready for chapter two."
They "don't have any plans" now for more Seinfeld ads, but Webster wouldn't rule out it out. "Down the road, it wouldn't surprise me. … He really hit it off with Bill (Gates.)"
I like these waaaay better than the Mac commercials, which always were off-putting to me b/c they're negative ads at their core (lets make a series of ads denigrating PC's and featuring Hodgeman!), and I hate any kind of negative attack ads. If you have to focus on your rival, then you've got nothing good to say about yourself.
I grew up using Macs and now I use a PC. I know it's very not cool, and very not hip to say this, but I prefer my PC. There's just more that a PC can do well, even tho Macs look nicer. I also think it's kind of silly that one of Mac's talking points is "now we can work with Office and other PC stuff!" If your talking point is that you're equal to a PC, then why don't we just get a PC?
I also do not have Vista, but my sisters do, and they do have trouble with it. I think Vista was a mistake and I'm glad I never upgraded.
yes, yes, and yes! Couldn't agree with you more, Gidget!
Who took my teeth out of the freezer?
I don't get these commercials although they're hillarious. Is this an attempt for Bill Gates to show he is cool and not just some sort of evil robot nerd who tried to take over the world? I hate Windows Vista. This does little to nothing to make me enjoy Vista. The one where they're living in a family's house makes me want to see a commerical with Ok Go living in a house and driving a family crazy. lol Who's with me on that?
The one where they're living in a family's house makes me want to see a commerical with Ok Go living in a house and driving a family crazy. lol Who's with me on that?
Comments
that was fun.
then i had to use vista for a school thing... and was just like... what the hell...
TOO YOUU!
Some blog somewhere said Jerry Seinfeld was very 90's and so are PCs haha.
It took me a while b/f I realized "the show about nothing" was being played up in a commercial about nothing.
But the second one was hilarious and I loved it. So far they've only showed them during things like the VMA's or big football games, and I wish they'd show them more often.
I like these waaaay better than the Mac commercials, which always were off-putting to me b/c they're negative ads at their core (lets make a series of ads denigrating PC's and featuring Hodgeman!), and I hate any kind of negative attack ads. If you have to focus on your rival, then you've got nothing good to say about yourself.
I grew up using Macs and now I use a PC. I know it's very not cool, and very not hip to say this, but I prefer my PC. There's just more that a PC can do well, even tho Macs look nicer. I also think it's kind of silly that one of Mac's talking points is "now we can work with Office and other PC stuff!" If your talking point is that you're equal to a PC, then why don't we just get a PC?
Having said that, I hate IE and I only use Firefox. I also do not have Vista, but my sisters do, and they do have trouble with it. I think Vista was a mistake and I'm glad I never upgraded.
By Laura Petrecca, USA TODAY
Microsoft's (MSFT) big-budget effort to battle more than two years of Windows-bashing ads from rival Apple (AAPL)took a new turn Thursday.
After two weeks of three teaser ads "about nothing" featuring Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and comic Jerry Seinfeld, the company launched a new TV ad that directly addresses the long-running Apple campaign that personifies its Mac as a young, hip guy and a Windows PC as a clueless geek.
TECH NEWS, VIEWS: Technology Live blog
The commercial opens with a real Microsoft software designer who looks like the PC character — and is dressed to match: "Hello, I'm a PC," he says, "and I've been made into a stereotype."
The ad then cuts to a series of upbeat "I'm a PC" testimonial clips of PC users doing what they do, including a shark-cage diver, a fishmonger, a fashion designer and celebrities such as actress Eva Longoria.
Microsoft employees and founder Bill Gates also appear to declare themselves "a PC."
That ad and others to come will showcase the "diversity" of Windows users, says David Webster, Microsoft general manager of brand and marketing strategy.
"Our competition would have you think that PCs aren't interesting and interesting people don't use them," he says. Microsoft had "to take back the PC brand and tell the truth about it."
Webster says he's not worried about reinforcing a negative image by mimicking a character and tagline created by its nemesis. "The overwhelming bulk of the ad" showcases a wide range of personalities, he says.
Other elements will include print, outdoor and online ads.
Microsoft also will tap "consumer-generated content." Starting Thursday night, PC fans could upload "I'm a PC" testimonials, including photos and videos, at Windows.com. Microsoft will use select images on a Times Square video billboard, feature them in online banner ads and post them on Windows.com.
The new ads come two weeks after Microsoft launched the offbeat teasers with the unlikely pairing of Gates with Seinfeld. The TV spots — which have no clear plotline or overt Windows branding — showed them living with a suburban family and shopping at a discount shoe store. Those ads were meant to be an "icebreaker," Webster says.
But mixed reviews from bloggers and ad pros stoked Web rumors Thursday that the new ads meant Seinfeld had been fired.
That speculation is completely off-base, says Webster. "We needed to move on and start to talk about Windows," he says. "We're ready for chapter two."
They "don't have any plans" now for more Seinfeld ads, but Webster wouldn't rule out it out. "Down the road, it wouldn't surprise me. … He really hit it off with Bill (Gates.)"
"quick! we arnt being douchey enough for sally!"
"quick! we arnt being douchey enough for sally!"
LOOOOL.
Stop making me laugh so hard I wake ppl up, Andy!
@myfavperson- teehee, I think he meant me; my name's Sally.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/9/15/
It took me a while b/f I realized "the show about nothing" was being played up in a commercial about nothing.
And now there's a movie about nothing, Burn After Reading. Ha.
Love it all though -- gonna check out the microsoft link now. BTW, whoever made the Jerry Seinfeld is very 90s and so are PCs comment is a genius.
I grew up using Macs and now I use a PC. I know it's very not cool, and very not hip to say this, but I prefer my PC. There's just more that a PC can do well, even tho Macs look nicer. I also think it's kind of silly that one of Mac's talking points is "now we can work with Office and other PC stuff!" If your talking point is that you're equal to a PC, then why don't we just get a PC?
I also do not have Vista, but my sisters do, and they do have trouble with it. I think Vista was a mistake and I'm glad I never upgraded.
yes, yes, and yes! Couldn't agree with you more, Gidget!
Who took my teeth out of the freezer?
I don't get these commercials although they're hillarious. Is this an attempt for Bill Gates to show he is cool and not just some sort of evil robot nerd who tried to take over the world? I hate Windows Vista. This does little to nothing to make me enjoy Vista. The one where they're living in a family's house makes me want to see a commerical with Ok Go living in a house and driving a family crazy. lol Who's with me on that?
BEST IDEA EVER Tempe!