Microsoft Copping to $10 Million Seinfeld Mistake?

Oh, this is embarrassing. Valleywag is reporting that Microsoft is set to pull the plug on its $10 million ad campaign starring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. Or, rather, to announce that the campaign is entering a "new phase" -- one that presumably won't draw get written off as a "misfire" and the "worst TV ad ever."

Comments

[SAF:]

I saw two of the ads. I wondered what was the point. Making Bill Gates appear more "normal" won't make me buy Vista.

2008 Sep 18 07:01 AM

[DecaturHeel:]

Am I alone in enjoying the newest one? Just like the sitcom Seinfeld, it took a while to find its footing...give it a little time, people! Even Vandelay Industries wasn't built in a day!

2008 Sep 18 08:58 AM

[kstjohn:]

Well, you should be embarrassed. Microsoft said last week that it would be moving to a new phase very soon. Perhaps you should pay attention, then you wouldn't be embarrassed or make a fool of yourself...

2008 Sep 18 11:36 AM

[canadagood:]

I too don't see the point but presume that further ads will provide one. Actually I though that both were quite funny especially the one with Bill trying to fit into the average American home.

2008 Sep 18 11:46 AM

[Zomack:]

From a personal standpoint, I found them funny enough. It's certainly a different Bill than most are used to seeing. "Worst TV ad ever"? Please.

But from a business/marketing strategy standpoint, I'm not convinced it's the best approach -- not yet, at least. Assuming they're ultimately trying to sell more product(Vista), it doesn't work for me if we're only looking at these couple of commercials.

But branding and marketing plans can take months and years to have meaningful impact. Three commercials does not a Fortune 50 ad campaign make. This is surely just the start of a multi-phase, multi-year campaign that, when taken in sum, could end up having the desired impact. To judge these couple of ads in such an isolated context is short-sighted. Not saying it'll ever pay off, mind you, but I think it's far too early to judge the campaign(versus the commercial, itself).

Whatever the case, I'm sticking with XP and will look forward to the next commercial : )

2008 Sep 18 12:27 PM

[Sanibel:]

Bill Gates looked like such an "old man" in the shoe ad. I couldn't figure out what was the point of the ad. I didn't learn anything new about Microsoft. It seems like another Microsoft waste of money. Microsoft should take its ad budget and use it to pay dividends to shareholders.

2008 Sep 18 12:32 PM

[mythreecents:]

Imagine that!! MSFT lacking ideas and innovation of their own, decide to take a successful Apple idea (in this iteration, an ad campaign), blatantly (but poorly) copy it and bring it to market under the MSFT badge.
MSFT is so much the 'classroom nerd' I'm beginning to feel sorry for it. Perhaps that's what the new 'I'm a PC' commercial is supposed to evoke---pity. Pathetic!!

2008 Sep 18 12:50 PM

[WhatMeWorry:]

According to a MS spokesman, the next chapter of Microsoft's quirky campaign begins tonight with the theme "Windows. Life Without Walls."

This morning's WSJ has a full page ad, depicting a guy with a saber saw who just sawed off a hole in a wall showing the outdoors and a mess in the room.

What a hoot! It captures MS design philosophy perfectly!!

1. Build a house (OS) but forget some essentials, like a window (network access).
2. Jury rig an opening for a window, creating an internal mess and exposing the house to the elements and thieves (viruses, spam).
3. issue a Service Pack window, that can be opened from the outside. And so on......

LOL

2008 Sep 18 03:38 PM

[User 236180:]

Well: at lease this is one of the most discussed ad campaigns I saw. Coutless blogs and articles have this ad as subject. Great Job. Looking forward to phase 2.

2008 Sep 18 05:10 PM

[User 236180:]

copying the rumour from Vallywag does not make this more true.....pls see GIZMODO article : gizmodo.com/5051682/mi...

2008 Sep 18 05:35 PM