Filed under: OS Updates, Apple, Microsoft
Bill Gates, Jerry Seinfeld ad airs - Apple has nothing to worry about
Jerry Seinfeld, famous for developing a popular TV show "about nothing," seems to be at it again. Except this time he's part of a $300 million advertising campaign for Microsoft that also seems to be about nothing. And while nothing might be kind of funny in 22 minute segments that are always about something at their core, the first Microsoft commercial starring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld really does seem to be about nothing. In that pointless, mind-boggling, "what the hell are they trying to say?" kind of way.
It would probably be bearable if the 90 second commercial were at least funny. But really, it's not. The point is apparently to introduce the audience to the characters and the funny will come in later ads. Presumably so will information about Vista. But seriously. 90 seconds of nothing? The very first Mac vs. PC ad weighed in at around 30 seconds, was funny, and didn't require much setup. If this is the best Microsoft's ad team has to offer, Apple doesn't have much to worry about.
On the other hand, while Apple continues to gain popularity, Microsoft still dwarfs the company in terms of market share. So maybe Microsoft doesn't really need to follow the format set by others.
It would probably be bearable if the 90 second commercial were at least funny. But really, it's not. The point is apparently to introduce the audience to the characters and the funny will come in later ads. Presumably so will information about Vista. But seriously. 90 seconds of nothing? The very first Mac vs. PC ad weighed in at around 30 seconds, was funny, and didn't require much setup. If this is the best Microsoft's ad team has to offer, Apple doesn't have much to worry about.
On the other hand, while Apple continues to gain popularity, Microsoft still dwarfs the company in terms of market share. So maybe Microsoft doesn't really need to follow the format set by others.
I don't know if this is a labor of love or merely the brainchild of four very gifted games designers, but Level Up is a really weird mash-up of gaming elements that you have probably never seen in a Flash game before.
Let's start with the premise itself: Groundhog Day meets Memento. The game experience revolves around 'days': you explore the world and the clock slowly ticks towards the evening. You bounce around picking up gems and talking to the denizens of 'Level Upland'. Eventually you feel tired and head back to ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Todd said 9:17AM on 9-05-2008
The commercial is a perfect representation of Microsoft;
1 - Fails to innovate, just [ poorly ] mimics other people's creativity and ingenuity.
2 - Fails to function in its intended purpose ( humor, raise brand awareness )
3 - Takes three times longer than the competition to complete ( 90 seconds, vs. "I'm a Mac" 30 seconds ).
What's the problem?
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Macca said 12:19PM on 9-05-2008
1 - Fails to innovate, just [ poorly ] mimics other people's creativity and ingenuity.
And apples ads didn't? Are any advertisements or artworks of any kind not taken from the ideas of others?
Macca said 9:20AM on 9-05-2008
Good god...
This website has really gone to a new low of Mac worship.
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Brad Linder said 9:23AM on 9-05-2008
So you're saying you liked the ad or found it funny? Because seriously, I read a dozen or so reviews of this ad on other sites before writing this post and not a single one thought it was good.
Also, FYI, I don't own a Mac and rarely use one for work.
Macca said 8:48PM on 9-05-2008
Sounds like you base your opinion on what everyone else says, and not the way you see it yourself.
Also, know one cares what operating system you use.
DiRT said 12:50PM on 9-05-2008
I agree with him Brad. You're simply wrong. The commercial was awesome. Lots of "other places" will say it isn't funny too. They also suck at Apple's teet.
noirs said 9:33AM on 9-05-2008
It's funny.
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racco said 9:41AM on 9-05-2008
funniest part was Bill using his police mug shot on the clown club id card
http://digg.com/microsoft/Bill_Gates_uses_police_mug_shot_in_the_Seinfeld_M_ad
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Halo2Master said 9:41AM on 9-05-2008
I guess I am in the minority here, but I found it at least as entertaining and humorous as any of the Mac vs PC ads.
Gates seemed stiff and awkward, but Seinfeld was being Seinfeld.
Not saying I loved it (after all, it is a commercial), but the Mac vs PC ads are nothing spectacular either.
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Scott Franklin said 9:07AM on 9-08-2008
I don't think you are in the minority. I think it is a vocal minority that seems to be in the wrong. It was very funny and snarky mac addicts are blinded by their oversized egos.
Jeff said 11:54AM on 9-05-2008
That was hilarious. Maybe about nothing, but I thought it was classic.
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Mark said 12:14PM on 9-05-2008
Roger Ebert says you can't argue about funny. Either you laugh or you don't. I laughed.
That doesn't mean the ads are not a mistake. I'm doubtful they will do what Microsoft wants them to do.
But what do I know? I hate the Mac/PC ads, and they seem to be working.
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Marc Cracco said 11:17AM on 9-05-2008
I thought this site was dedicated to downloads. I in no way see how an article about a microsoft commercial belongs here. While we're at it why the author of the article presumes to know all that this GROUP of commercials will amount to (especially since this is only one of many) and states that Apple has nothing to worry about.
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Todd said 11:50AM on 9-05-2008
I consider this post to be a helpful public service, very much in the context of downloading software.
You may use your experience with the Microsoft advertisement ( fails to convey any meaning or purpose, performs poorly in its intended function, etc. ) as a way to set your expectation when you download and use Microsoft software.
DiRT said 12:51PM on 9-05-2008
STFU Todd. That's was great. Much better than the "It just works in OSX" adds that really only mean "It just works as long as we have our own version of the program you are looking for which nine out of ten times, we don't."
kingabraham3 said 11:49AM on 9-05-2008
its called speculation. and it so happens that I, as a reader, give a reasonable amount of credence to the author's speculatory comments.
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Francis said 11:50AM on 9-05-2008
I have to disagree with the author on this one. I saw the commercial a few times last night and while after the first viewing I was more awed than anything else, repeated viewings only got funnier to me. The sheer absurdity and randomness really fits my style of humor and while it didn't actually advertise anything, I still thought it was a great commercial. Definitely a great step forward for Microsoft's ad-machine and almost as successful as those Microsoft Mohave commercials they have been running lately.
Also, shame on you for referring to Apple's PC vs Mac commercials as funny. Those are just horrible. They make me want to throw my Iphone at the TV.
(well that and the app crashes and lousy 3G connection)
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mike k. said 12:51PM on 9-05-2008
MS has potential, but that commerical was far too long and mostly confusing. Apple's ads are tongue in cheek and very obvious as to what they're getting it.
MS doesn't need to mirror the apple ads but they definitely need to have more of a punch line than seinfeld saying silly things that have nothing to do with the product.
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Nathan said 12:51PM on 9-05-2008
If it were not for that last paragraph in the article, I would officially remove the RSS feed for this site from My Yahoo! The commercial was mildly funny if not random. It does have a message about Windows in it too. It is saying that in the near future, Windows (7) will be more user friendly and such. Kind of like Macs.
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Todd said 12:43PM on 9-05-2008
"[ the commercial ] is saying that in the near future, Windows (7) will be more user friendly and such. Kind of like Macs."
Yes! That was the point of my first comment!