Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft
Microsoft launches Windows 7 ad campaign, and it's sickeningly sweet
by Brad Linder Sep 11th 2009 at 10:30AM
Sex sells. You knew that. But you know what else sells? Cute. And that's the approach Microsoft is taking with its first ad for Windows 7.
Microsoft has been putting out high profile ads for the last year or so, promoting PCs and briefly Jerry Seinfeld. But for the most part these ads have been based on image and haven't really mentioned Microosft's core products: it's operating system.
The latest ad features Kylie, a little girl who we earlier learned was a PC. This time she has put together a slide show displaying some of the nice, happy words that people have said on the internet about Windows 7 along with happy pictures of ridiculously cute things like a bunny wearing a hat.
Of course, the ad still doesn't really tell us much of anything about the actual product. But you know what? Sometimes the best ads don't. If you want to know about Windows 7's security features, new taskbar, improved media center functions, or other tidbits, you just have to hop online and look them up. This is the kind of ad that's supposed to make you feel good about the product, not teach you about it.
You can check out Kylie's first ad for Microsoft after the break. The funny thing is that at the time it was launched, Kylie's "I'm a PC" video was one of the few in the series that actually showed some of the things you can do with a PC, and implied it was so easy a 4 and a half year old girl could do it. I'm not quite as convinced that she could really have put together the slideshow above on her own... or have chosen the music.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian said 10:43AM on 9-11-2009
That was so cute I had to forward it to #all in my address book.
Great commercial.
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RG said 10:44AM on 9-11-2009
They can't be any worse than those silly Mac vs PC ads. Windows wins this one hands down.
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Platinum_Skeet said 12:17PM on 9-11-2009
Perfect way to get a Mac user that says windows GUI is too hard to get off their high horse...
turu said 11:27AM on 9-11-2009
Despite of above positive comments, this tv spot just makes me feel as Microsoft does crappy job on selling their product again (for the record, I have been user of their product since 11yo and no problem for that). Maybe I am too serious.
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Satish Mummadi said 12:59PM on 9-11-2009
I am a PC and 29 and half.
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Jash Sayani said 2:14PM on 9-11-2009
Yeah, I loved the 4 and a half commercial. Was better than this one...
halophoenix said 1:21PM on 9-11-2009
This commercial was worthless until they started playing "The Final Countdown." Then it made headway in my book. :D
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kkklier said 2:15PM on 9-11-2009
okay this is cool until some adult can't figure it out...
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Fred said 5:49PM on 9-11-2009
You know, you compare this to the most recent Apple ad, where you have the PC doing pushups and the old man screaming at him... very angry old man.
Angry old man,,,, cute little girl... hrrm...
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Dach said 10:00PM on 9-11-2009
Despite the very cute picture of a bunny wearing a hat, I think this is the worst commercial MS has done in a long time.
What this ad tells me is that Windows 7 is great for people who can't read. It's got shiny, moving stuff and is cute and fluffy. Well, if a 4-year-old likes it, then it must be perfect for my needs.
The Final Countdown is its only saving grace.
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whiskey said 10:05AM on 9-12-2009
Aww she's cute!
Even if Microsoft's strategy is to bash Linux in their training materials at Office Depot, Staples and Best Buy by spreading FUD (That would be fear, uncertainty and doubt, otherwise known as willfully lying).
She's adorable though.
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iofthestorm said 2:54PM on 9-12-2009
Mmm, you guys are underestimating the capabilities of a 4 year old though. Kids at that age learn very quickly. Maybe she didn't figure out how to make the slideshow herself, but it's very plausible that someone taught her and then she made that one by herself. When I was that age I was using DOS, so it's not that surprising.
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Christopher said 10:33PM on 9-29-2009
I'm a PC and I run Linux because...well...I have a brain.
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hidey.holey said 11:10PM on 11-21-2009
and i'm still loving the way MS use nanami in japan
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