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Filed under: Apple, Microsoft

Researchers: Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates ads stunk

by Brad Linder Feb 4th 2009

Gates and Seinfeld
While Download Squad readers generally had a favorable view of the brief Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld ad campaign of '08, the New York Times reports today that the ads really didn't help Microsoft's image at all. In fact, according to market research company Brand Keys, people who saw the "Shoe Circus" ad were more likely to have a negative view of Microsoft, whether they were Apple or Mac users.

The "I'm a PC" ad spots were more effective. The ads gave viewers warm and fuzzy feelings about Microsoft in terms of technological and environmentally advancement.

Meanwhile, Brand Keys says that Apple's long-running "I'm a Mac" campaign is helping that company raise its profile and convince consumers that Apple is offering innovative, well designed products.

Tags: advertising, bill-gates, jerry-seinfeld, microsoft

Filed under: Microsoft

Microsoft + Seinfeld = Yadda, yadda, yadda

by Brad Linder Sep 17th 2008

Microsoft ad
After putting out two or three (depending on how you count them) ads that left a lot of people scratching their heads, Microsoft is apparently pulling the plug on its ad campaign featuring Jerry Seinfeld. ValleyWag reports that Microsoft will launch phase two of its new advertising strategy tomorrow, and the new campaign will be Seinfeld-free.

Whether you liked the Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld show about nothing or not, it certainly generated a lot of buzz about the company. Not about Windows Vista, Office 2007, or any particular product. But certainly about Microsoft. So perhaps Microsoft really is following through with a carefully crafted plan to build buzz and then roll out a new phase of the ad campaign. But I'm certainly not the only one to note that it looks like Microsoft is firing Seinfeld for a job poorly done.

Were the Bill Gates/Jerry Seinfeld ads effective?


Tags: ad, advertising, bill-gates, jerry-seinfeld, microsoft, seinfeld

Filed under: OS Updates, Apple, Microsoft

Bill Gates, Jerry Seinfeld ad airs - Apple has nothing to worry about

by Brad Linder Sep 5th 2008

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.

Tags: advertising, bill-gates, jerry-seinfeld, microsoft, windows-vista

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The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

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, ...

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