Windows Not Walls Campaign - Kicking Off | The Coffeehouse

RoyalSchrubber
One. How many time travellers does it take to change a lightbulb?

#Sep 5th, 2008 @ 2:43 PM

I think KDE and Linux would fit your needs perfectly, don't know why you even stay with Windows, it much less 'tweakable'. For fun I've installed this M2 - you can view web pages and use M2 as a file manager - this is not very smart - security-wise, it's reason enough for me not to use it..

Though I'm interested, what do you miss in Explorer? I thought most (home) users are satisfied with it.

Ray7

In reply to Jason I

#Sep 5th, 2008 @ 11:00 AM

The 'Think Different' campaign wasn't designed to increase market share; it was the first step on a long road. Look where Apple is now.

The same with the new MS ad; it isn't designed to get people to buy MS stuff; they want to change the perception that people have.

Steve411

In reply to jamie

#Sep 4th, 2008 @ 6:24 PM

lol, "PLATINUM!".

The Bill Gates leaving video made me want to cry though. Was put together well.

blowdart
Peek-a-boo

In reply to Ray7

#Sep 5th, 2008 @ 9:50 PM

So changing the perception that MS is out of touch and Windows is crap by .... hiring an out of touch sell out and making a crap ad. Errr ....

Turbodad

In reply to Ray7

#Sep 5th, 2008 @ 8:25 AM

Paul Thurrott has an email from somewhere, that explains the thinking behind the ad.

Thinking? What thinking? Don't you think ads should be self-explanatory? If you have to explain what you meant by an ad, you have already failed. If this crap is an "ice-breaker", I have no hope for MS marketing dept. How can they still be working at MS and regurgitating steaming crap like this after all these years and years of stupid failed ad campaigns?

matthews

In reply to Turbodad

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 1:54 PM

This isn't the MS ad department; it's made by an outside firm, the same ones who did the burger king commercials with "The King".

Turbodad

In reply to matthews

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 1:55 PM

This isn't the MS ad department; it's made by an outside firm, the same ones who did the burger king commercials with "The King".

That only says MS can't choose a good ad firm. If a company can make good Burger King ads, this doesn't mean they will do great computer-related ads. After an ad like this I'd fire the firm immediately. Gates and Seinfeld, talking nonsense in a shoe shop, how funny that must be. Bill wiggling his arse, hilarious. I can see headlines: "Millions rush to buy Vista, cite the subliminal impact of the new Microsoft ad campaign: "Why pay more when you can have our sh!t cheap!"

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to Bas

#Sep 5th, 2008 @ 6:19 AM

I didn't think the Burger King ads were really great, I don't find anything from the ad company really special.

matthews

In reply to Turbodad

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 2:05 PM

Again, it's an introduction to the ad campaign. How many people went out and bought woppers after seeing the king in bed with some guy? Probably not a lot, but it introduced the character.

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to matthews

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 3:21 PM

the king is creepy

jamie

In reply to brian.shapiro

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 3:27 PM

..i hear in the next ad, bill walks jerry through the cake bakery where they make windows.

little oompa loompas come out and sing the windows song

then they both put on cartigans and do a jig

cant wait! Tongue Out

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to jamie

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 3:30 PM

Microsoft Gurus to take on Apple’s Genuises
Software giant’s new customer-service reps part of $300 million makeover
updated 2:02 p.m. PT, Fri., Sept. 5, 2008

NEW YORK - As part of its new $300 million marketing campaign and image makeover, Microsoft Corp. plans to deploy its own customer-service representatives at retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City to help people with their PC purchases.

The world's largest software company plans to have 155 "Microsoft Gurus" in U.S. stores by the end of the year, and expand based on the project's success, Microsoft's general manager of corporate communications, Tom Pilla, said Friday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26563690/

dentaku

If it's just the intro to a series of commercials with Jerry then I think it's good. As a standalone ad it doesn't really make sense but hopefully it keeps going and creates an interesting story.

Of course I hope the ads teach people something because like I always say, teaching people how to use the software is the best way to make people less annoyed at their computers and that creates good word of mouth which in turn is good advertising.

jamie

In reply to dentaku

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 5:48 PM

i guess to me - im left wondering how ms addresses the ...bloggers...enthusiasts...

it seems so aimed at casual computer users. sort of a slap in the face to bloggers / diggers / dotters / 9ers?

seriously - what is there for us? jerry? shoes? ok well paolo will be pleased at least Wink

Jason I

In reply to brian.shapiro

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 3:54 PM

A few comments:

I think they're a little late, now that there are Apple reps in Best Buys at this time. But better late than never.

The king IS creepy.

If I heard correctly, The ad agency who created the King campaign and the Microsoft campaign also did the older Volkswagen campaign, which was pretty cool. I guess that's a mixed campaign.

I think the first ad actually was funny, but not effective in of itself. I don't think the campaign has scared many people away (not like the 'wake up with the king' campaign), so let's see where the campaign ends up. There's something to be said for ad campaigns which tell a story overall (one commercial leads to another). I suppose it beats Burma-shave.

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to Jason I

#Sep 7th, 2008 @ 8:57 AM

They did the V-DUB Volkswagen campaign with Peter Stormare. Now that was stupid. Although they also did the ads where the people in their Volkswagens get distracted talking and crash, which is ok

stevo_
Human after all

In reply to brian.shapiro

#Sep 7th, 2008 @ 9:03 AM

Actually most people would agree the v-dub IN DA HOOOUUSEEE commercials we're a great success..

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to stevo_

#Sep 7th, 2008 @ 9:24 AM

stevo_

Most people? Well Peter Stormare is cool, but the commercials were just weird and didn't do anything for the VW brand. I doubt the public at large really got those commercials.

stevo_
Human after all

In reply to brian.shapiro

#Sep 7th, 2008 @ 9:30 AM

What? whats weird got to do with them being successful or not, the commercial concept was simple enough that anyone should understand it (at least thats what I thought until now)...

It hit the young generation which is what the target is for that vehicle, because it was a skit on pimp my ride + various other subtleties.. and it works, check youtube out for the commercials and how many have been re-uploaded and their rating, views and comments..

The previous commercials to these was the singing in the rain commercial that was absolutely nothing about the car until the end where they said.. vw gti "the original, updated".. commercials don't even have to say anything about the product, as long as they get people talking about it then you've hit a bigger audience and improve the lastability of the marketing..

brian.shapiro
things go on as always

In reply to stevo_

#Sep 7th, 2008 @ 9:51 AM

I know it was a skit on pimp my ride, but Peter Stormare doing a german engineer mocking pimp my ride with V-DUB == who cares? People who upload it to Youtube or comment on the youtube video are not necessarily consumers looking to buy a car Smiley

Jason I

In reply to stevo_

#Sep 7th, 2008 @ 9:51 AM

I guess this ad campaign is trying to hit 30-somethings on up... (Maybe a little lower). The same people who really enjoyed Seinfeld and (more importantly) his humor style. I don't see High-schoolers looking at the commercials in a positive light. I'll have to ask my wife what she thinks (she's a teen librarian, not a high-schooler.. Smiley

).

One question I have with the campaign is what I usually ask in a software project: how are they measuring success? An uptick in Vista licenses? Increase in positive views of Microsoft? Decrease in Apple sales?

Shining Arcanine

There is a New York Times article about this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/technology/06soft.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

The article seems to claim that Microsoft is using its marketing department to "perfect" Windows Vista. I really think they should just treat it as the next Windows ME and move on.

Maybe with the release of Windows NT 7.0, they will come up with another Windows NT 5.0, although to be quite honest, I am happy to use Windows XP, even though I own a copy of Windows Vista (it cost ~$16 at my university).

Turbodad

In reply to brian.shapiro

#Sep 6th, 2008 @ 3:54 PM

The world's largest software company plans to have 155 "Microsoft Gurus" in U.S. stores by the end of the year, and expand based on the project's success, Microsoft's general manager of corporate communications, Tom Pilla, said Friday.