Do you "get" the new Microsoft Commercial?

**El Comandante** · September 6th, 2008, 04:55 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM_72...eature=related

The ad barely mentions the word "Microsoft" and never mentions Windows. Microsoft calls it the campaign to brand Windows, "the start of a conversation...easily the largest marketing campaign we've ever had."

**Potato** · September 6th, 2008, 10:24 PM

It can be the start of a conversation.... one that talks about how it doesn't make any effing sense. I guess it's effective.

Granted the viewer has very little idea of what the hell's being advertised.

**Mels_Smileys45** · September 6th, 2008, 11:05 PM

Every one has missed the point...or have they?

It seems to me that MS wants Bill Gates, who is every bit the icon to MS that Mickey is to Walt Disney, to be seen as a likable person. What better person to help Billy than Jerry? Bill Gates really is a nice guy even though the interweb geek swears Gates is Satan.

Secondary objective: Get people to talk about MS on youtube. Check. Worked like a charm

**Drew Wilson** · September 6th, 2008, 11:30 PM

Already saw that and, yes, I can confirm that it makes absolutely no sense here.

**tracetheace** · September 7th, 2008, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Mels_Smileys45

Every one has missed the point...or have they?

It seems to me that MS wants Bill Gates, who is every bit the icon to MS that Mickey is to Walt Disney, to be seen as a likable person. What better person to help Billy than Jerry? Bill Gates really is a nice guy even though the interweb geek swears Gates is Satan.

Secondary objective: Get people to talk about MS on youtube. Check. Worked like a charm

Yes, very good point. Something that did cross my mind is that this isn't an add for Vista. MS knows vista isn't gonna pickup. This is an add for Windows7 and it's VERY cleverly scripted.

Think about it. They don't mention the OS name cause Windows7 doesn't have a retail name. It's just the codename. Also, take into account many of the things that Jerry says. Talks about 'quality, low prices, runs tight(windows7), he's a ten(as in 10/10), "Are they ever gonna come out with..." and adjusting his shorts. The part about the shorts might be wrong, but when I heard that, the first thing that came to mind is... Putting your try pants on. An expression that means, I'm not playing around anymore. Oh and'what do you get with that (^video) card... Big top point. As in perhaps the rating system, compared to vista. That's a little far fetched

So he's definitely hinting to future products.
Not everyone missed the point Mels_Smileys45 :)

#sudo mount /media/cheers

**mountain_rage** · September 7th, 2008, 12:33 AM

Nice reflection tracetheace but it is a Vista add, it says it at the end, this version was just badly edited and cut it out.

My guess is that its attempting to make Microsoft seem less corporate, business like, etc. They are moving away from that image and more into a works for everyone vibe.

Using Bill Gates in a normal everyday scenario also helps to familiarize your brain with the image of Bill in an everyday scenario. They know its not going to fool someone into believing Bill Gates would be in a mall buying shoes. But it still works your subconscious in seeing it, and more easily believing it in the future.

Best of all, it catches your attention. Everyone who first see's the commercial is going to be attentive to the end. The end is then short enough for you to find out its a Vista commercial. Now you will remember this commercial and Vista. Congratulation's you have been targeted by marketing.

**Mels_Smileys45** · September 7th, 2008, 12:40 AM

Originally Posted by tracetheace

Yes, very good point. Something that did cross my mind is that this isn't an add for Vista. MS knows vista isn't gonna pickup. This is an add for Windows7. Think about it, they don't mention the OS name cause Windows7 doesn't have a retail name. It's just the codename. Also, think about the fact that jerry says something like "Are they ever gonna come out with..."

So he's definitely hinting to future prodructs OR it's just an add for M$ in general and all their products.
Not everyone missed the point Mels_Smileys45 :)

#sudo mount /media/cheers

True that. MS is quick to not say much about Vista anymore. I just wish I could talk a certain person here into getting rid of that turd of an OS from his PC. Vista turns a great computer into a "well its okay" kinda PC. Vista's sole purpose was to sell better hardware to run the OS. Well people were not that stupid. Why buy a bad ass piece of hardware that has to run a clunky OS that makes the Bad Ass PC run like a 2002 model with XP? Its awesome to see someones face when their Vista machine is converted to a screaming fast XP PC. My sisters PC rocks now with a modded version of XP.

Stepping off the soapbox now

I have to wonder if MS will ever fully recover from the Vista blunder.

**mountain_rage** · September 7th, 2008, 12:45 AM

I've had very few issues with Vista, other than its memory usage that is, but thats cheap now anyway.

The only other issues are annoyances like having to choose between having video thumbnails or no thumbnails at all. Wouldn't be a problem if explorer didn't crash whenever it cant open the video. I've also yet to find out if I can add type as a default in the drop down menu of viewing types.

Basically what Vista needs is a power toys. Its definitely not as bad as its made out to be. My computer is running as fast with Vista as it did with XP.

**tracetheace** · September 7th, 2008, 01:00 AM

At the end it just shows the latest windows of logo, doesn't say anything about vista under it, ontop or even on the sides. I watched the video off the MS site.

There's a reason why it's not clearly stated which product they're actually advertising.

**Mels_Smileys45** · September 7th, 2008, 01:01 AM

Thats just bad thinking IMO. Yes it works. It does what it should. But it should do everything so much better. An OS should not demand better hardware. If anything, as technology advances slower machines should be able to perform more extraordinary tasks. The problem is this would cause a PC market crash worse than it already is now.

So MS makes a deal with the PC manufacturers to make an OS that demands people upgrade hardware if they want to upgrade windows. But what did MS forget? Perhaps that big companies are never going to replace every PC in the work place to run a POS OS. I can still here the collective FLOP sound Vista made on release day.

Vista allows a state of the art PC to squeak by with performance that is marginally acceptable while the bells and whistles keep people distracted from the fact that their new PC isn't doing anything better than their 5 years old PC in the kids room.

**mountain_rage** · September 7th, 2008, 01:06 AM

Apparently I read some misguided comments, it just shows the windows logo. Anyway Microsoft has gone on record to state its a attempt at rebranding Windows. They're also paying to have workers at Bestbuy or something to help with, and, represent windows.

**tracetheace** · September 7th, 2008, 01:08 AM

Honestly, just look at what linux can do with apps like compiz and wine. Crazy 3d cube effects and games at the same time.

Just proves that amazing things can be done with decent hardware provided.

**shawners** · September 7th, 2008, 06:45 PM

I think its key feature is to make Bill Gates more human and down to earth and show people hes a nice guy. Its not to feature vista or to gain a big marketing campaign.. People who use other OS simply dont like Bill Gates. Its pretty logical.

**evilmegaman** · September 7th, 2008, 06:54 PM

hardware plays catch up to software these days. I always thought it was meant to be the other way around.

Idc, I like that it has bill gates mugshot. best commercial ever

**wapazoid** · September 7th, 2008, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by tracetheace

At the end it just shows the latest windows of logo, doesn't say anything about vista under it, ontop or even on the sides. I watched the video off the MS site.

There's a reason why it's not clearly stated which product they're actually advertising.

It's an entertaining commercial. It humanizes Gates in a friendly way. And I liked your analysis. But I'm thinking it's definitely a Vista add. Windows 7 is too far off to start advertising it now.

Personally, I don't have any issues with Vista. There were some annoyances with a few software and hardware compatibility issues on Ultimate x64, but I'm happy with x86 Home Premium.