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Next time maybe they'll bring in Ballmer as a shady gym teacher.
Bill Gates is Microsoft. Having him play the character of lovable geek will make viewers associate happy thoughts with the brand. The last thing Microsoft needs is a tutorial of one of its new offerings. These advertisements do a fantastic job of pushing the company's image into a new, different direction.
The fact that Bill Gates doesn't officially work for Microsoft anymore is negligible. 90% of the people watching won't know that and the other 10% wont' care.
This also isn't the first time Seinfeld's been in a big budget commercial about nothing for a Fortune 100 company. His Superman series with Amex was amazing:
- http://www.wddg.com/projects/superman_seinfeld/
There was a touch more product integration in those, but not much. Giving people the opportunity to associate Amex with being awesome was way more important than any sort of product specs.
What we aren't dealing with in the tech blogosphere is the pop culture set. We're so freaking alternative and rejectful of the mainstream, it's about as predictable as it gets. Bet I could call my folks right now and listen to my mom rave about them. She hates her PC but won't buy a Mac. Odd, those silly consumers. :)
"I banish you."
And they are pretty smart -- for consumers the thought of transitioning files from old to new computer (whether its PC to PC or PC to Mac) is a nightmare, and Apple introduces they're Genius as a solution to the nightmare. It's either that or the also ridiculous Geek Squad? I think Genius has a better shot.
But, please tell me more about this new show by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David.
Curb Your Whoosie-Whatsit?
Though I don't think this will help Microsoft one little bit -- just what are people supposed to buy based on this ad, and why? -- it is pretty entertaining stuff.
Bill Gates' robot sure wasn't bad.
http://www.google.com/products?q="leather+giraffe"
Note the sponsored link... some of that $300M is going to more than just video snippets.
"this spot clearly isn’t intended to pitch anything. It’s meant to redeem and recondition Microsoft’s public image, which has been turned into a joke by Apple’s (AAPL) persistent and devastating mockery."
http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20080912/gat...
I'll explain the first ad first.
The "conquistador" shoes are analogous to an apple computer. Everyone is very impressed by it but it's not a great "fit" for what you need. You'll have to change your normal routine to get it to work for you, ie. wearing them in the shower.
In the second ad the father asks Bill if he has ever had scalloped potatoes before like they're something new that he may have never seen. Bill answers that he has. The father comments that the grandmother has been around for 12 years now. The seen goes on to show Bill with his potatoes asking if this is the same thing they had last night. Jerry responds that there is cheese in it now. This conversation is about the ipod and the minor changes that apple has been making to it and routinely unveiling as a brand new machine.
I hope the ads don't completely lose their quirky delivery but it looks like most people aren't getting it.
Finally someone who can see beyond the literal aspect of these commercials. These commercials are filled with innuendo.
Watch them again people, and think about it.
i still don't like bill gates though. he sucks.
he makes me unhappy. when i see his face i shrivel and not in a good or homo way.
his existence upsets me.
he can go jump ina ditch.
i would rather let george bush run the country for another 8 years than be pro-bill gates.