Comments on: First Microsoft ad with Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 18 May 2013 22:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: toxonix http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276482 toxonix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276482 I didn't get it. Maybe Windows is like a wet leather clown man with uncomfortable boxers who feels awkward around Jews. I didn’t get it. Maybe Windows is like a wet leather clown man with uncomfortable boxers who feels awkward around Jews.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276485 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276485 fair fair

]]> By: Dave367 http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276230 Dave367 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276230 Ruth said, "Maybe MS should focus on making a computer that WORKS instead of crashing, not insult their users with this garbage." Microsoft has been insulting their users with garbage for 30 years. Why do you think they will--or should--stop? It's been a successful business model. Ruth said, “Maybe MS should focus on making a computer that WORKS instead of crashing, not insult their users with this garbage.”

Microsoft has been insulting their users with garbage for 30 years. Why do you think they will–or should–stop? It’s been a successful business model.

]]> By: shoopylove http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276494 shoopylove Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276494 Was Soundgarden not available? The thing I can't get out of my mind was the fact that both of these guys were on top of the world 10-15 years ago. Today... not so much. Sure, they both still have tons of cash, but their not really leaders in their respective fields anymore. Their presence doesn't have that relevance or zeitgeist that an ad for technology should have. Talk about a couple of has-beens. Was Soundgarden not available?

The thing I can’t get out of my mind was the fact that both of these guys were on top of the world 10-15 years ago. Today… not so much. Sure, they both still have tons of cash, but their not really leaders in their respective fields anymore. Their presence doesn’t have that relevance or zeitgeist that an ad for technology should have.

Talk about a couple of has-beens.

]]> By: Falcon_Seven http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276495 Falcon_Seven Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276495 I haven't seen the ad, but from what I can gather from comments made on various sites, it was about a cake that Bill Gates rubbed his ass on while wearing sneakers in the shower.<br /> Is that the gist of it? I haven’t seen the ad, but from what I can gather from comments made on various sites, it was about a cake that Bill Gates rubbed his ass on while wearing sneakers in the shower.
Is that the gist of it?

]]> By: grimc http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276240 grimc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276240 @#7 One thing for sure, at 1:30 this isn't a tv spot, although I'm sure there'll be some made out of it. It's an advertisement in the sense that it's trying to change people's perceptions of Vista. Using the shoes as a metaphor they're saying that even great products like the 'Conquistador' require the consumer to do stuff to make it work. So I guess it's advertising for people to lower their expectations. But as a former boss once said, "You can't polish a turd." @#7

One thing for sure, at 1:30 this isn’t a tv spot, although I’m sure there’ll be some made out of it.

It’s an advertisement in the sense that it’s trying to change people’s perceptions of Vista. Using the shoes as a metaphor they’re saying that even great products like the ‘Conquistador’ require the consumer to do stuff to make it work.

So I guess it’s advertising for people to lower their expectations.

But as a former boss once said, “You can’t polish a turd.”

]]> By: snouty http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276241 snouty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276241 See now this is the kind of advertising they should have head all along. Vista stick sucks all kinda balls, but the ad is AWESOME. See now this is the kind of advertising they should have head all along. Vista stick sucks all kinda balls, but the ad is AWESOME.

]]> By: Falcon_Seven http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276497 Falcon_Seven Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276497 @41 I will <em>never</em> be intimate with a churro. Ever. @41 I will never be intimate with a churro. Ever.

]]> By: gATO http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276242 gATO Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276242 Comedy merits aside, this was supposed to be an advertisement for what, exactly? Comedy merits aside, this was supposed to be an advertisement for what, exactly?

]]> By: snouty http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276243 snouty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276243 and fyi that's what Bill's really like, it's just taken them until it's too late to realise that Bill should have been part of the brand. More fool them. Apple have done this for years very successfully. and fyi that’s what Bill’s really like, it’s just taken them until it’s too late to realise that Bill should have been part of the brand. More fool them. Apple have done this for years very successfully.

]]> By: dbarak http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276499 dbarak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276499 @55 I will <it>never</it> be intimate with a burro. Ever. @55 I will never be intimate with a burro. Ever.

]]> By: bbonyx http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276246 bbonyx Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276246 Chalk up another voice in the "FAIL" column. Draper would send them back to their respective offices to think about all the ways that advertising is supposed to reach into the psyche of the people and how this one simply didn't. Chalk up another voice in the “FAIL” column.

Draper would send them back to their respective offices to think about all the ways that advertising is supposed to reach into the psyche of the people and how this one simply didn’t.

]]> By: Avram http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276252 Avram Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276252 Microsoft has always had pretty bad advertising. Remember the Windows ads with the Latin song about suffering the torments of Hell? Or the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILEnu8gdus0">horrifying Zune ad</a> with the eyeball-pooping monster? Or those terrible poster ads with people in dinosaur masks? It doesn't seem to have affected their bottom line. I sometimes wonder if they aren't courting enterprise users by deliberately adopting an anti-hip ad vibe. Microsoft has always had pretty bad advertising. Remember the Windows ads with the Latin song about suffering the torments of Hell? Or the horrifying Zune ad with the eyeball-pooping monster? Or those terrible poster ads with people in dinosaur masks?

It doesn’t seem to have affected their bottom line. I sometimes wonder if they aren’t courting enterprise users by deliberately adopting an anti-hip ad vibe.

]]> By: Falcon_Seven http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276508 Falcon_Seven Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276508 @56 The real question is; would a burro ever be intimate with a churro? Possibly in Mexicali. Not that I've ever been there, so, like, I wouldn't know. @56 The real question is; would a burro ever be intimate with a churro? Possibly in Mexicali. Not that I’ve ever been there, so, like, I wouldn’t know.

]]> By: gonzilla http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276515 gonzilla Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276515 @41 BillCunningham Thank you sir. Of all the times I have been to the west coast, no one has offered me a churro. I now need to find one in the Bmore area. I have just been informed that it is like a state fair/carny funnel cake also. With that info, it has been listed on my "terrorfood" watch list. C'mon gimme a bite, I'll walk 2 extra flights on Monday, c'mon!!!!! @41 BillCunningham
Thank you sir. Of all the times I have been to the west coast, no one has offered me a churro. I now need to find one in the Bmore area. I have just been informed that it is like a state fair/carny funnel cake also. With that info, it has been listed on my “terrorfood” watch list. C’mon gimme a bite, I’ll walk 2 extra flights on Monday, c’mon!!!!!

]]> By: Gregory Bloom http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276520 Gregory Bloom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276520 I spewed water on my keyboard - about 5 seconds after it had finished. Sort of an absurdist aftershock, I guess. But I can see where this is going. Apple is, and has always been, fashion electronics. When you buy an Apple, you're buying a style and a tribal affiliation. With PCs, that style and affiliation hasn't been sharply defined nor anything like hip/with it/edgy. Not that this ad competes in those terms - Apple already has that turf staked out. What this ad does is establish the Win/PC tribe as thoughtfully self-deprecating, almost exactly the opposite of Apple's positioning as the brand for effete fashionista poseurs. By continuing to build this brand cultural identity, MS can bring greater cohesion to the PC masses while re-enforcing their derision of Applephiles. I spewed water on my keyboard – about 5 seconds after it had finished. Sort of an absurdist aftershock, I guess. But I can see where this is going. Apple is, and has always been, fashion electronics. When you buy an Apple, you’re buying a style and a tribal affiliation. With PCs, that style and affiliation hasn’t been sharply defined nor anything like hip/with it/edgy. Not that this ad competes in those terms – Apple already has that turf staked out. What this ad does is establish the Win/PC tribe as thoughtfully self-deprecating, almost exactly the opposite of Apple’s positioning as the brand for effete fashionista poseurs. By continuing to build this brand cultural identity, MS can bring greater cohesion to the PC masses while re-enforcing their derision of Applephiles.

]]> By: AlphaQ http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276266 AlphaQ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276266 Absurd humor is up there with fart jokes. The thing about this type of humor too is that its been overdone and possesses no whit. Hard to appreciate it. Absurd humor is up there with fart jokes. The thing about this type of humor too is that its been overdone and possesses no whit. Hard to appreciate it.

]]> By: dbarak http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276525 dbarak Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276525 "...MS can bring greater cohesion to the PC masses..." I spewed water on my keyboard. ;) “…MS can bring greater cohesion to the PC masses…”

I spewed water on my keyboard. ;)

]]> By: Jim_Graham http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276783 Jim_Graham Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276783 If it was absurdist, shouldn't it have had a fish in it? If it was absurdist, shouldn’t it have had a fish in it?

]]> By: Mista Spakuru http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276528 Mista Spakuru Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276528 My wife thought it was a shoe commercial. She asked what it really was, when I told her it wasn't for shoes. I was dumbstruck. It wasn't funny. It felt like the rock oldies shows that PBS likes to air. Painful. Even Shatner's Priceline commercials are better. Seinfeld is like Mort Sahl,if Mort had worked for Nixon or Bush. Sad. My wife thought it was a shoe commercial. She asked what it really was, when I told her it wasn’t for shoes. I was dumbstruck. It wasn’t funny. It felt like the rock oldies shows that PBS likes to air. Painful.

Even Shatner’s Priceline commercials are better. Seinfeld is like Mort Sahl,if Mort had worked for Nixon or Bush. Sad.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276276 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276276 no "whit" not even a wit's worth? no “whit” not even a wit’s worth?

]]> By: apollino http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276791 apollino Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276791 Just a horrible ad. But it does have everybody talking so at least they have that going for them. The goal for them may have been to get everyone talking about this crappy ad and then hit them with the next ones. Either way, the ending on this version of it is much better! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSQMg3gc1r4 Just a horrible ad. But it does have everybody talking so at least they have that going for them. The goal for them may have been to get everyone talking about this crappy ad and then hit them with the next ones. Either way, the ending on this version of it is much better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSQMg3gc1r4

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276539 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276539 what is the purpose of advertising? (made ya look!) what is the purpose of advertising?

(made ya look!)

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276285 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276285 "What's the deal with wearing clothes in the shower?" I think the strategy here was to humanize Gates and to set Jerry up as a curious authority. I'll be curious to see if Gates winds up being an occasional sidekick in this campaign while Jerry goes around to regular people and Vistafies them. “What’s the deal with wearing clothes in the shower?”

I think the strategy here was to humanize Gates and to set Jerry up as a curious authority. I’ll be curious to see if Gates winds up being an occasional sidekick in this campaign while Jerry goes around to regular people and Vistafies them.

]]> By: Phikus http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276295 Phikus Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276295 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgUWTquztGY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBRpW5sEvJk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgUWTquztGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBRpW5sEvJk

]]> By: arikol http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276299 arikol Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276299 I'm a Mac guy (is that a disclaimer?) but I thought it was rather amusing, especially considering Seinfeld was in it. I mean that I can well believe Bill Gates to have a weird sense of humour but we all know Seinfeld is not very good.. Even his show was held up mainly by the supporting cast. And that's back when he was considered funny (and I had a bunch of hair. Oh, thick luscious hair, how I miss thee not one bit). As a sketch, maybe 6-7 out of 10 as an advertisment 1-2 out of 10 And Apple. The I'm a Mac campaign has run it's course. Please stop before it gets MS embarrassing. I’m a Mac guy (is that a disclaimer?)
but I thought it was rather amusing, especially considering Seinfeld was in it.
I mean that I can well believe Bill Gates to have a weird sense of humour but we all know Seinfeld is not very good..
Even his show was held up mainly by the supporting cast. And that’s back when he was considered funny (and I had a bunch of hair. Oh, thick luscious hair, how I miss thee not one bit).

As a sketch, maybe 6-7 out of 10
as an advertisment 1-2 out of 10

And Apple. The I’m a Mac campaign has run it’s course. Please stop before it gets MS embarrassing.

]]> By: Steve Among Steves http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276304 Steve Among Steves Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276304 I think they seriously overplayed the churro joke. I think they seriously overplayed the churro joke.

]]> By: petezombie http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276817 petezombie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276817 I notice a lot of people complaining that its not effective advertisement but when I watch tv I do it to be entertained, commercials pushing products can be so incredibly annoying and having an ad that puts more effort into entertaining me instead of pushing their product on me is very refreshing IMO. And I thought it had some funny moments. I notice a lot of people complaining that its not effective advertisement but when I watch tv I do it to be entertained, commercials pushing products can be so incredibly annoying and having an ad that puts more effort into entertaining me instead of pushing their product on me is very refreshing IMO.

And I thought it had some funny moments.

]]> By: Chris L http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276306 Chris L Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276306 I like the commercial. Of course, I'm one of those tasteless boors that still thinks Seinfeld is funny. In any case its a hell of a lot more fun than that damn Microsoft Mojave commercial, which only confirms what we learned the Pepsi Challenge: things that are sweeter (or shinier or prettier) seem a lot better in small doses. Longer periods of exposure tend to make you sick. I like the commercial. Of course, I’m one of those tasteless boors that still thinks Seinfeld is funny.

In any case its a hell of a lot more fun than that damn Microsoft Mojave commercial, which only confirms what we learned the Pepsi Challenge: things that are sweeter (or shinier or prettier) seem a lot better in small doses. Longer periods of exposure tend to make you sick.

]]> By: calabanos http://boingboing.net/2008/09/05/first-microsoft-ad-w.html#comment-276565 calabanos Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-276565 Seinfeld always had an old mac on his desk. I haven't really watched the show for a while, but I do remember two things. They all liked to masturbate, and Jerry was a mac user. Bill Gates looked better in "Weird Science". Seinfeld always had an old mac on his desk. I haven’t really watched the show for a while, but I do remember two things. They all liked to masturbate, and Jerry was a mac user.

Bill Gates looked better in “Weird Science”.

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