Is the new Microsoft Commercial funny? What are they selling? Are they copying Apple? There are many critics out there bashing Microsoft’s new advertising campaign. Many people think it’s absolutely horrible, but could it be that it’s completely genius? In case you don’t know what we’re talking about, Microsoft has started a new ad campaign designed to increase awareness of Windows Vista, Windows Live, and Windows Mobile, which in my opinion is sorely needed. Take a look at the first ad here, or here or here.
Let’s start with what the commercial does not do. It does not insult the competition. There is no smug superiority. It does not make air traffic controllers look like idiots. It does not use visual tricks to make products look better. It does not use false advertising and more false advertising.
But it also does not talk about any particular product from Microsoft. You might think it’s not really about anything. It’s just a bunch of strange dialog between two wealthy celebrities in a discount shoe store. One part you may not have noticed was the photo on Bill Gates’ discount card was actually a mug shot from when he was arrested in New Mexico in 1977. I wonder if there are other inside jokes. Maybe it’s like “Family Guy”; you know it’s supposed to be funny, but you don’t know why unless you’re in the loop.
Or maybe the commercial is full of symbolism and metaphors as darkone of MacObserver observes. “The fact that they have the blogs, the business community and mass media talking about it means they hit a nerve,” says Allen Adamson as quoted in the Wall Street Journal. PollyProteus posts at [url=http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12558-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=51612&messageID=971006&start=0
]ZDnet of the commercial’s brilliance, “What did this commercial get by truckloads? Mind share. The point of the whole thing is that once you realized it was a Microsoft commercial, it gave you a whole different take on it.”
What’s your take on it? Brilliance or stupidity? Are you at least looking forward to seeing what’s next in this advertising series?
Originally published on Pocketnow on September 8, 2008. More Smartphone News articles from the Pocketnow archive.