Some of you are probably already sick of the Microsoft Ad campaign, so if you are just skip this article. We’ve been following the whole campaign, so it’s a must that we show you the latest three “I’m a PC” ads. These latest ads are the first since Microsoft decided to switch their focus a bit.
We mentioned this change in focus yesterday when we were wondering what was going on with Microsoft’s Ad campaign. As we said yesterday, Microsoft has NOT discontinued the Bill Gates/Seinfeld series, as far as we know. They have just shifted focus a bit. Here’s our first glimpse at what they are working on with the three latest ads:
As you probably noticed, all three start out the same, featuring a John Hodgman look-alike. They still do not give users a great idea as to what Vista offers, but it seems as though Microsoft’s approach is to first clear up their image and show that everyday people all over the World are using PC’s. The ads are definitely multi-cultural and show that it’s more than a dorky caucasian male who uses Windows. With time I think Microsoft will do more to point out Vista’s shining features. If we had to decide which “focus” will suit Microsoft best, it’s definitely the new round of “I’m a PC” ads that leave Seinfeld out.
Overall, I like the new ads.
Those commercials arn’t that bad. I prefer them over the Seinfeld ones,
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I agree Southern Cross. I don’t necessarily think the Seinfeld ones were bad, they just took FOREVER to get to the punchline. I say less dialog and more Bill Gates doing the robot!
I’ll have to admitt these ads are a lot better than the first two. “I’m a PC” reaches out to different professions, different cultures and different age groups. The Windows logo at the end expresses a direct message. Windows PC is for everybody!
That’s what I call a direct message! Will it sell more Vistas? I don’t know. Time will tell.
i am a pc, but i wish i wasn’t. all those ppl in the ads are pc, cause Microsoft is a monopoly. i am a pc cause i am too lazy to try something else, cause apple comps cost way to much and they don’t offer me all that i am looking for in a computer (sort of anyway), and Linux is cheap, but too complicated, and again, not supporting everything i need. and did i mention i am a bit lazy?
mister gates, i take my hat off (if i had one) for all the charity u do. but all the money you made was done in wrong way, and probably illegal. i think your ability to make fun of yourself is also great, but vista isn’t that great. and what you are trying to do with IE 8 pretty much proves most of what people said about your company.
i liked the Seinfeld ads more, even though they were abit unclear. but thats because of gates making himself a bit into a joke.
but like ppl said in here, the new ads are more like Microsoft style. so maybe it is a time they changed it.
These are nice. To me they’re portraying Apple users as a single group (not for everyone) and showing that Microsoft is for everyone. Which can be taken as a metaphore for the hardware too: Apple only for certain hardware, Microsoft for nearly all hardware available. Much much better than the other ads.
Great ads. Shows how stupid and shallow the mac ads are (although very funny), as well as revealing the great power of PCs!
there is a huge difference between “stereotypes” and “facts”. Microsoft should look up the definition of both words b4 attempting to use the word “stereotype”.
what is said against Microsoft is called “facts”.
I have never seen Microsoft so desperate to clean up its image. Hopefully their market share drops below 50% in the next decade while Mac and Linux pick up the pace and show us real competition.
Far better than the Seinfeld ones – I’m sure you all saw Penny Arcade’s WTF comic regarding those. These actually try and get a bit of a human face across whilst at the same time joking about Apple’s campaign. Good stuff.
With all due respect wishing that Mac picks up MS’s market share is absurd. There is nothing to stop Apple becoming as bad, evil or whatever as MS. Competition is a misnomer in this case anyway, just look at the price difference in PCs and Macs and tell me who is raking in the millions. Linux is another matter IMHO, for obvious reasons.
At least Microsoft lets you use Windows inside other OSes, otherwise Mac fans wouldn’t be screaming “Our OS can do Windows, but Windows can’t do Mac! Losers!”. Yeah, because Apple WON’T LET US! Sheesh.
I’m just saying that Macs are not Nirvana.
I’m not a PC, I use it. I’m not faithful, I’m pragmatic.
This is not advertisement, it’s brainwashing. I understand advertisement as a 50-50 blend of product information and seductive power, I find neither in these promotional attitudes. Seems to me that the Seinfeld ads targeted elites and these ‘I’m a PC’ target those conceived to be idiots.
As we say in France, why make it simple when it can be complicated ?
I do like the ads better than the Seinfeld ones simply because these actually feel like they serve a purpose. I still don’t understand why they haven’t brought any focus to some of Vista’s features to demonstrate how the operating system can help people in their daily lives. They should be heavily promoting features like parental controls since so many parents would love to have that.
That’s definitely the message that they were trying to get across, and that’s kinda what I took away from it as well.
These are a major improvement from a marketing standpoint. They have a product to sell, and a clear message which they repeat in a huge variety of settings. The only problem is that they are still not selling Vista. And PC means Personal Computer, not Windows Operating System, so that whatever Mac users want to believe, Macs are PC’s too. This is a fine ad to boost the sales of PC’s and gives many subliminal reasons to use one.
But it does not sell Vista. I am reasonably sure that all PC makers are glad to see these ads. That’s not Microsoft’s mission. At least it is a step in the right direction. They also have much more punch than those dippy first too. People use PC’s, and they use them for very many and varied things. It sure beats putting people down.