So, the first of Microsoft ads featuring Bill Gates and Seinfeld is out. The campaign is expected to cost some $300 million. Microsoft has been rather vocal about this campaign in the last few weeks, and frankly, I thought there was hope. Microsoft has not had much going lately. The list of its woes are growing long as are its emerging competitors, who seem to be able to innovate and release new products at a much faster rate. And the Yahoo deal isn't helping.
I thought this could be a good first step. It was proof that Microsoft was not being defensive, and have decided to do something about these problems. On some level, it is in fact the first acknowledgement of a problem, and that is a very important thing.
But even if these commercials are really good and are able to change public perception of Microsoft, they need to back it up with some really good products. There doesn't seem to be anything that MS can offer in the recent times, that excites people. Every new release seems to simply change the user interface and the novelty wears off in the first couple of hours.
All I can say after watching this first commercial is, well, the rest better be really good! If it is funny, I do not get it. There is one advantage to this ad though - they have brought the expectations to a bare minimum on the future ads, and that probably was the strategy ?
2 Responses to "The ad that could have been"
September 13, 2008 at 9:24 PM
Microsoft makes a whole lot more than just Windows, and some of their other products are totally awesome.
As a blogger, they even have something for you. Try Windows Live Writer and you'll never want to make a post through Blogger's web page interface, ever again. It's that good! (and free)
September 14, 2008 at 9:42 PM
I wouldn't know about Windows Live Writer, but I have no doubts MS has some great products; years after the Office package has been released, there still is no product that seriously challenges it.
Just that they seem to be resting on their laurels too much lately..
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