The new Windows 7 ads have kicked off today, and I suspect we'll be seeing them on TV starting today. What do you think of them? I think they're great - they're fun, light, and highlight features of Windows 7. Windows 7 is a great OS that stands on it's own, and I'm happy to see Microsoft not crawling into the gutter with that other company and their ads. A good product succeeds on its own, not because it trashes another product. Two more ads after the break.
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Windows 7 is a great OS that stands on it's own, and I'm happy to see Microsoft not crawling into the gutter with that other company and their ads.
Oh yeah, because those Laptop Hunters ads were so classy and highbrow, right?
Sure... No crawling into the gutter there. "The kids love them" and "I'm not cool enough for a Mac" and even lying about the prices and specs are so high brow and sophisticated.
Thank God Microsoft has raised the level of discourse.
Sometimes I wonder if you say things like this just to tweak people like me because I almost find it impossible to believe that you actually believe some of the things you say.
I shouldn't have said that last bit and I apologize. It was wholly inappropriate.
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Last edited by Vincent Ferrari; 10-22-2009 at 10:16 PM..
Its an old advertising truism that "when you have nothing good to say about your product, at least say something bad about your competitor's".
The obvious corollary is that when your competitor spends all his time trashing your product, you should take them head on. Microsoft's only mistake with the laptop hunters is that it took three freaking years worth of product libel to get them to respond.
Hopefully they'll respond a lot quicker this time, because of course, the fruity attacks *will* continue.
(Along those lines; I'm curious to see what the Cupertino response will be to the Moto-droid iDon't campaign. I suspect loud legal action. )
Oh yeah, because those Laptop Hunters ads were so classy and highbrow, right?
Yes, I liked them quite a bit. Sure, they poked at Apple over the price and selection issue, but it was really just a poke - a couple of seconds mention, then back to the focus of the ads. The Apple ads were 100% Mac vs. PC trashing talking. Sure, they did it in a "funny" way, but the end they were a full-on condemnation of everything about Windows PCs, from security to ease of use to choice to stability...etc.
There's a *big* difference between the Apple ads and any of the ads Microsoft has done, and I think everyone can see that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent Ferrari
"The kids love them" and "I'm not cool enough for a Mac" and even lying about the prices and specs are so high brow and sophisticated.
Ads get shot months or many weeks in advance of airing. Much ado about nothing in my book. I really have no idea if it was intentional or not, but is it a big deal? Not so much. The basic point of the laptop hunter campaign still holds true.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent Ferrari
Sometimes I wonder if you say things like this just to tweak people like me because I almost find it impossible to believe that you actually believe some of the things you say.
I say what I believe and I believe what I say. If you find that hard to believe, well...I don't know what I say about that.
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Yes, I liked them quite a bit. Sure, they poked at Apple over the price and selection issue, but it was really just a poke - a couple of seconds mention, then back to the focus of the ads
But wasn't the focus of the ads that Macs may be cool, but you cannot buy Macs for the budget that each person had for their purchase? IIRC, every ad had the person look at a Mac and lament that they just couldn't afford it, or the Mac that they could afford was not powerful enough to meet their needs, or was missing some feature (e.g., "Bluray!!!").
Ok, that said, I like these ads, and it's good to see that Microsoft has hired a competent ad agency. Their ads this year (including that laptop hunters) have been very effective.
The thing that bugs me is how in the second ad showing off aero snap how he windows flicker as they snap. The flickering/tearing/smearing windows are what's always annoyed me about windows vs. The smooth interface on os x. I was disappointed aero didn't completely fix this in vista, and if it's visible in a Microsoft produced ad for 7, it obviously is still an issue. Seeing this on a new PC is like driving a new car off the lot and noticing a rattle in the dash.
I like the fact that Microsoft has stumbled onto an advertising star in Kylie. Using her briefly in the launch event was a nice touch and the fact that she does not appear in the first block of new TV commercials indicates that they realize they need to be careful not to over use her.
The new ads are well done. The whole "Windows 7 was my idea" thing is a good memorable line and is people oriented rather than thematic like previous Windows launch ad campaigns.
It is nice to see Microsoft actually have a sustained period of witty and original marketing...and an actual spokesperson like Kylie. This is all very new territory for Microsoft. So far, so good.
The thing that bugs me is how in the second ad showing off aero snap how he windows flicker as they snap. The flickering/tearing/smearing windows are what's always annoyed me about windows vs. The smooth interface on os x. I was disappointed aero didn't completely fix this in vista, and if it's visible in a Microsoft produced ad for 7, it obviously is still an issue. Seeing this on a new PC is like driving a new car off the lot and noticing a rattle in the dash.
No flickering on my end here. Perhaps it's a hardware thing?
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There's a *big* difference between the Apple ads and any of the ads Microsoft has done, and I think everyone can see that.
Of course you think so LOL
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