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View Full Version : The New Windows 7 Ads...Were My Idea


Jason Dunn
10-22-2009, 08:00 PM
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="360" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r2YX6FsoMIY&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r2YX6FsoMIY&amp;ap=%26fmt=18"></embed></object></p><p>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 <a href="http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/" target="_blank">that other company</a> and their ads. A good product succeeds on its own, not because it trashes another product. Two more ads after the break. <MORE /></p><p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="360" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yfQPLxgcGw8&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yfQPLxgcGw8&amp;ap=%26fmt=18"></embed></object></p><p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="360" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9ZesvwuE2g&amp;ap=%26fmt=18" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9ZesvwuE2g&amp;ap=%26fmt=18"></embed></object></p>

Vincent Ferrari
10-22-2009, 08:21 PM
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 (http://www.apple.com/getamac/ads/) 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.

<strike>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.</strike>

I shouldn't have said that last bit and I apologize. It was wholly inappropriate.

Felix Torres
10-22-2009, 09:33 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. :) )

Jason Dunn
10-22-2009, 10:16 PM
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.

"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.

Are you talking about this?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10295057-71.html

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.

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. :)

doogald
10-22-2009, 10:39 PM
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.

mrozema
10-22-2009, 10:41 PM
Microsoft has done a nice job with these ads. They're fun, positive and don't slander their competitors with them.

I like how they actually showcase some of the new features that Windows 7 includes. Very nice.

electrollama
10-23-2009, 12:59 AM
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.

randalllewis
10-23-2009, 01:25 AM
I like the fact that <NOBR style="COLOR: darkgreen; FONT-SIZE: 100%; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" id=itxt_nobr_5_0>Microsofthttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/2.gif</NOBR> (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/#) 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.<!-- / message --><!-- message, attachments, sig -->

Lee Yuan Sheng
10-23-2009, 02:31 AM
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?

Macguy59
10-23-2009, 02:55 AM
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

Macguy59
10-23-2009, 02:59 AM
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.

I agree. They are effective

ptyork
10-23-2009, 05:09 AM
And in this corner...

http://www.viddler.com/explore/engadget/videos/758/4.117

...there's a word for that..."pathetic." :(

Stinger
10-23-2009, 10:15 AM
They're showing similar ads with local actors in the UK, though I'm not entirely sure why. The ads are an obvious counter to Apple's "I'm a Mac" commercials but the "I'm a Mac" ads never took off in the UK and aren't shown anymore.

I assume that the ads are being shown globally and in a lot of countries who never got the original Apple adverts. There's going to be a lot of head scratching going on. The ads are too America-centric, in my opinion.

Also, where's my copy of Windows 7? Damn you, Royal Mail. :(

Jason Dunn
10-23-2009, 09:17 PM
They're showing similar ads with local actors in the UK, though I'm not entirely sure why. The ads are an obvious counter to Apple's "I'm a Mac" commercials but the "I'm a Mac" ads never took off in the UK and aren't shown anymore.

That's an interesting statement, because I think the ads stand alone and don't reference or hint at anything in the Apple commercials. In what way do you find them linked to the Apple ads?

The ads are too America-centric, in my opinion.

I'm curious about this as well - why are they too America-centric? Because the style of home shown isn't typical elsewhere in the world? I'm really interested in your opinion on this...

Janak Parekh
10-24-2009, 04:49 AM
I've generally thought Microsoft ads have been lame, including the aforementioned Laptop Hunters ones. These aren't so bad; in fact, they're pretty decent. As you mentioned, they're positive, light, fun.

So why can't the Windows Mobile team make ads like this? Instead of their creepy icon ads (well, in my opinion. ;))

--janak

Chris Gohlke
10-24-2009, 05:49 PM
In the first ad, unless you are really paying attention it sounds to me like the girl at the 18 second mark is saying absof&*kinglutely. That is what I and my wife both heard when we saw the ad on TV and were surprised that got through. When I rewatched it here, and really listened for it, she is saying absofreakinglutely, must just be the intonation.

mrozema
10-25-2009, 12:56 AM
In the first ad, unless you are really paying attention it sounds to me like the girl at the 18 second mark is saying absof&*kinglutely. That is what I and my wife both heard when we saw the ad on TV and were surprised that got through. When I rewatched it here, and really listened for it, she is saying absofreakinglutely, must just be the intonation.
Kind of a wierd thing to say in a commercial, eh?