Thursday, August 21st 2008

Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates to Promote Windows Vista

Not very long ago, Microsoft had announced a humongous allocation of funds (covered here) for a large-scale promotion campaign aimed to uplift their Windows Vista OS from lukewarm market reception. "The Mojave Experiment" (read here) that soon followed was part and parcel of the campaign. Meanwhile things looked better for Apple and in turn the propagation of its operating system. A major part of the campaign is covered at a non-public stratum, meaning that they don't involve public commercials, announcements, advertisements, etc., since they are aimed to promote enterprise siblings of Windows Vista and involve events directed towards small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The most recent development in terms of public-marketing from Microsoft comes in the form of the software giant taking off from where the Mojave Experiment left, by signing up comedian, former TV star Jerry Seinfeld for US $10M to feature in commercials promoting Vista. Microsoft explains the concept as "Windows, Not Walls," which involves "break[ing] down barriers that prevent people and ideas from connecting."

Joining Jerry would be Bill Gates who has had sufficient "work experience" with starring in TV commercials, of the many in which he starred along with Steve Ballmer. We could soon see Gates star with Seinfeld in doing "anti-Apple" advertisements retaliatory to those "PC vs. Mac guy" ads. Microsoft will begin firing its marketing artillery against Apple starting September 4 in an effort to derail Apple's campaign to create of Mac computers as being cool and Vista PCs being failures.
Sources: AppScout, TG Daily
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30 Comments on Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates to Promote Windows Vista

#1
ShadowFold
Good to see Microsoft is promoting Vista. It would be good for more average users to use Vista because if I tell someone who isn't very tech they say I'm an idiot when I say its faster and better than XP.
Posted on Reply
#2
kuroikenshi
I admit that I had been a nay-sayer about Vista when I had not really used it. Well I took the plunge and purchased and installed Vista Ultimate 64 and I have been pleased for the most part.

I still have a few issues but I can play my games and what not (granted after a bit of tweaking and a bit of swearing! :p )
Posted on Reply
#3
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
Many Thanks to candle_86 for sending this in.
Posted on Reply
#5
SK-1
I kind of hope they try an Apple dis. I am sick of the way Apple slams Microsoft in some of its ad campaigns.
Posted on Reply
#6
From_Nowhere
Mac: "Woah, what are you doing?" Mac says as he levitates in the air.
PC: "Playing Half-Life 2, this is my gravity gun."
Mac: "Well I can sort of do that."
PC: "Technically Mac, you have to become me first."
Posted on Reply
#7
SK-1
^ I hope gates is a member here and sees that^:laugh::laugh:
Posted on Reply
#8
Mussels
Freshwater Moderator
From_NowhereMac: "Woah, what are you doing?" Mac says as he levitates in the air.
PC: "Playing Half-Life 2, this is my gravity gun."
Mac: "Well I can sort of do that."
PC: "Technically Mac, you have to become me first."
we are the borg. you will be assimilated.
Posted on Reply
#9
candle_86
"Star Trek Lost Episodes" transcript.

Picard "Mr. LaForge, have you had any success with your attempts at finding a weakness in the Borg? And Mr. Data, have you been able to access their command pathways?"

Geordi "Yes, Captain. In fact, we found the answer by searching through our archives on late Twentieth-century computing technology."

Geordi presses a key, and a logo appears on the computer screen.

Riker looks puzzled. "What in the world is 'Microsoft'?"

Data turns to answer. "Allow me to explain. We will send this program, for some reason called 'Windows', through the Borg command pathways. Once inside their root command unit, it will begin consuming system resources at an unstoppable rate."

Picard "But the Borg have the ability to adapt. Won't they alter their processing systems to increase their storage capacity?"

Data "Yes, Captain. But when 'Windows' detects this, it creates a new version of itself known as an 'upgrade'. The use of resources increases exponentially with each iteration. The Borg will not be able to adapt quickly enough. Eventually all of their processing ability will be taken over and none will be available for their normal operational functions."

Picard "Excellent work. This is even better than that 'unsolvable geometric shape' idea."

Fifteen minutes later . . .

Data "Captain, We have successfully installed the 'Windows' in the command unit and as expected it immediately consumed 85% of all resources. We however have not received any confirmation of the expected 'upgrade'."

Geordi "Our scanners have picked up an increase in Borg storage and CPU capacity to compensate, but we still have no indication of an 'upgrade' to compensate for their increase."

Picard "Data, scan the history banks again and determine if their is something we have missed."

Data "Sir, I believe their is a reason for the failure in the 'upgrade'. Apparently, the Borg have circumvented that part of the plan by not sending in their registration cards.

Riker "Captain we have no choice. Requesting permission to begin emergency escape sequence 3F . . ."

Geordi, excited "Wait, Captain I just detected their CPU capacity has suddenly dropped to 0% !"

Picard "Data, what do your scanners show?"

Data "Apparently the Borg have found the internal 'Windows' module named 'Solitaire' and it has used up all the CPU capacity."

Picard "Lets wait and see how long this 'solitaire' can reduce their functionality."

Two hours pass . . .

Riker "Geordi what's the status on the Borg?"

Geordi "As expected, the Borg are attempting to re-engineer to compensate for increased CPU and storage demands, but each time they successfully increase resources I have set up, our closest deep space monitor beacon to transmit more 'Windows' modules from something called the 'Microsoft fun-pack'.

Picard "How much time will that buy us ?"

Data "Current Borg solution rates allow me to predicate an interest time span of 6 more hours."

Geordi "Captain, another vessel has entered our sector."

Picard "Identify."

Data "It appears to have markings very similar to the 'Microsoft' logo"

Over the speakers:
"THIS IS ADMIRAL BILL GATES OF THE MICROSOFT FLAGSHIP MONOPOLY. WE HAVE POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OF UNREGISTERED SOFTWARE IN THIS SECTOR. SURRENDER ALL ASSETS AND WE CAN AVOID ANY TROUBLE. YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS"

Data "The alien ship has just opened its forward hatches and released thousands of humanoid shaped objects."

Picard "Magnify forward viewer on the alien craft"

Riker "Good God captain! Those are humans floating straight toward the Borg ship with no life support suits ! How can they survive the tortures of deep space ?!"

Data "I don't believe that those are humans sir, if you will look closer, I believe you will see that they are carrying something recognized by twenty-first century man as doe skin leather briefcases, and wearing Armani suits"

Riker and Picard together horrified "Lawyers !!"

Geordi "It can't be. All the lawyers were rounded up and sent hurtling into the sun in 2017 during the Great Awakening."

Data "True, but apparently some must have survived."

Riker "They have surrounded the Borg ship and are covering it with all types of papers."

Data "I believe that is known in ancient vernacular as 'red tape'. I understand that it often proves fatal."

Riker "They're tearing the Borg to pieces !"

Picard "Turn off the monitors. I can't stand to watch, not even the Borg deserve that!"
hehe
Posted on Reply
#10
Ravenas
Personally I think this is far overdue, and actually far too late.

Look, when someone plants the seed of doubt, and then lets it grow without a care in the world (blames balmer), the plant will begin to grow very large. In other words, the seed has grown for far too long.

Example:

A game gets crappy scores from almost every critic. Sales suffer tremendously. About 2 years later they release a patch that fixes everything. However, still the sales still don't live up to the potential because the "seed" has already been planted.



I'm not saying the above example is what happened with Vista. However, in my opinion the best defense is a good offense...And Microsoft did nothing while Apple has continued to gobble up their market.

Apple computers are now sitting at 4.2% market share, after the back to school thing. While that doesn't seem very significant. I'll put it this way...Apple doubled their COMPUTER market shares in ONE SUMMER ALONE. (that's out of all of the computer market)

In conclusion, this is too little too late.
Posted on Reply
#11
warup89
they are probably gonna play Seinfeld's theme song on the background:laugh:
Posted on Reply
#12
PaulieG
LOL. This should be great. I can't stand those BS Mac commercials, especially when they make me laugh, despite the load of crap they are spewing.
Posted on Reply
#13
SK-1
RavenasPersonally I think this is far overdue, and actually far too late.

Look, when someone plants the seed of doubt, and then lets it grow without a care in the world (blames balmer), the plant will begin to grow very large. In other words, the seed has grown for far too long.

Example:

A game gets crappy scores from almost every critic. Sales suffer tremendously. About 2 years later they release a patch that fixes everything. However, still the sales still don't live up to the potential because the "seed" has already been planted.



I'm not saying the above example is what happened with Vista. However, in my opinion the best defense is a good offense...And Microsoft did nothing while Apple has continued to gobble up their market.

Apple computers are now sitting at 4.2% market share, after the back to school thing. While that doesn't seem very significant. I'll put it this way...Apple doubled their COMPUTER market shares in ONE SUMMER ALONE. (that's out of all of the computer market)

In conclusion, this is too little too late.
I would say the same, however, there are 2 things you left out in your post.1,...$10 Million Dollars, 2... Jerry Seinfeld. I have never seen a $10 million dollar ad campaign with Jerry Seinfeld promoting a patched piece of software. Hmmm how many copies of Vista to make up 10 million?
Posted on Reply
#14
PaulieG
SK-1I would say the same, however, there are 2 things you left out in your post.1,...$10 Million Dollars, 2... Jerry Seinfeld. I have never seen a $10 million dollar ad campaign with Jerry Seinfeld promoting a patched piece of software. Hmmm how many copies of Vista to make up 10 million?
I don't think selling more software is the direct point right now. I think it's about image, which will help increase sales in the long run.
Posted on Reply
#15
Chewy
hahaa I cant wait either, this should turn out very nice and productive to "PC" sales lol.


Nice one From_Nowhere. I hope you dont mind if I add it to my sig.
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#16
jbunch07
I cant wait to see these!
blast you chewy! i was about to do that!
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#17
xfire
Wonder if they'll air them in India?
Mac's have started to come up here.
Posted on Reply
#18
Chewy
jbunch07I cant wait to see these!
blast you chewy! i was about to do that!
hey you can still do it, Im not to active lately so I would even suggest you quote him aswell! its a good quote :toast:
Posted on Reply
#20
tkpenalty
From_NowhereMac: "Woah, what are you doing?" Mac says as he levitates in the air.
PC: "Playing Half-Life 2, this is my gravity gun."
Mac: "Well I can sort of do that."
PC: "Technically Mac, you have to become me first."
ROFL :roll::roll::roll::roll:


I can't agree more. Its just funny how true it is.

We rarely(never) see windows vista commercials in australia lol.
Posted on Reply
#22
thoughtdisorder
Jerry Seinfeld promoting Vista? Should be quite entertaining!

Perhaps they should do a commercial with Elaine saying something to Jerry like, "Microsoft is sponge-worthy, Mac is not". :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#23
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
xfireWonder if they'll air them in India?
Mac's have started to come up here.
You can always watch them online, on some video blog even if MS doesn't host it on one of its own sites (the way Apple did/does).
Posted on Reply
#24
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
anyone remember the seinfeld episode where he goes to buy a new computer? "porn-quotes"
Posted on Reply
#25
thoughtdisorder
Easy Rhinoanyone remember the seinfeld episode where he goes to buy a new computer? "porn-quotes"
Yep! :roll:

I still watch the re-runs even though I've seen them a million times! Obviously with this ad campaign coming out, I'm not alone!:)
Posted on Reply
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