Monday, September 08, 2008

Seinfeld and Gates fall flat in first Microsoft Ad

Perhaps Microsoft needs more than Seinfeld to rejuvenate its reputation, because the first ad in the Seinfeld/Gates Vista series has been  labeled as a major flop. Seinfeld is known for his blend of satirical and observational style of humour, but he was pretty bland in the debut commercial. 

The 90-second spot features Seinfeld and Bill Gates bargain hunting for shoes, with Seinfeld asking random questions about Gates' preferences,from footwear to showering techniques.I It ends with the unusual duo leaving the store eating churros, a discussion computers made of cake (yes,you read that right) and a quick slogan: The Future: Delicious.

A poll by engadget.com asked "Is Microsoft's new ad working?" and the results (as of 3:23 p.m.) were

• 12.9 % yes. This makes the idea of Windows a lot more palatable and interesting.
• 19.1% No. The ads don't help Vista's case.
• 46.5% I don't even know what this ad is about.
• 21.4% I want that cake computer.

 After  a second view, I appreciated the use of symbolism: comfort, customization and flavor;all major aspects microsoft wants to push to the consumer. But it simply didn't deliver any laughs. The bottom line is, if the customers don't even know what you're selling, you've just wasted a ton of money, but of course, when you're Bill Gates, what's another 300 million dollars wasted?

You always want to leave a crowd wanting more, and the ad certainly left many viewers wondering what might come next, but it certainly didn't give any clear reasons to expect any bold moves in Microsofts' future.

Posted By Matt O'Hern at 02:49 PM
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