Comments on: Microsoft is pushing Seinfeld away too soon

Don Reisinger thinks Microsoft is pushing Jerry Seinfeld away before it should. Worse, he thinks Microsoft needs to abandon its current strategy before it's too late.

[idea34]

Better Ad, but Microsoft Sells Windows:

http://idea34.blogspot.com/2008/09/better-ad-but-microsoft-sells-windows.html

Seinfeld, Gates & Microsoft: Can we have an idea please?!

http://idea34.blogspot.com/2008/09/seinfeld-gates-microsoft-can-we-have.html

[chrispilot67]

Well, I have this friend that has constantly attack OSX without even using it. Also, this other friend that says that Vista sucks.

I thought, to have an informed and intelligent decision, you must try and evaluate both. What do I think? You cannot beat OSX as an operating system. It is stable, intuitive, sexy and easy to use. I have experience using different OS: Solaris, Linux, Windows, and OSX. As a matter of fact, I majored in software design...

Now, from a end user point of view, Windows feels like a High Maintenance Neurotic Old Wife. OSX, on the other hand, like a Beautiful Sexy Easy Going Girlfriend you just fall in love with.

This is why I filed for Divorce! Bye, Bye Windows, in any shape or form...

[dd13reis]

Haha. Interesting take. I think both operating systems offer something worthwhile, but I do agree with you that out of the box (and that's important to remember), Vista can't stand up to Leopard. But with some (serious) optimization, it's almost on-par with Leopard.

-Don

[UITD]

I will never buy an Apple. I dont care "how much better it is". Its not. I can do everything that an Apple can do on my PC. Everything. And, the best part? It will cost 40-50$ LESS than buying the same Apple hardware.

Unless Apple is willing to give up their monopoly and allow people to build clones and to force the price down, they're going to ultimately lose. Doesnt matter how many crappy ipods or iphones or istuff they sell - they need to get with the program.

And I am an Apple fan. Imagine if I didnt like the company.

[Penguinisto]

"I can do everything that an Apple can do on my PC. Everything. "

Sure - if you install OSX on it first (otherwise those pesky .dmg files are going to be kinda hard to use...)

/P

[dd13reis]

Meh. Lame argument, really. Apple doesn't have a monopoly at all and not licensing its OS is all about strategy and its desire to sell hardware. It's a culture thing, not a "haha, in your face customer!" sort of thing.

-Don

[Supertheman]

You wrote: "I'm an Apple fan" and then "I will never buy an Apple". Riiiiiight. You can do anything with a broom that you can with a leaf blower too! Haha, but good luck with that. Until you use a Mac (for more than three minutes in the store so you can prove you've used one) you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

Apple once upon a time DID allow clones and it was a DISASTER. The Mac experience is a combo of software *and* hardware. Using a clone just doesn't do it (I know, because I owned a clone). Apple isn't trying to be a jerk and have a "monopoly", they are trying to preserve the Mac experience, which requires hardware and software. It's like saying, why won't Apple allow iPod clones? It's more than just the software. If you can't see that the hardware is half the experience (and intrinsically involved in the quality of the product) then you just don't get it (and won't ever).

[takeanotherchance]

delight with products. not ads. that is what works for apple.

[dd13reis]

Very very very true. I'm expecting big things from Windows 7. If MSFT doesn't perform with that OS, it'll have bigger problems than advertising.

-Don

[dk12rk]

Did I enjoy the ads, yeah! Probably nothing to so with Microsoft but I just enjoyed Seinfeld "Its about nothing ad" (at least the first one). The second one had few really funny scenes. I especially loved the "She been with us for 12 years" Man the expression on the guy's face. I also loved the Bill Gates "I got nothing" line for paying the delivery guy.
I basically enjoyed them and would thank MS for providing them. P.S. I also enjoy the Apple ads.

Some people just hate Microsoft too much. They will never get past that. If you really hate them so much don't post anything because it will be just diatribe.

I am so sick and tired of MAC and PC users fighting over the forums and comments at different websites. Here is the final story.

Most Windows users are happy and comfortable with Windows.

Most OS X users really love their operating system.

Some OS X users take every chance to show off their cool features, in a way how a big dog loves to lick his thing in front of everybody else.

Some Windows users love to defend it like a guy who is defending his 4? thing, which he makes into 8? by adding 3rd party applications.

So please move on and get a life. Its just a computer.

[dd13reis]

You're totally downplaying the significance of these ads. You don't realize that these ads are all about shareholders and money? No, it's not just a computer. This is business and in business, people can make a lot of money or lose a lot of money.

These ads aren't about Apple and they're not about Vista per se. They're about repairing Microsoft's image and making sure that it cements its stock price and financial health for the future.

-Don

[AlerictQ]

Proving once again that Microsoft innovates nothing and merely copies what Apple does first.

[dd13reis]

Oh please. That comment makes no sense. Were things copied? Yes. But you know what? It's rampant in this industry and EVERY company has "borrowed" ideas from others. It's a part of doing business. And while you're at it, go read about the history of the iPod. Tell us what turns up.

-Don

[marshuff]

Yes, only they make money doing it...and capture market share. Hummm...who is the really smart company here?

[Gary Crandall]

Between google and apple, microsoft's days are numbered and they know it. Stick a fork in Microsoft, they're done.

[Supertheman]

To dd13reis:

Here is the history of the iPod:

http://lowendmac.com/orchard/05/origin-of-the-ipod.html#0

Check it out. It will only show how brilliant Steve Jobs is, and how to do it RIGHT. They recruited someone with an idea and a company with the right software and put them to work. They didn't just buy companies and steal their ideas, they did it right and ethically. The prototype was a mess, but Jobs worked with the team (Tony Fadell and PortalPlayer) and turned it into the beautiful iPod. No person had their ideas stolen, no companies were bought and destroyed and Apple bought the rights to SoundJam MP. No one can say that Apple simply "bought" the iPod design, because it isn't true. Fadell and the PortalPlayer people will tell you that Steve Jobs and the people at Apple were instrumental in completely redesigning the iPod into what it became.

Bottom line, Apple did it RIGHT. They bought rights, they listened to a person who wanted to innovate (because Apple understands that), they created a team, they built something great. They also licensed the Fraunhofer codecs (while other companies ripped it off and got sued). Compare the way Apple did it, with the way Microsoft did it with Momenta and the pen computer. Basically, the Momenta people (Go corp.) showed Momenta to Jobs to make software for it. He demanded to see the code for the OS and stole it for Pen Windows. Not long after, Go went under and all they could do is talk to the press about how Microsoft had ripped them off.

Also, take a look at how Jobs was allowed to look at Xerox Parc and the Alto. Jobs paid for the privilege, with the complete blessing of the Xerox execs who had no intentions of building the Alto for the masses. Xerox never sued Apple or complained of foul play, because (as I said) Jobs paid for the rights to see Alto and had the blessing of Xerox execs to use what he saw for Apple. So, yes, sometimes creative people come to Apple with ideas, or people at Apple see creative ideas that they use, but they do it RIGHT and they're smart enough to run with a good idea when they see it. Other people had a chance to work with Tony Fadell and PortalPlayer, but only Apple said "yes" and committed time, money and resources into making the iPod. Apple innovates, and they hire innovative people and license innovative ideas and products. How you could see anything but a huge positive in the history of the iPod, I don't know.

[0zSpit]

the only people who bash the commercials were bloggers and mac owners, of which 99% are brain dead.

[dd13reis]

True and true. The mainstream enjoyed it and that's all that should matter.

-Don

[marshuff]

You hit it right on the head. The Mac toy computer users simply hate ANYTHING that MS does. Gives them something to do.

[Supertheman]

Wrong. The only people that like the new commercials are Windoze tools that enjoy using lousy copies of good products. Vista is a disaster and the the Mojave Experiment was an even bigger disaster that basically got off on making people look stupid. Cludgy and crash-prone Windoze machines are the reason why Apple is kicking Microsoft's ass. While Gates still says stupid things like "toy computer", consumers now know this is BS and it makes them hate MS even more. Anyone who has used an iPod or an iPhone knows that it's no toy, but a seriously excellent and powerful product that makes all others look stupid. The only toys are the products that try to compete with Apple's.

[0zSpit]

super has the mac mentality going. what's next, you'll call everyone a poopybutt too? did you just learn windoze? thats about 8 years old now, one more than you. here's another one CRAPPLE! get your jammies on, pick up your toys and get ready for bed. also, owning a refurbished mac doesn't make you a spokesman. it just means you're too poor to buy a real one. or your parents don't like you enough to get you nice things, lmao <~~ laughing at the mactards

[hc2008]

Anyone who thinks that the Seinfeld and Windows commercials are funny are probably the same people that try to impress their friends with a repertoire of 5th grader knock knock jokes.

The 90's are over, Seinfeld is not funny. Bill Gates is not funny. The commercials are pointless. Microsoft designers have built this thing called Vista which is about as user intuitive as a fitting a peg in a round hole.

For about 5 years I've used OS/X and have ran XP as a virtual machine for testing web designs under various flavors of IE. I spent over 20 years building systems and writing software. Over the last 5 years, with OS/X, all I have to do is flip the power on my Mac and actually "get work done" that is important for my business and not spend half the morning fixing registry issues, updating AV, diagnosing hardware and drivers.

OS/X --- Just flip it, and forget it!

[marshuff]

Seinfeld IS still funny and it's great to see Gates showing a sense of humor. What may not be funny to many. Oh...Knock, Knock....How much of the market does Mac have vs. Microsoft?

[techslut]

Stop crying, Don. I'm sure your beloved Microsoft will come up with SOMETHING. Go get laid.

[dd13reis]

Don't make dumb, inappropriate comments. Even your name is inappropriate. Either have something constructive to say or don't say anything at all. We're trying to have a real discussion here and you need to act this way?

Get out unless you have something worthwhile to say.

-Don

[ErnieTheBear]

Every time I have to use a Mac, I think my head is going to explode. Yeah, I hate 'em. I still like their ads, though. They're funny and clever, in a completely content-free sort of way. They'll never make me want to become a Mac owner, but I like them. The Seinfeld/Gates ads were the best ones MS has come out with in AGES. I think people are looking at them individually, which is natural, but they were really meant to be more of a mini-series, IMO. They were just starting to get the "back-story" out of the way, and then they killed the rest of the series. I agree with Don, dumb idea and bad timing.

[HighwayHome]

"And that's why the Seinfeld ads were so important. No, they didn't need to talk about Windows or Vista or even Microsoft, for that matter. What they needed to do was portray Bill Gates as a likable guy and use Seinfeld to do it. And most importantly, the ads needed to show that Microsoft wasn't as bad as everyone thinks."

The ads need to portray Gates as a likable guy??? To whom??? To the older crowd who doesn't particularly care much for the guy? Or to the younger crowd who doesn't really care about his manufactured celebrity status? Gates may be a lot of things, but he will never be mistaken for a likable and charismatic guy.

Microsoft did the right thing by shutting down those ads. Throwing all that money at Seinfeld (a has-been or never-been, depending on who you ask) was sheer lunacy. Sorry, but Joe Blow, who is living paycheck to paycheck, may have more than a bit of difficulty connecting and relating to these two obscenely wealthy dudes.

And for the record, the best ad campaign in the world cannot make people forget about the train wreck which is Vista. Because after the commercial is over, we have to return to our PCs and be reminded constantly what a piece of trash the system actually is.

Microsoft should admit that they screwed up with Vista and try to make nice with their customers. Trying to humanize Gates, Seinfeld, PC users, etc. and taking a shot at Apple is shallow and transparent. We don't need another pre-scripted pseudo reality show insulting our intelligence. On the other hand, we do need to know why we should continue to have faith in a company which has stuck the dagger in our back once too often. In today's corrupt and dishonest corporate climate, maybe that's asking too much.

[pratik1988]

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[The_Decider]

This is MS in a nutshell. They tried to blaze their own trail and failed miserably in those stupid ads. Now they gave up and are copying Apple.

That mirrors Microsoft's approach to OS's, and why they are dropping and Apple is gaining market share by a double digit growth rate.

Could it be the first time that MS was honest, although it was not on purpose. The last thing MS needs is to be seen copying Apple yet again.

[jabberwolf]

I kinda like Gates and Seinfeld.
I liked the idea of people complaining that they didnt get it.
I liked the story that makes you want to look and see what they are going to do next !!!!!

It was a lead and some people did NOT get it. But the funny thing is, they were watching it... complaining but watching it... and then complaining more but still watching it.

Guess what, the ads were doing what they were supposed to... making people watch.

So I dont know if this article is true or not as everyone's BLOG is taken as fact and not rumor ( as it usually is)... but you are right that MS should not stop with the commercials. I dont think they will and hope they dont start attacking the Apple ads.

They should simply show what Vista can do, then ask if the other can do the same... which most certainly Apple cannot.

And only a duo like Gates and Seinfeld can make fun of Apple jokingly and not seem like its complaining but actually nail them on facts and do so sarcastically and with humor!

[MIAagain]

I have to agree. Microsoft has pretty damn deep pockets. I seriously doubt they'd just toss a new marketing campaign into the recycle bin so quickly. I think this whole thing is meant to get attention...and have people waiting to see what will happen next. Paris pulled it off....MS might as well.

[ppgreat]

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/09/what-advertisin.html

[santiagosays]

I agree completely. When I saw the new ads I was questioning what was going on. It was already confusing enough to have the "mojave" ads running at the same time as the Seinfeld ones, but it felt like the Seinfeld ones were moving too swiftly as well. Now they're gone completely? It reeks of a general coming up with a brilliant strategy and rushing through the steps to get to the end. In order to make people like Microsoft and not think of it as a souless, small business crushing giant it has to win them over first. Only then can it begin attacking Mac.

If people aren't on Microsofts "side" when they start attacking Mac, they'll just see it as the souless giant trying to crush another small business, despite the fact Mac is anything but a small business. Perception is reality.

[djalschuler]

Microsoft will continue to loose credibility until it makes Vista more user friendly and compatible with legacy software.

[David R Williams]

Well, As a matter of fact Microsoft is not going to loose it's credibililty if you would like to have look on Microsoft's future innovations.

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[craig1954]

The add could have been funny but Bill Gates is not funny. To me he is a geek and not a very likable guy. If you want to make Microsoft a likable company you've got to put someone else out there.

[Purceville]

I haven't paid attention to a computer commercial since Dell fired Steve. I found the Bill and Jerry ads to be quite funny.