Thursday, August 21, 2008

Microsoft and Seinfeld to Bite the Apple

I must admit I was delighted when I first heard that the Microsoft Empire had decided to strike back at Apple by recruiting Jerry Seinfeld.

For two years, Microsoft has been prodded and poked fun of in Apple's "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads on both sides of the Atlantic, and the company has finally snapped. In a last-ditch, and very expensive, attempt to fight humour with humour, the beleaguered software giant is paying the comic Jerry Seinfeld $10m to appear in a massive new ad campaign of its own.


Because I REALLY hate those MAC vs PC ads.

You know like this one...



OK I don't REALLY hate them. I admit they're brilliant.

But how come even though I'm cooler than the cool guy and even dress like him, I'm made to feel like the fat dork in a suit?

Just because I'm too poor to own a Mac and join the Green Apple cult. And even though I don't even own a tie. How unfair is that?

So naturally my first reaction was..... oh please please please Jerry...never mind which system is better...just make me COOL again. Yadda. Yadda. YADDA?

But then reality sank in.

Bill and Jerry? A fading comedian and a nerdy multibillionaire?

Together in a Microsoft ad?

Uh oh. What's worse than a fat dork in a suit?

Stay tuned.

I'm afraid we're going to find out....

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ha Ha Ha, I wasn't aware Microsoft hired Seinfeld, which to me doesn't come off as any surprise, let alone a brilliant marketing strategy.

I'm one of those apparently rare creatures who never liked Seinfeld, I never thought he was funny, it's like he's so... oh I don't know... PC I guess. To me, they're made for each other. Sorry Simon.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I hate those ads. But there are some very good parodies out there!

The thing with macs is. is that macs are in an even more closed ecosystem than windows! So unless I was doing graphics design, I would stick with windows or linux.

Anonymous said...

Rashid, it’s true, it depends on what you need to do with your computer. I’ve often advised people who are not designers like me to get a PC because it will suit their purpose for a third of the price. It all depends on what you use it for.

Sure I pay more, but at the end of the day it makes me money because I use it to make a living, and I don’t have to worry about security, or service. I’m connected to all of Apples servers, they set my clock for me, they update my security, buh by Norton, I don’t have to worry about anything or even tell the damned thing what to do. It already knows. It’s money well spent, depending on how you want to spend your money.

It’s a closed ecosystem, but a comfortable one. Given the market share, I don’t think Microsoft is really shaking in their boots anyway.

Simon said...

Hi Bruce !! Actually I'm not a big Seinfeld fan either. And I consider that Yadda Yadda thing as one of the most annoying phrases on earth :)
I just think his choice is so safe, and middle of the road, which figures. As you point out in your second comment Microsoft has such a grip on the market they don't really have to worry....

Simon said...

Hi Bruce !! Actually I'm not a big Seinfeld fan either. And I consider that Yadda Yadda thing as one of the most annoying phrases on earth :)
I just think his choice is so safe, and middle of the road, which figures. As you point out in your second comment Microsoft has such a grip on the market they don't really have to worry....

Simon said...

Rashid/Bruce

Nothing like having two geek friends make you feel ignorant.
Closed ecosystem? Wot?
Thanks a lot. :)

Anonymous said...

I knew it, the ad flopped.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080905/technology/technology_tv_seinfeld_microsoft_ad