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September 19th, 2008

Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.

Posted by Sam Diaz @ 1:33 am

Categories: Apple, Entertainment, General, Microsoft

Tags: Apple Macintosh, Advertisement, Commercial, PC, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows, Desktops, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware

I used to be a PC.

But I’m pretty much a Mac guy now - not that there’s anything wrong with that. (Sorry - just a little tribute to Jerry.)

What a cool club of nerds and jocks and teachers and models and artists and astronauts and cowboys featured in the latest round of commercials released by Microsoft. (embedded below) Even the John Hodgman look-alike from the Apple ads was kind of cool with his “Hello. I’m a PC and I’ve been made into a stereotype” line - a nice, effective counterpunch at Apple. The commercials were creative, engaging and simple. It almost made me want to be a PC again.

Also see: Mary-Jo Foley: Bring on the fake John Hodgman!

Eva is a PCEven better than the commercials is the campaign. If you’re a PC (and so many of you are - at least judging from the talkbacks) here’s your chance to be part of the cool club. Upload a pic or use your webcam to tell everyone that you’re a PC too. And, yes, your face will be part of the gallery that’s used in online ads, on Microsoft’s Windows site and on a giant screen in Times Square.

That’s a nice move on Microsoft’s part - uniting the happy and proud Windows users of the world to overpower the much smaller, yet more vocal Mac fanbase. Round them up to spread the word. Don’t let the message be dictated by grumpy, Mac-using bloggers like me. Tell friends and family, co-workers and even strangers that you love Windows. And maybe, just maybe, people you know will re-think a switch to the Mac - or even switch back to Windows.

I guess that’s kind of the point of the Microsoft ad campaign, right? To make me want to be a PC. To make me want to be a Windows user.  I’m still not exactly sure why. Not to be part of the cool club, I’m sure. Microsoft didn’t really tell me in this round of commercials why it’s cool to be a PC - but they didn’t have to. We’re not there yet.

Previous coverage: Gates & Seinfeld’s next commercial: Better. With funny parts; Seinfeld & Gates: Was this ad supposed to be funny?

And just to beat a dead horse one more time: This round of commercials should have been the shoulder-tap, the attention getter. The campaign should have started here. Not that Bill Gates-Jerry Seinfeld nonsense. (Please tell me Seinfeld will make at least a few more cameos for his $10 million.) And thank you for not making me think about subliminal messages in the commercial. (Jerry to Bill in the shoe store: “You’re a 10.” Hmmm, I wonder if he’s talking about Bill’s shoe size or that has something to do with Mac OS X?) I did like the “This is my Office” line, though.

Anyway, well done, Microsoft. This is a nice start and I look forward to seeing the next act.

Sam Diaz

Sam Diaz is a senior editor at ZDNet. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 245 Talkback(s)
Just because I'm a PC doesn't mean I'm running Windows.
Yeah, I'm a PC, but I run Linux. I do have a couple of old boxes that still run Windows 95, 98, and Me just for old games that I still play from time to time, but I do most of my current computing in Ubuntu Linux.... (Read the rest)
Posted by: noeman5 Posted on: 08/02/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
Way better campaign  TedKraan | 09/19/08
Actually...  rapson | 09/19/08
Not really sure about that one  TedKraan | 09/19/08
He has a point  rjohn05 | 09/19/08
Actually, it was IBM that popularized the term  bmerc | 09/19/08
Well said. And...  Cayble | 09/21/08
Mac = PC  pico_D | 09/19/08
Mac wants everyone to think they're not PCs  tikigawd | 09/20/08
It's Substantiated Criticism, Not "Unsubstantiated Bashing"  Cardhu | 09/20/08
Some of these points are conceded  CrashPad | 09/20/08
How Typical of Microsoft Apologists  Cardhu | 09/20/08
You miss the point...  CrashPad | 09/20/08
I'm Not Your "Feloow Techi [sic]"  Cardhu | 09/20/08
I WAS a PC  itguy08 | 09/19/08
In fairness...  Sleeper Service | 09/19/08
particularly  rtk | 09/19/08
actually  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
they'll replace all of their hardware?  rtk | 09/19/08
re: I WAS a PC  Badgered | 09/19/08
So, your point is ...  daboochmeister | 09/19/08
It would seem  Boot_Agnostic | 09/19/08
Perhaps the original posts was saying this....  James Quinn | 09/19/08
Exactly  itguy08 | 09/19/08
Hey ItGuy80...  PollyProteus | 09/19/08
Exactly ?  etherspy | 09/29/08
It's not "can't handle"  RealNonZealot | 09/19/08
There is no mistake. The issue you cite are no longer...  ye | 09/19/08
DLLs  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
@ fox.kenji: obviously  tikigawd | 09/20/08
Sorry  Boot_Agnostic | 09/19/08
No  Badgered | 09/19/08
Lack of English Comprehension Skills  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
So...  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
re: Lack  Badgered | 09/22/08
Quoting Out Of Context  Cardhu | 09/22/08
"Just Your Opinion"  Cardhu | 09/20/08
Just Your Opinion  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
Typical Debate Ploys Here  Cardhu | 09/21/08
Typical Debate Ploys Here  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
Thanks  Cardhu | 09/21/08
Typical  Badgered | 09/22/08
Those Like You Who Put Words In Other People's Mouths  Cardhu | 09/22/08
Just curious  Badgered | 09/23/08
Products and Coercion  Cardhu | 09/23/08
Just the facts ma'am  Badgered | 09/22/08
You Really Miss The Point  Cardhu | 09/22/08
re: Missing the Point  Badgered | 09/23/08
Not just recently  rtk | 09/23/08
Microsoft Deletes Critical Posts In Their Forums  Cardhu | 09/23/08
Off of public usenet?  rtk | 09/23/08
I Said  Cardhu | 09/24/08
I'm a PC and I run Linux... Doh..  b.bob | 09/19/08
Windows has had file level permissions since 1993.  ye | 09/19/08
Yeah  TedKraan | 09/19/08
User rights file level permissions?  b.bob | 09/19/08
Not sure you know  rtk | 09/19/08
Yep. User level file permissions.  ye | 09/19/08
Yup, correct  TedKraan | 09/22/08
Fer sure, fer sure........  Ole Man | 09/22/08
Getting better  Win3.1 | 09/19/08
The key factor is freedom versus bondage  pjotr123 | 09/19/08
Isn't the only free OS  Boot_Agnostic | 09/19/08
Never understood this argument.....  James Quinn | 09/19/08
ms tried the holistic solution  Hogleg | 09/19/08
My argument is rock solid.... yours well lets just say  James Quinn | 09/19/08
Argument is rock solid?  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
I've been working on repairing and supporting  James Quinn | 09/29/08
Dude, you are free to do what you want  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
re: Dude  Badgered | 09/19/08
So back in the day when they said....  James Quinn | 09/19/08
[/sarcasm] , right?  Badgered | 09/19/08
Actually you can do anything you want with your Apple...  PollyProteus | 09/19/08
Not at all true.....  James Quinn | 09/29/08
OS X hardware integration  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
Apple tax.  rtk | 09/19/08
Pardon me.  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
You're pardoned.  rtk | 09/22/08
A hard drive is a hard drive...  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
Apple hardware  tikigawd | 09/20/08
You have no concept...  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
Lasts inherently longer?  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
Where is the PPC version of WinXP?  Bruizer | 09/20/08
You do reaslise we're talking about PCs?  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
Considering...  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
Ubiquity  Yagotta B. Kidding | 09/19/08
Really? I see many options: OS X and Linux to name two.  ye | 09/19/08
That's why ads are necessary  IT_User | 09/19/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  CrashPad | 09/19/08
Best Post Ever!  mikefarinha | 09/19/08
YES!  B.Beck | 09/19/08
And yet..  TedKraan | 09/19/08
We don't matter???  SamDiazZDNet Moderator | 09/19/08
Wrong  mikefarinha | 09/19/08
I never claimed...  SamDiazZDNet Moderator | 09/19/08
Well then. The market has spoken and Windows "won".  ye | 09/19/08
Technically its not a victory until a surrender.  James Quinn | 09/19/08
That's What IBM and Ed Esber  Cardhu | 09/27/08
Partly true  TedKraan | 09/22/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
To be creative, even Microsoft needs a Mac happy  A Grain of Salt | 09/19/08
Yes, Shots are Cheap...  OutsideThe Box | 09/19/08
I doubt I'll take you up on the wager happy  A Grain of Salt | 09/19/08
Your right, it is ironic...  OutsideThe Box | 09/19/08
Then again, we read it and comment. Irony. (nt.)  A Grain of Salt | 09/19/08
Hey...  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
Cheap Shot or Revealing a Truth?  UserLand | 09/19/08
Kind of  mdemuth | 09/19/08
I honestly tried resisting to respond...  OutsideThe Box | 09/19/08
...there is no compelling reason to make the switch...  PollyProteus | 09/19/08
sniff, sniff...uhh...sniff  benblush@... | 09/19/08
Oh yeah, it's all about looks. grin  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
Reliability  Cardhu | 09/20/08
Sauce for the goose...  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
I Provided References  Cardhu | 09/20/08
Evidence?  Sleeper Service | 09/21/08
More Than Just Mistakes, It's Microsoft Business Strategy  Cardhu | 09/22/08
So has MS  Acoyauh | 09/19/08
Ok, please explain to me this...  OutsideThe Box | 09/19/08
That actually shows...  Samic | 09/19/08
And you also know it's a real PITA for them too, right?  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
roughlydrafted?  rtk | 09/19/08
So just because it's on roughly drafted it's untrue?  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
Now we are hearing a different tune  CrashPad | 09/19/08
Pffffft, OntheRun and jkOnTheRun, are trustworthy sites?!?  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
trustworthy sites  rtk | 09/19/08
So just because it's on roughly drafted it's untrue?  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
Message has been deleted.  benblush@... | 09/19/08
Of course you didn't catch it  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
Let me guess....  rtk | 09/19/08
It's happened before...  Narg | 09/19/08
WHAT ad company?  Acoyauh | 09/19/08
Do you even know where you are?  laura.b | 09/19/08
What software??  CrashPad | 09/19/08
How sad...  Acoyauh | 09/19/08
It was more about the irony. Read the follow up comments happy (nt.)  A Grain of Salt | 09/19/08
ISN"T IT IRONIC?  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz  rag@... | 09/19/08
RE: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz  deanders | 09/19/08
I have to admit this latest attempt was MUCH better.  James Quinn | 09/19/08
Truth in advertising: DRM! Activation! WPA!  scott1329 | 09/19/08
This is just Wow  CrashPad | 09/19/08
... just Wow?  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
You got that right!  Ole Man | 09/22/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  user support | 09/19/08
Actually...  benblush@... | 09/19/08
Exactly the same...  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  asmaa.saber | 09/19/08
Macs Pass Time By Making 1-Line Posts on ZDNET  benblush@... | 09/19/08
Dump Sinfield and push these!!!!  Narg | 09/19/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  ruffneck119@... | 09/19/08
????  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
Some thoughts from someone in the ad biz  alexs08 | 09/19/08
Some thoughts from someone with a brain...  benblush@... | 09/19/08
...and an inferiority complex  tzcannon | 09/19/08
Are you feeling well?  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
there are two types of long time Mac users  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
We Are Not Liars  Cardhu | 09/21/08
"...I've used Windows since '95..."  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
Speaking as a ad watcher  wolf_z | 09/19/08
Who or what is being rebranded?  Marcos El Malo | 09/19/08
Without inside knowledge  rtk | 09/19/08
Life WITHOUT walls???  pointzerotwo@... | 09/19/08
Lemme Help You Buddy!  benblush@... | 09/19/08
Ok,  pointzerotwo@... | 09/19/08
dead format walking?  Ole Man | 09/22/08
...life without walls is open source software...  PollyProteus | 09/19/08
In a world without walls, who needs Windows?  pointzerotwo@... | 09/19/08
Uh...  James T. Kirk | 09/19/08
As are their complaints about Windows. At least they're consistent. (nt)  ye | 09/19/08
Embrace, extend, extinguish  pointzerotwo@... | 09/19/08
Along with that, who needs  Cardhu | 09/20/08
Cardhu  CrashPad | 09/20/08
The Agenda Of Microsoft and Its Apologists  Cardhu | 09/20/08
You're right...  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
Yeap you lost it  CrashPad | 09/20/08
The Tactics Of Microsoft Apologists  Cardhu | 09/20/08
So...  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
That's Not A Question For Me  Cardhu | 09/20/08
So you can't answer the question?  Sleeper Service | 09/21/08
I'm Not Accountable for Your Conduct  Cardhu | 09/21/08
So...  Sleeper Service | 09/21/08
But what the hell...  Sleeper Service | 09/21/08
Thank You For Reasoned and Informed Debate  Cardhu | 09/21/08
Upon futher review  CrashPad | 09/20/08
I Don't Favor Either Mac Or Linux For a Recommendation  Cardhu | 09/20/08
Works out of the box?  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
Our Macs Do Work "Right Out Of The Box"  Cardhu | 09/21/08
Agreed, and who needs.........  Badgered | 09/22/08
Your Comparison Of Imperfections  Cardhu | 09/22/08
...is your comparison of imperfections  Badgered | 09/23/08
I Don't Recommend Just Apple  Cardhu | 09/23/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  Loverock Davidson | 09/19/08
Successful?  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
Sure  wolf_z | 09/19/08
well if you need play by play ...  CrashPad | 09/20/08
Target is computer dummies like Loverock  fr0thy2 | 09/21/08
The only problem with these ads  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
Don't be a...  benblush@... | 09/19/08
HAHAHAH, perfect example!  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
Forgive them!  Ole Man | 09/22/08
You're full of it  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
Re: The only problem with these ads  deanders | 09/19/08
How exactly did they imply it?  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
It's implied by  Badgered | 09/19/08
Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
Yes we will  Badgered | 09/19/08
Claiming they are insinuating Windows users are stupid is little over the..  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
Condescending  djchandler | 09/19/08
Well, thanks for the advice  Kid Icarus-21097050858087920245213802267493 | 09/19/08
I agree, Kid...  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
From one who is well beyond middle aged  Ole Man | 09/22/08
Speaking of Condescending...  vulpine@... | 09/25/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  jlmuzzio | 09/19/08
The only thing you've confirmed  rtk | 09/19/08
Right...  deanders | 09/19/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  benblush@... | 09/19/08
Astronaut in Ad  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
By association.  deanders | 09/19/08
I'm a PC too!!  Windows Defender | 09/19/08
A Mac  fox.kenji | 09/19/08
Oh dear. Another one.  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
Plug-and-Play  pico_D | 09/21/08
*facepalm*  Sleeper Service | 09/21/08
Re: Facepalm...  vulpine@... | 09/22/08
Haaaaaaaard question.........  Ole Man | 09/22/08
A Mac  Joe Dufflebag | 09/21/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  shadfurman | 09/19/08
Microsoft completely missed the point of the Mac vs. PC ads...  olePigeon | 09/19/08
The actors in the commercial claim to be the OS...  PollyProteus | 09/19/08
"...but represent the "suggested" user type of the OS."  vulpine@... | 09/24/08
The Problem with "I'm a PC"  tzcannon | 09/19/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  pico_D | 09/19/08
Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  as901 | 09/20/08
I use Vista...  Sleeper Service | 09/20/08
RE: Hey, Microsoft. About those ads... Yeah, like that.  The Rifleman | 09/20/08
The Entire Microsoft Ad Campaign  Cardhu | 09/20/08
Nah...  Sleeper Service | 09/21/08
I love my Mac.  mister-moon | 09/21/08
Typical Microsoft Indifference  Cardhu | 10/18/08
Where do I buy "I'm a PC" bumper stickers?  BillDem | 09/24/08
I already have an "I'm a Mac" t-shirt  vulpine@... | 09/24/08
I Agree  Cardhu | 09/25/08
I think Both Of You Are Actually People  Cardhu | 09/25/08
Just because I'm a PC doesn't mean I'm running Windows.  noeman5 | 08/02/09

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