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October 22nd, 2009

Was Windows 7 totally your idea?

Posted by Mary Jo Foley @ 6:21 am

Categories: Advertising, Apple, Corporate strategy, Vista, Windows 7, Windows client

Tags: Advertisement, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Mary Jo Foley

Crispin, Porter + Bogusky — the ad agency that is behind a variety of Microsoft’s recent ad campaigns (everything from the confounding Gates/Seinfeld skits, to the  Laptop Hunters, to the newest Kylie happy talk series) — is launching yet another group of ads starting this week.

The new campaign, which kicks off  Thursday in six countries, is “I’m a PC and Windows 7 was my idea.” The thought behind the message is that Windows 7 was created out of user feedback and complaints: They wanted an operating system that was faster, less complicated, smaller, more secure. And Windows 7 is the result.

Blogger Long Zheng noted that one of Microsoft employees featured in the video clip from the campaign is Chaitanya Sareen, responsible for developing the new Windows 7 taskbar.

The new campaign will include TV, print ads, banner ads, posters/billboards and branded-entertainment elements, according to The New York times. I saw one of the posters on a bus-stop kiosk here in New York yesterday and I have to admit it left me scratching my head, wondering who the guy was in the picture who was claiming Windows 7 was his idea…

The new campaign provides a new way for Microsoft to put Vista behind it, without actually disparaging Vista by name. But it’s undeniable that   Vista is the operating system  about which most of these user complaints is targeted.

What do you think of the “totally my idea” campaign?  And what do you expect Apple’s reaction to the new ads to be?

Mary Jo FoleyMary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 20 years. Don't miss a single post. Subscribe via Email or RSS. You can also follow Mary Jo on Twitter.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 98 Talkback(s)
I disagree
They should never acknowledge the competition, any good campaign by
Microsoft should never acknowledge that there is a competition.
By making people think of Apple and Linux they have just give... (Read the rest)
Posted by: Eosqn Posted on: 11/12/09 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
W7: Whose ideas?  mlindl | 10/22/09
You're kidding right?  pdskep | 10/22/09
Ads featuring MS employees appeal to tiny demo  HollywoodDog | 10/22/09
niche market  elllroy | 10/22/09
Give Sony the same due you give Apple  mlindl | 10/22/09
Price...  jeremychappell | 10/23/09
Where do ideas come from?  Earthling2 | 10/22/09
Well Said...  edwards.wb | 11/03/09
OS makers do borrow from one another  bobiroc | 10/22/09
You speak in theoretical terms  mlindl | 10/22/09
And you're an idiot, obviously..  Wolfie2K3 | 10/23/09
The PWN2OWN winner is a Mac user  MacSmiley | 11/08/09
Apple fAnBoI alert!!!!!  jeffdyer | 10/22/09
Absoutely right.  mlindl | 10/22/09
The only virus  markbn | 10/22/09
Buying that...  JasonJD48 | 10/22/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  ggreig | 10/22/09
"I'm a PC" was always flawed slogan  HollywoodDog | 10/22/09
you are probably better ignored...  ericesque | 10/22/09
Smaller Competitor  bobiroc | 10/22/09
PC vs. Mac was genius  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
Problem with Mac vs PC  bobiroc | 10/22/09
Brainwashing  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
I am pretty much the same  bobiroc | 10/22/09
PC vs. MAC  gllincoln | 10/22/09
Technical Standpoint  Eosqn | 11/12/09
I thought it was Al Gore ideea  Linux Geek | 10/22/09
New Apple spot  ericesque | 10/22/09
OMG! I could see it.  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
Not quite  mlindl | 10/22/09
Have you used Windows?  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  Loverock Davidson | 10/22/09
DO NOT QUESTION STEVE JOBS, EVER  DonRupertBitByte | 10/22/09
please see my post 'new apple spot' above...  ericesque | 10/22/09
Again, it was great.  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
An example  JasonJD48 | 10/22/09
Now read the truth:  mlindl | 10/28/09
Not kidding  dheady@... | 10/22/09
....  Badgered | 10/22/09
And your criticism of Viao?  mlindl | 10/22/09
Apple users  JasonJD48 | 10/22/09
Is this high end?  Earthling2 | 10/22/09
Thats because its art  JasonJD48 | 10/22/09
Doubtful  bobiroc | 10/22/09
What?!  matthew_maurice | 10/22/09
Why  JasonJD48 | 10/22/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  teesan | 10/22/09
"W7: in 3 or 4 years, IT will roll it out in to your cube"  HollywoodDog | 10/22/09
No need to wait 3 years  JasonJD48 | 10/22/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  DannyO_0x98 | 10/22/09
 Earthling2 | 10/22/09
Here's some fodder for Apple (My experience with W7)  Digital Video Expert | 10/22/09
Ouch!  Earthling2 | 10/22/09
time  elllroy | 10/22/09
Just Works (TM)  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
Not exactly identical hardware  MacSmiley | 11/08/09
time...  Wolfie2K3 | 10/23/09
Well...  zkiwi | 10/22/09
Thanks, you're right.  Earthling2 | 10/22/09
Broadband..?  Wolfie2K3 | 10/23/09
Seems like...  lawryll@... | 10/22/09
normal?  elllroy | 10/22/09
I have SL too!  lawryll@... | 10/22/09
quicktime pro  elllroy | 10/22/09
You're not understanding...  lawryll@... | 10/22/09
quicktime again  elllroy | 10/22/09
Hmmm...  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
what a mess  elllroy | 10/22/09
Excuse me  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
Are you kidding me?  mluther223@... | 10/22/09
Whoa, I thought that would take 6 months  mlindl | 10/22/09
Apple fodder?  gllincoln | 10/22/09
Zdnet allowing free adverstisements now?  transposeIT | 10/22/09
Ok.... So you're clueless.  Wolfie2K3 | 10/23/09
300% - so you have 200% still left to do in W8!  johnfenjackson@... | 10/22/09
Advertising is part of business.  FanaticGeek | 10/22/09
"I'm a PC" came from Apple's ads  HollywoodDog | 10/22/09
agreed  elllroy | 10/22/09
Microsoft is trying to be something they're not  HollywoodDog | 10/22/09
ballmer  elllroy | 10/22/09
One word: dividend  matthew_maurice | 10/22/09
MSFT has been flat for ten years  HollywoodDog | 10/22/09
Yes, but...  deepee912 | 10/22/09
Long live Balmer  mlindl | 10/22/09
May Ballmer rule for as long as it takes  MacSmiley | 11/08/09
Seconded  Eosqn | 11/12/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  docmurdock | 10/22/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  anonymuos | 10/22/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  rjf@... | 10/22/09
And as such, a complete SUCCESS!  matthew_maurice | 10/22/09
I'm a PC, Apple Store openings all serve to inspire  mlindl | 10/22/09
RE: Was Windows 7 totally your idea?  ator1940 | 10/22/09
if it's my idea  ljenux-23043766007667558234416105604265 | 10/22/09
One day, in 64-bit heaven  veggiedude | 10/23/09
As a campaign...  Adam S | 10/23/09
I disagree  Eosqn | 11/12/09
I wonder who's idea it was for Windows 7 to have this,,  Intellihence | 10/28/09
Oh Really Now  Texasglide@... | 10/28/09

What do you think?

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