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VIDEO: Microsoft goes straight for the Apple ads
Jerry Seinfeld is out; I’m a PC guy is in .
After experimenting with three ads featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates, resulting in mixed opinions about whether they’re funny or not (they’re not), Microsoft has now decided to go straight for the Jobsular with its next set of ads for Windows. Directly targeting Apple’s ‘I’m a Mac, and I’m a PC’ series of Get a Mac ads, Microsoft’s new adverts are all introduced by a man who looks like John Hodgman (the PC in the Mac ads), saying ‘I’m a PC.’
He then follows this with another phrase, such as ‘and I’ve been made into a stereotype’ before the advert shifts to a range of people performing a diverse assortment of jobs, all of which also say they’re a PC. Among those featured are astronaut Bernard Harris, as well as religious author Deepak Chopra and ‘Desperate Housewives’ actress Eva Longoria. The ad also features a wide range of anonymous people, including a shark diver, a teacher and a guy with a beard.
Microsoft claims that the Bill-and-Jerry ads, which were reportedly dropped a couple of days ago, were just ‘teaser’ ads, which will now make way for the new ads. These will ‘celebrate the diversity and passion of consumers around the world who use Windows to stay in touch with the people, information and ideas that they care about.’
As well as this, Microsoft is also asking for your own contributions to the campaign. So, if you consider yourself to be a PC, then you can upload your own video or photo here. Microsoft’s senior vice president of online services and Windows Business Group, Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President, Online Services & Windows Business Group says that if you upload your own entry, Microsoft will ‘publish it and amplify it on windows.com … and then we’ll do better than that – we’ll publish some of those I’m a PC spots in places like digital billboards in Times Square.’
Of course, the whole ‘I’m a Mac and I’m a PC’ thing is pretty irrelevant anyway, when you consider that Macs are now based on the same Intel hardware as many PCs. We’re really talking about operating systems rather than computer standards here and, let’s face it, Microsoft isn’t being particularly original by parodying the ads of its competitors.
You can check out the videos for the new ads on the next page. Could they help improve Microsoft’s public image against Apple’s? Let us know your thoughts.
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ý?, no more im a machine add, u lot are humans... have some dignity. stop embarrasing your self. ur better off recording yourself dressing as a robot and posting on youtube. stop with the im a machine. soon u will wanna take over the world. NOOOO, humans pretending to be mahines and trying to take over the world. that would make a good film =þ but seriously please stop im begging u.
Comment by Trikadoc at 12:04pm 29th December 2008
I dunno, I love Mac's and... **********************************BSOD*********************************
Comment by C7ouD at 7:20pm 21st September 2008
Stop all the Downloading!....Help Computer.....#$%#........................... G.I. Joe!
Comment by Bruce_Wong at 2:30am 21st September 2008
surely all the mac boys or on the wrong website if you have posted below!? as for the linux boys, why are you having a pop? you own a PC, this is not a cheapshot at you... its a shot BACK at the cheapshot apple had at the PC, that includes linux boys does it not?
Comment by droitwichdosser at 6:55pm 20th September 2008
For details and a good laugh, see: http://www.roughlydrafted.com/2008/09/19/microsofts-im-a-pc-ads-created-on-macs/
Comment by leftcoastblue at 2:08pm 20th September 2008
With the Canadian Prime Minister recently calling an election I'm certain he's loving these Microsoft ads with people saying they're Progressive Conservatives.
Comment by KKFFFF at 5:24am 20th September 2008
I guess this advert was just ripe for p155 takes on the forums
Comment by l3v1ck at 4:03am 20th September 2008
The first Seinfeld ad was puzzling, but the second one was great, it drew you in even though you didn't know what was going on. These "I'm a PC" ads are standard, run-of-the-mill, eminently forgettable ad campaign fodder. I doubt that anyone of the stature of Michel Gondry had anything to do with them. Boring.
Comment by GeForce at 3:44am 20th September 2008
That quad-boots Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux and MacOS. So fuck all y'all.
Comment by Tightrope123 at 1:37am 20th September 2008
and i have hundreds of games. that macs dont have. and am half the price.
Comment by russel_williams at 12:45am 20th September 2008
And I have XP running in a little window for the one lone Windows application that... What's that you say? They just released a Mac version? [ctrl]+[alt]+[delete] Good night PC. Will the last person leaving Redmond please turn out the lights?
Comment by CtrlAltDelete1 at 9:31pm 19th September 2008
I switched in 2001 and other than work pc's which I don't have a choice over the O/S I use all Linux or BSD Unix and I've never been happier! If you need another excuse to use Linux: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y2oEv0QQ6Q
Comment by nevdullc at 8:52pm 19th September 2008
Windows does all of that and much more than Mac or Linux. Thanks for adding that.
Comment by crazyceo at 8:34pm 19th September 2008
Ossprey's best support for PC vs. Mac is that Mac people can't build their own PCs? I use both platforms and I haven't needed to or cared to 'build my own' since the 80's (yes, I'm that old). If Windows focused on the diversity of solutions instead of trying to say "we're cool too" it might reflect better on the platform. A computer should be reliable, flexible, and meet the needs of the user... then you can worry about how 'cool' it is.
Comment by hrral at 7:25pm 19th September 2008
I've been running Ubuntu for 2 years and have even gone through 3 major upgrades without needing to format my hard drive or completely reinstall my entire OS. I come with lots of games (more than just Solitaire and Minefield) and have more available online for free without pesky adware or spyware. I also come with all the instant messaging, email, internet, video, music, and document software you'll ever need. Lets face it if Ubuntu had the advertising money to spend and the same shelf presence as Windows and OSX, there'd probably be a significantly higher number of users!
Comment by ballyhoo2 at 7:32pm 19th September 2008
which has Vista Ultimate installed, MS Office 07 and works perfectly. I don't need to install third party google toolbar crap and I don't need to convert all of my music to play on a poor sound quality ipod. Everyone I know can open the email attachments I send them. I can also communicate with everyone I know through Windows Live. I can also game the night away. I built this PC myself and is twice more powerful that the best iMac and cost three times as less. I don't have the compatibility problems of Linux and I have the whole house networked and running perfect on a Windows Home Server. Yeah, I'm a PC alright. Not because it's cool or anti-capitalist. It just works for me and nothing you could say would change anything I have.
Comment by crazyceo at 7:26pm 19th September 2008
Hi I'm a really old laptop that Windows left behind in a dumpster to be tossed into a landfill for all eternity. But one day, someone was nice enough to install a linux based operating system on me - I work better than ever, and now that I'm running on gOS, I look better that pc's half my age. Even though you can still make out the little sticker that says built for windows 98, I know better.
Comment by kjolie at 7:05pm 19th September 2008
Microsoft should spend the millions making a better product, rather than paying people to give up their own credibility to try and make MS' current offerings look better. And now, rather than thinking MS is better because they paid Eva Longoria, I have less interest in looking at Eva Longoria, because she makes me think of Microsoft and Vista. Same thing happened with Tommy Lee Jones and SBC - now he's "big corporate guy" in my mind. I hope they paid you all a bundle.
Comment by effing_bob at 7:01pm 19th September 2008
I think the ads were good. Sure Windows is crap but that's beside the point. What the ads say is that a lot of people really get their work done every day. Not with Mac os x grace, not with Linux confidence but with that everyday os. I use a Mac and ditched Vista for Ubuntu on my laptop so guess i'm both a PC and a Mac. No whait, i'm a Tux!
Comment by Bluetooth at 6:57pm 19th September 2008
Microsoft seem to not have understood the initial advert. The characters represented the PCs themselves. PCs do not sell fish, or have beards. People sell fish and have beards. Personal Computers *enable* people to do lots of things (although not having beards, or often selling fish). Having beards is not what I expect of my computer. Also PC != Microsoft, I think that IBM should be taking more offence. Seems like a very reactive approach. Apple must be giggling into there Lattes.
Comment by joelstobart at 6:56pm 19th September 2008
"I'm a PC, and I. I. I... iiiiiiiiiiiiii ***STOP: 0x000000D1 A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your " Bastard. I just cackled out loud at work, now everyone is staring at me.
Comment by yourmom at 6:26pm 19th September 2008
And howmany of you mac FanBoys build your own MAC? Oh Ya Forgot you can't... these are thought provokeing and dont even mention Macs.
Comment by Ossprey at 6:24pm 19th September 2008
Hello, I'm a PC, and I run Debian GNU/Linux. I'm a PC that is sick of Microsoft claiming to be the only operating system to run on the personal computer. I'm a Linux PC, and lay claim [within the O/S market] to a mere 1% less than that of MACOSX, without blowing money on useless advertising like this. Linux, money spent well (or more accurately, not at all).
Comment by asdfasdf294312 at 6:09pm 19th September 2008
I'm a PC, and I. I. I... iiiiiiiiiiiiii ***STOP: 0x000000D1 A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, reinstall a different operating system.
Comment by faulkner at 6:00pm 19th September 2008
So...Apple make the PC out to be a bit "square...a bit boring, then Microsoft set out with a set of adverts to try and prove them right??? I mean how bad can an advert be?
Comment by Nadulike at 5:03pm 19th September 2008
So...Apple make the PC out to be a bit "square...a bit boring, then Microsoft set out with a set of adverts to try and prove them right??? I mean how bad can an advert be?
Comment by Nadulike at 5:03pm 19th September 2008
Have to agree with mitzy1002000, everyone knows what microsoft do. They should have invested the money into sorting out vista, or putting a stop to there sleazy business practises.
Comment by Dave_Lister at 4:45pm 19th September 2008
Why bother advertising stuff! Everyone knows what MS do, they know everything they make, and they know it's all a load of crap. I've also noticed the Office 07 radio ads going around atm... rofl... waste of money. MS can do everything... they will still get no one to buy Office 07, cause people prefer things the way it is. They don't like change, and Office 07 is the biggest, most pointless change yet.
Comment by mitzy1002000 at 4:18pm 19th September 2008
To be honest I'd be more impressed if Microsoft would produce an OS which didn't break after appling the latest 'security fix', or if Apple would stop being so smug and release a games API so there computers really did do everything the PC can do...
Comment by bujo1 at 3:50pm 19th September 2008
Sorry, Custom PC comments are now closed.
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