The three new non-Seinfeld commercials, which the New York Times described earlier this week, still don’t talk about Vista features. But they do try to break the stereotype that cool and interesting people use Macs, and everyone else is on a Windows machine.
The ads features a number of Microsoft employees and include email addresses for each. The star, Sean Siler, has an autoresponse to his sean@windows.com email address (try it):
Hello! I’m a PC – and I can’t answer your email right now. I’d like to say that I’m out climbing Mt. Rainier or biking across Europe with the Swedish Beach Volleyball Team, but in fact I’m probably just chained to a desk somewhere in the depths of Redmond pounding out product specifications.
Now that I have been in a commercial, Microsoft has given me access to super-secret “BillyG” level of executive resources. That’s right – I have my own email auto-responder!
This, as you have probably surmised, is my pre-prepared auto-response (All natural, no filler. No animals were harmed in the making of this response. Except for a ferret.) I really would like to have answered you myself, but if I did, (a) I’d probably get no work done, and (b) then I’d get fired, and (c) then I’d have no chance of doing any more of those really awesome commercials.
So let me try to prognosticate a few of your questions and answer a few of them.
Why did they put you on TV?
I think it’s my devastating good-looks and animal magnetism. No, really – there’s a ferret stuck to my leg right now.But really – you aren’t even an actor!
No I’m not. But I play one on TV. I really am a Microsoft Program Manager. I work on IPv6, and other things that you haven’t heard of.How did you get selected?
I auditioned along with a couple of hundred others. I guess I looked very Engineery. And the ferret probably helped.Are you interested in more acting?
Oh no, I think that Engineering is MUCH more fun.What’s with Windows Vista?
You’ve been watching those commercials again, haven’t you? Windows Vista rocks. Listen to real users, not actors.-The Real PC, Sean Siler
The three new commercials are below:
See all
Post
I reckon they are pretty good.
Although the current Apple ad on the New York Times site is fking AWESOME!!!
http://www.nytimes.com - check it out.
You know what’s weird/funny: you can’t see the ads with IE8. Then again, why am I using IE8?
I’m a PC, and I invented Google. Pretty good to come out of the closet.
I be usin’ IE8 and be havin’ no problems. Arrr…….
(It’s National Talk Like a Pirate Day!)
Apple videos are superb!
maybe if they focused on offering small business videomercials there search product might be deisired. these commercials wont help them.
EngineLocator.com
You couldn’t locate your head if it was in your butt!
i love your hair. precious.
StylistLocator.com
spamtastic. no one clicks on your links.
I’m a Mac, and I can run a PC
I’m a PC, and I can’t run a MAC OS because of tightwad monopoly-like legal reasons via Steve Jobs.
i like mac ads better these ads are ok but mac vs pc ads are more funnier.
I feel like I am watching Michael Jackson’s black and white video with those Microsoft ads.
Apples vids are entertaining. Focused and to the point. Simple easy to use computers. Microsoft is trying to be everything to everybody.
If Microsoft has to spend 300 mil selling Vista how good can it be?
Well, using that same logic, since Apple spends an even more ridiculous amount of money on advertising and marketing, its products must be even more awful.
I think its rather safe to say that the 3 new Microsoft ads are pretty focused and to the point - everyone uses a PC, no matter who you are or what you do.
Did you see that the new Microsoft ads were made on a Mac?
I’m a PC… and I copy the MAC…. I don’t innovate….
In fact no.
I’m a WINDOWS PC.
I forgot I can also run LINUX….
lol - I love it, much better than before.
It’s contagious: I’M A PC
Does Silverlight = Eternal Loop? They never stop.
Are you watching them on this site? They’re from YouTube, meaning they are running in Flash.
My bad. I missed that the post had changed since you wrote this.
*shutting up now*
I agree it’s not cool to stereotype. It’s also not PC - to use people’s foreign accents for TV commercial comedic material.
sanjay, who said the purpose of a diverse group of pc users was supposed to be funny? And if all the PC users were white male from San Francisco with no accents that would be far more PC, right? You can’t have it both ways pal
There was some smiling and laughter after the remarks from foreigners.
Sanjay - I just read your comments aloud in an “Apu” voice.
That’s funny!!
yo think thats’ funny??
i’m a mac guy, but will say that those were pretty good. well made and potentially catchy.
Direct counter to the Mac’s ad and it’s brilliant!
Hi, I’m a PC too!
I’m also a PC.
Olivia and Andrew review the commercial {seesmic_video:{”url_thumbnail”:{”value”:”http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/wKkS26wl7K_th1.jpg”}”title”:{”value”:”Olivia and Andrew review the commercial ”}”videoUri”:{”value”:”http://www.seesmic.com/video/RaQAAWIYx3″}}}
I am a PC too
I’m a Mac, but now we’re talking. These ads are pretty good. Finally…
Anyone know where to get them all non-silverlighted? I’m on linux.
Looks like TechCrunch is converting them to YouTube as they come available. Hit Refresh, the first one is already a YouTube embed…
Those are much better than the Seinfeld ads. It may be a direct copy of the apple ads, but at this point what else are they going to do? Apple steals more market share every day!
What they should have done is instead of giving the probably millions to Jerry Seinfeld, give that money to John Hodgman (PC Guy in Apple Ads) to have him come over and counter ad all the Apple ads…
Good idea but I would assume that Apple has some kind of deal with that guy where he can’t be in a Windows commercial…
i bet the pc guy in mac commercials gets paid way more then the actor. If not then he needs to renegotiate and get that money.
Well, the PC Guy in the Microsoft commercials is a MS employee, actually. His name is Sean Siler:
http://www.greghughes.net/rant.....loyee.aspx
…and just so no one is confused.. The PC guy in the Mac commercials is “John Hodgman.”
Sean Siler was only chosen because he’s a John Hodgman lookalike…
Bill (The PC NAZI) to Seinfeld: “No more ads for you!”
I’m also a PC and I do creative things.
Says you.
I’m a Mac and there is no way I am going to download Silverlight just to watch a commercial. Perhaps a good product decision MSFT, but bad WOMM decision.
Wow, much much better. They’re right not to focus on Vista features off the bat. No matter how hard their agency tries, they’ll make their features sound like something only an IBM consultant could love.
Microsoft has to try be human and cool, because Apple and Google are.
Microsoft never fired Jerry Seinfeld. The whole thing was staged. Seinfeld is behind the new ads too.
I really like the new ads, but I wish they had of kept the “Personally Connecting” bit in place of the “Life Without Walls” crap.
Its ok, but come on… yes, its a direct counter to the Mac ads, but how long did it take them to actually counter Mac. They are copying Apple. They are not innovating, just like Vista, they are copying Mac.
No matter which side of the OS line you stand you have to admit… Mac is here to stay and they are only going to get bigger. Most of their users are college kids and when these college graduate they are going to be the next set of biz leaders… what OS are they going to choose? Mac OS X…
LEADERS INNOVATE! FOLLOWERS MIMIC! Case closed!
What large business doesn’t use MS Office?
Try using high-end architecture software on OS X.
Do you really care about an OS that much?
You need to get a life, it’s just a tool.
@Lee: those are the senseless comments of an apple fanboy
Apple’s copied plenty from Windows as well…
Alt-tab, right-click context menu, ’switch users’ screen.
But leaders innovate yeah?
My first computer was an Apple and used Apple computers all the way up to my first career job. Then I was given a PC.
I now have 2 PC, and a Mac on my desk at work.
I like both the companys ads. I love and hate both Apple and MS products.
“LEADERS INNOVATE! FOLLOWERS MIMIC! Case closed!”
You should have talked to Steve before you posted that…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU
I see people who use Mac as those who have nothing else to show off at my college
I’m a Mac, and I’m pretentious.
I’m a PC and I have an inferiority complex…even though I have over 90% marketshare….
man that ad on NY Times is insane. again mac is new and fresh and pc is still trying to figure it out. but i blame the idiot behind the computer that causes the computer to fail in the first place mac or pc. Get some lessons people on proper use of your computers and they will last you a whole lot longer. Im still on One of the first sawtooth G4 macs running better then most pcs of today. Now i basically only use it for internet and music but it still does a bang up job.
Lee, you’re close. I think the saying goes: “Good artists copy, great artists steal.” Microsoft is the best in the business at stealing, improving upon and making a business out of an idea. I don’t fault them for that.
no… stealing is making something your own, repossessing it and convincing others that you’ve found an innovative new way to use it
copying, on the other hand, involves coming out with a browser or media player and leveraging your big richard
Wow.. totally lame.. what a shock
I’m a Mac and I love those ads.
Decent ads, but I don’t think they really wanted to teach me that SILVERLIGHT EMBEDS BLOW HARD!!! Where’s Gillmor?
Out giving bear hugs, of course.
Hahahahah… totally lame. Like completely embarrassing
Wow.. Microsoft is in a worse shape than I thought.
I’m a PC and proud of it!
Great ads! Love that they are stealing Apple’s thunder and throwing it in there face!
Now MS just need to do more with the I’m a PC meme. Where is the badge for my website? Where is the “I’m a PC” facebook group? Come on MS, keep it coming!
Molly
PS. GO HAWKS!
I was thinking the same thing about web badges, so I decided to make some, check them out.
http://tinyurl.com/3garcd
I’m a PC and… Where the hell is Mac?
Bernie Mac?
The usual 70% ok we’ve got to expect from microsoft. everything they do is only 70% the rest is crap… I mean what are they doing with the money and decades of development… .VISTA??? I can’t see a single advantage over xp…
They are so dead in the water… simply because they lack capability. The only thing that could save them is pick the 200 brightest top notch dudes within the company worldwide, found a new company and develop the next kick ass OS… within ONE YEAR….
If they need antoher 7 years for the next vista…. then they’re toast… the web services make them more and more useless… I’d have a few ideas
Seriously - you can’t see a SINGLE advantage in going from XP to Vista? How long have you been using Vista to make the judgement?
Hey Mike, what do you have to say about these new commercials? You’ve been pretty pessimistic with the Gates/Seinfeld ads.
still digesting, but Microsoft may have done something really smart here.
Hey Mike,
Is this better or worse? All you need is a puppet.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vVTS8Bs8Xqc
They did indeed. They effectively neutralized the Apple campaign. Now when we see the ‘I’m a PC’ guy, we’ll see him making fun of the diverse, multicultural PCs in the MS commercial. Totally un-PC. Now Apple will need to switch gears. Kudos MS and CPB.
Yes, they did do something really smart. Smarter than anyone seems to realize, given that nobody has suggested it:
First, they ran an ad campaign (Bill & Jerry) that made absolutely no sense, that got everybody talking about their stupid, senseless ads. (Funny - the ads didn’t make any sense and weren’t about Vista - in fact, they were about nothing. Anyone see the connection?)
Second, they “pulled” that campaign, as the buzz really started to peak, which got everybody talking about why they pulled it - increased the buzz even more.
Third, they release a devastating counter to the “I’m a mac” ads, right when everyone is talking about Microsoft’s lame ads with Jerry Seinfeld.
Ok - a lot of the tech geeks here won’t (don’t) see this as more than a “lame copy”, but for real people, this blows “I’m a mac” out of the water - who the hell actually identifies with Justin Long?
We all know that Bill Gates is merely a competent programmer. Microsoft is where it is in the market not due to Gates’ programming skills, but because of his marketing skills, which, frankly, are sheer genius. (Ok, SOME luck, but genius uses luck, too)
The only question I have is, why did they wait so long? Is Vista SP2 on the way?
since when Microsoft started selling PCs? I thought they only deal with OS’es
Since Apple admitted that most PC’s have Windows on them!!!!
Brilliant! Its a judo move, take you opponents force and turn it back on themselves! Lets face it, the Mac v PC ads is having a go at PC people and now when they have those ads on, I will be saying, I am a PC and proud of it!
i’m a mac and a pc.
anyway… this post “Uncool” is old but somehow relevant again: http://getcloser.rassak.com/ge.....ncool.html
Leave PC Alone
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vVTS8Bs8Xqc
Possibly the only thing less boring than TV ads is TV ads on the web. Please, can’t we just get over this exceedingly dull topic? Almost no-one in the techcrunch readership is going to be swayed by either the Apple or MS ads, and the level of attention Arrington is giving them is way beyond what is required to keep us informed that these ads are out there. Really, am I just missing the point here entirely?
It’s a fucking computer. Who cares.
They need to do an ad that focuse on what REAL people do with computers: waste time, look at pictures of cats, and watch porn.
You waste time using a PC to look at pictures of cat porn? ick!
Aaron, your post rings true
I’m a part-time PC. A pretty classy ads, which is the best way to counter those classless and tasteless mac ads. They didn’t need jerry, really.
Pharrell is in the commercials - pretty good - I like them
Sadly I don’t think too many people on TC know who Pharrell is..
Is that Techno Viking with the beard?
I like them enough, but I’m starting to think this “I’m a PC” thing is a mistake. I’m seeing tons of: “I’m a Mac” and “I’m a PC and a Mac.” People are declaring it all over Engadget, Gizmodo, here, all the blogs. No matter what the declarations it’s framed by the Apple ads or even worse a legitimized OS platform war. And it’s framed by Apple’s ideas, but it’s already lame and tired. And that is actually the fault of Microsoft. Nobody said this about the Mac ads because Hodgeman is PC, personifying every all Windows PCs in one person, Long is Mac. But “I’m a PC, I’m a PC, I’m a PC, I’m a PC” is going to get annoying real quick whether or not you like the Microsoft ads or hate them, love the Mac ads or hate ‘em, already stating “I’m a BLANK” exemplifies annoying, geeky, techy fanboy behavior — and Microsoft is the cause of it.
Actually, its Apples fault since it was their commercials that have pissed off so many people. What this will do is kill Apples marketing stretegy. They won’t be able to use the mac vs pc commercials anymore as their thunder has now been stolen.
Continued use will only make them look even more like pompous windbags.
So many people aren’t pissed off. Nerds are.
There is tons of material here to play with: “Hi, PC, How’s Vista treating you?” “I’m a PC.” “Sure, you are….” “I’m a PC” “Yeah, PC, but I was asking how Vista is doing…” “I’m a PC, I’m a PC, I’m a PC” “Oops, looks like you are still having some problems.”
Have Hodgeman dress up in jeans, take of his glasses, etc… “Apparently, some people think I’m a cliché so I’m changing my image.” (typical PC problems assume) Mac: “PC, you don’t need to change your appearance, you’re still my friend.” PC stumbles: “Oops, I lost a contact” “Oh, let me help…” PC: “Crap, I think I just stepped on it.”
Etc… It’ll take Hodgeman 10 minutes to have better ideas.
Also, one commercial can cover every “stereotype”: suit, glasses, boring office worker… okay. Everything else is non sequitur (I sell fish — good for you), and “I’m a PC.” They can talk specifics more, but everything is in reference to the alleged Mac “stereotype.” (The gaming ad also including athletes, etc. is obvious and will be the most effective.) But each new addition of information plays into material for Apple ads (but gaming). Apple has already done 5 ads saying they run Windows too. Microsoft will want to keep it “I’m a PC, I’m a PC.” If you think the Mac ads are annoying how long will “I’m a PC” last. Apple can easily come up with a new schtick (3 or 5 of ‘em) every few months. People will watch Hodgeman crack a new joke every time. (Some of his best have come just recently.) It’s not as easy to make these ads seem more and more watchable. Okay, I get: black people, girls, creatives, Microsoft staff, paid stars, Foreigners, old people — I saw that ad last month thank you.
I’m not a geek.
I think they gave Mac enough rope to hang themselves with all of their ads. There was no need to explain who that guy in the beginning was - we have all seen the Mac campaign. I really don’t care about what OS I run but I do care when an ad campaign is essentially an “us against them” and “them” is positioned as a classical “bumbling geek”. I like the fact that Microsoft did not take a shot at Mac users - they just simply showed that PC users comes in all shapes/colours/sizes - that’s alright.
Fighting for your OS just seems odd to me - use what you want, why do you care what others use?
I use a Mac - am I allowed to speak this openly?
Cheers - Eric
Yeah, consumers did not know that people who use Windows PC all look different! This is hilarious! So informative Microsoft was here.
What Microsoft has accomplished is to show that company with only a 8% plus market share is cooler and they need to show that “It’s OK to use Windows” while Apple shows WHY it is easier and better to use a Mac!
These new ads just validate the success of the Mac ads. While most consumers own iPods and are getting on lines to get an iPhone at the Apple store!
I think it is great that people love Mac’s so much - I love mine - but come on it is an OS not a way of life and if you think it is a way of life you seriously need to get one. The mere fact that one could think that it is “cooler” to use a Mac is scary. Being cool is not about being a sheep it is about being the shepherd.
Cheers - Eric
i’m a PC too and I am proud of it….
LOL, “I’m a PC” sounds like “I’m a pussy” after a few times.
LOL, “I’m a PC” sounds like “I’m a pussy” after a few times.
I like Microsoft…I really, really do. But I just wish they would’ve spent the ad money on something more productive.
Perhaps spending it on better customer service, fund a team to improve there Windows Live offerings, or even increase the benefits and support for their ISV Empower & Partners programs.
Basically spend the money on something productive and helpful. Then I guarantee people would start to adore them, like they do Apple & Google.
Good point. These are the reasons I no longer like Microsoft and moved to a Mac in the first place. Better customer servicer and better products! Best move I ever made, I now spend less time “playing IT department” and more time using my computer for creative and productive stuff. When I need tech help or training I have 200 + stores that give it free or for a VERY low price!
Eh, I give them an A for effort
HAs The sLEePing GianT AWOKE ???? Microsoft now has plenty of “material” to retaliate with…
Defensive not offensive = classic MSFT.
I think these ads are great. It’s pretty clear about the purpose.
It’s going to get people “proudly saying” –> I’m a PC, So fking what ?
Instead of previously laughing about owning a PC and thinking Mac’s were so much cooler.
I think the next avenue Microsoft needs to hit is the price point - you can get a PC built for fking nothing these days - and Mac’s STILL have these ridiculously expensive PC and Laptops.
I mean I own a 24″ iMac and I went to get Ram for it the other day through apple and its like $120 a stick …. go down to the local PC store and its like $30 for the same.
Hopefully Microsoft seize on this point because Apple makes a ridiculous amount of money on hardware and Microsoft needs to hit back at the “elitist” view of Mac owners.
Maybe you might want to “shop” for RAM like all things in life! RAM for Macs are available all over the place at competitive prices, same as a Windows machine.
Thanks for buying the 24″ Mac it helped my stock. Many more have bought Macs and will buy Macs as it is a better product, not because of the ads.
You are right about one thing “You’re a PC, So fking what ?”
I’m just getting a feeling that the mac guys are a bunch of loadmouths.
i’m quite amazing how these 10% of the computer owners put 90% of the comments on every site out there !!!
Quite amazing !!!
Macs are better at easing computer illiterates into computing. e.g. you Paul. I see your point about customer service, but I am truly ignorant to it because I never had to call customer service for fixing, modifying or setting up my computer. P.S. you can get free computer help on the net with basic research skills.