Microsoft parks "I'm a PC" recording booth outside Apple Store

***AppleInsider*** · 10-31-2008, 12:50 PM

Microsoft Corp., engrossed in multi-million dollar marketing blitz to counter comical ads from rival Apple, Inc., is now using a portion of its budget to fuel guerilla retail tactics near the Mac maker's stores.

AppleInsider reader Tom submits the following photo, which shows a large Microsoft-branded kiosk parked outside a shopping center-based Apple retail store.

"It's a friggin booth where you can record your own I'm a PC video," he said. "This is outside the Apple Store, Bullring, Birmingham, England." He added that a trio of Microsoft staffers will be on hand to turn patrons off from the Mac for the next three days.

The move is an extension of the Redmond-based software giant's $300 million advertising campaign aimed at cleaning up the image of its Windows Vista operating system, which has been tarnished at the hands of Apple's long-running "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads.

Last month, Microsoft tapped advertising firm Crispin Porter & Bogusky to use Apple's assault as a foundation for a direct counter-strike with its own series of "I'm a PC" ads, which open with a John Hodgman lookalike character who declares that he's been "made into a stereotype."

As part of the campaign, Microsoft invited visitors to its website to upload videos and photos that demonstrate "how they, too, are PCs." The company has since select a handful of those clips for inclusion in television commercials that can be seen airing on network television this week.

Microsoft now appears to be taking its initiative to the streets.

The "I'm a PC" ads are actually a second phase of the company's rebuttal efforts. An initial series of ads was dominated by a pair of offbeat teaser skits (1, 2) featuring Bill Gates and comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Those efforts were postponed indefinitely amid mixed reviews.

Ironically, market research data cited by AppleInsider earlier this week revealed that the first series of deliberately eccentric ads dwarfed both Apple's and the new "I'm a PC" ads in viral views, suggesting Microsoft may have been better off sticking with Gates and Seinfeld.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

der passant · 10-31-2008, 12:58 PM

Pathetic

centerpunch · 10-31-2008, 01:02 PM

MS never ceases to surprise me with the depths of their marketing incompetence.

Their new TV campaign, featuring low-res videos of eccentric and uninteresting MS fans, does nothing but help cement their image as the loser in the "I'm a mac, I'm a PC" arena.

Apple's ads taped a "kick me" sign on MS's back, and MS's response is to put a 10,000 watt spotlight on the sign.

halhiker · 10-31-2008, 01:02 PM

What's that I smell?

Desperation.

dontlookleft · 10-31-2008, 01:04 PM

I laughed.

nothowie · 10-31-2008, 01:06 PM

I'd be pissed at the Mall Administration/landlord if I were Apple. They pay big bucks and are responsible for bringing in a lot of traffic to the mall..and they rent out the space practically
blocking their front door to their competitor? I'd be pissed and threaten to move out of the mall...even though it cost them money.

***Kasper*** · 10-31-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontlookleft

I laughed.

I did too. It's an off-beat post, but I had to OK it

K

wilburpan · 10-31-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

The move is an extension of the Redmond-based software giant's $300 advertising campaign aimed at cleaning up the image of its Windows Vista operating system, which has been tarnished at the hands of Apple's long-running "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads.

$300? Paying for kiosk space is cheaper than I thought.

wheelhot · 10-31-2008, 01:14 PM

okayyy, that was utterly dumb.

I'm a PC and I cheated death? How can a PC cheat death? I just spray my water hose over you and you will be dead?

I'm a PC and I'm converting to Mac

iReality85 · 10-31-2008, 01:18 PM

I can't stop laughing. Leave it to Microsoft to park their booth right outside an Apple Store. In ur eye, Jobs! : P

polar315 · 10-31-2008, 01:18 PM

Just waiting for the MS employees new dress code of sandwich boards to go back and forth to the office. Have to admit they are trying.

Hmmm...it is Halloween this evening....maybe the Apple guys will........

etslee · 10-31-2008, 01:20 PM

Seinfeld and Deepak Chopra...wow those Microsoft guys are so hip!

**JeffDM** · 10-31-2008, 01:21 PM

"Life Without Walls" slogan after the Windows flag logo is bizarre. If you don't have walls, why do you need Windows?

While there are "walls" associated with Apple's products, there are plenty with Microsoft's too, which one is worse is part subjective, though part depends on the topic at hand too.

kerryb · 10-31-2008, 01:25 PM

The hull has been breeched and the sinking has begun, looks like Captain Balmer will be going down with the ship (yelling) undoubtedly.

paxman · 10-31-2008, 01:33 PM

Get out your markers - it GRAFFITI TIME!

Doxxic · 10-31-2008, 01:33 PM

This is precisely the kind of thing that PC does in Apple's ads!!!

NeverInDoubt · 10-31-2008, 01:34 PM

All Birmingham Apple fans should stop by and record messages like:

"I'm a PC. Goddammit can anyone help me configure my printer!"

Hobbes · 10-31-2008, 01:34 PM

So sad.

Why on earth would a dinky little kiosk keep anyone from going into a shiny Apple Store, where free net access and attractive products await?

wirc · 10-31-2008, 01:35 PM

This is hilarious.

I bet some ad buyer or whoever did this had a hell of a good time with this one. I bet he got his supervisors laughing all the way up to Ballmer.

SpiceWare · 10-31-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

"Life Without Walls" slogan after the Windows flag logo is bizarre. If you don't have walls, why do you need Windows?

+5 insightful

sandro · 10-31-2008, 01:39 PM

Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Microsoft to hire the same people running McCain's campaign.

minderbinder · 10-31-2008, 01:40 PM

I can't imagine most malls or landlords would allow this.

Seriously, can you imagine having something set up in front of a store trying to convince people to not go in?

led1002 · 10-31-2008, 01:41 PM

Is it just me or does anyone else find it odd that MS thinks that the best place to find their dedicated users is in front of an Apple Store??

bdkennedy1 · 10-31-2008, 01:42 PM

Desperate. That's my first impression.

PC users could give less than a shi* about commercials telling them to use something they already use.

Now PC users can upload their own "I'm a PC" video to Microsoft. W O W. And the guy in front of his web cam saying "I'm a PC, and I love peanut butter" - who in the living fuc* cares?

OldMacGuy · 10-31-2008, 01:45 PM

Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Microsoft to hire the same people running McCain's campaign.

Sarah Palin in the nude couldn't convince me to switch to a PC.

The last of my family has finally switched to Mac. One at a time, one at a time. Like a tiny tick that causes Lyme disease, MS is worried

astrosmash · 10-31-2008, 01:46 PM

It's $300 million. They gotta spend in on *something*.

But to "record your own I'm a PC ad"? I don't even know what that is.

MacTel · 10-31-2008, 01:46 PM

Coke vs Pepsi. The taste tests are on. Good luck Steve (er Ballmer I mean).

kerryn · 10-31-2008, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

"Life Without Walls" slogan after the Windows flag logo is bizarre. If you don't have walls, why do you need Windows?

That is a very astute observation!

You know you could turn this around into an Apple ad:

"Photos, video, music. No walls, no windows, just life. iLife"

solipsism · 10-31-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM

"Life Without Walls" slogan after the Windows flag logo is bizarre. If you don't have walls, why do you need Windows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doxxic

This is precisely the kind of thing that PC does in Apple's ads!!!

Good points!

PXT · 10-31-2008, 01:51 PM

The reason why the Microsoft staffers are in a group of three is the same reason why the East German border guards used to be in twos. It's so that there are always two others to stop the one from trying to escape into the Apple Store.

Given what I've seen on this forum from switchers, I'd say that any of these staffers that try to start a conversation are going to get an education. I reckon there will soon be a new type of queue forming at the Birmingham Apple Store. These guys are going to need counseling.

Just lucky they didn't do this in Liverpool. They would probably end up locked inside and hoisted up a crane !

ren · 10-31-2008, 01:53 PM

Go up and ask them "Is this where we go to help fix Vista?"
OMG, LOL!

huntercr · 10-31-2008, 01:54 PM

Looking at the picture, I think it may fail simply because people will read the banner and say to themselves... "Oh yeah, those Mac commercials.. I'm a PC ... he he he... .. ok now time to go into the mac store"

What cracks me up is that Microsoft hasn't been in the advertising business in so many years that they don't even know HOW to run an ad campaign against the underdog. They *were* the underdog back when they had to advertise ( vs. IBM )

It's sad actually.

asgiov · 10-31-2008, 01:54 PM

Pretty ridiculous....
I'm thinking some Apple fanboys are going to go give those poor Microsoft PR people a REALLY hard time too.... heh...
I wonder how wide-spread MS plans to try and make this. The people who are running Microsoft continue to show me what complete MORONS they are. I wish someone would do something about Steve Balmer... that guy annoys the heck out of me.

Buck · 10-31-2008, 01:54 PM

"eat me, I'm a delicious pizza"

**JeffDM** · 10-31-2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandro

Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Microsoft to hire the same people running McCain's campaign.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldMacGuy

Sarah Palin in the nude couldn't convince me to switch to a PC.

I hope people don't carry these leads any farther than that. Politics is one of those things that generate heated responses and derails threads, so anyone that responds, please keep it civil.

MadCow42 · 10-31-2008, 01:56 PM

Ironically, the poster on the booth reads "Life without walls"... on the outside of a wall.

Maybe they meant "Firewalls", refering to their security track record... I don't know.

MadCow.

gingerbreadboy · 10-31-2008, 01:58 PM

people should go in there and say "i'm a mac"...etc...it'd be funny if there were more of these than "i'm a pc"

Adjei · 10-31-2008, 02:01 PM

Seems Microsoft is scared of Apple, according to some Microsoft doesn't give a damn about Apple, I mean with only 3 % marketshare why should they, Microsoft is shivering.

timgriff84 · 10-31-2008, 02:02 PM

I was with Microsoft up until this one, who on earth wants to sit in a booth and go "Im a PC"

If they wanted to get back at Apple they could have just reversed the Apple ads back on them with all the problems Apple are having, by that I mean they could do the following ads:

- Macs now have viruses (Even Apple admit this as they've taken the virus free stat off their switch to mac part of the site)
- Macs now crash
- Official Vista now more secure and Mac
- Mobile me not working. Could do a great comparison of the free hotmail working and Apple handing out free trial extensions for there paid for service not
- iPhone signal problems vs Windows based phone without signal probs

As Apple keeps screwing up on things it seems stupid of Microsoft not to take advantage rather than this current lame attempt.

slapppy · 10-31-2008, 02:10 PM

Tacky and stupid.

10-31-2008, 12:50 PM	#1
*AppleInsider* Kasper's Automated Slave Join Date: Nov 1997 Posts: 6,151	Microsoft parks "I'm a PC" recording booth outside Apple Store Microsoft Corp., engrossed in multi-million dollar marketing blitz to counter comical ads from rival Apple, Inc., is now using a portion of its budget to fuel guerilla retail tactics near the Mac maker's stores. AppleInsider reader Tom submits the following photo, which shows a large Microsoft-branded kiosk parked outside a shopping center-based Apple retail store. "It's a friggin booth where you can record your own I'm a PC video," he said. "This is outside the Apple Store, Bullring, Birmingham, England." He added that a trio of Microsoft staffers will be on hand to turn patrons off from the Mac for the next three days. The move is an extension of the Redmond-based software giant's $300 million advertising campaign aimed at cleaning up the image of its Windows Vista operating system, which has been tarnished at the hands of Apple's long-running "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" ads. Last month, Microsoft tapped advertising firm Crispin Porter & Bogusky to use Apple's assault as a foundation for a direct counter-strike with its own series of "I'm a PC" ads, which open with a John Hodgman lookalike character who declares that he's been "made into a stereotype." As part of the campaign, Microsoft invited visitors to its website to upload videos and photos that demonstrate "how they, too, are PCs." The company has since select a handful of those clips for inclusion in television commercials that can be seen airing on network television this week. Microsoft now appears to be taking its initiative to the streets. The "I'm a PC" ads are actually a second phase of the company's rebuttal efforts. An initial series of ads was dominated by a pair of offbeat teaser skits (1, 2) featuring Bill Gates and comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Those efforts were postponed indefinitely amid mixed reviews. Ironically, market research data cited by AppleInsider earlier this week revealed that the first series of deliberately eccentric ads dwarfed both Apple's and the new "I'm a PC" ads in viral views, suggesting Microsoft may have been better off sticking with Gates and Seinfeld. [ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

10-31-2008, 01:02 PM	#3
centerpunch Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1	guerilla tactics? More like chimpanzee tactics MS never ceases to surprise me with the depths of their marketing incompetence. Their new TV campaign, featuring low-res videos of eccentric and uninteresting MS fans, does nothing but help cement their image as the loser in the "I'm a mac, I'm a PC" arena. Apple's ads taped a "kick me" sign on MS's back, and MS's response is to put a 10,000 watt spotlight on the sign. Last edited by centerpunch; 10-31-2008 at 01:07 PM..

10-31-2008, 01:02 PM	#4
halhiker Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: La Quinta, CA (near Palm Springs) Posts: 50	Losers! What's that I smell? Desperation.

10-31-2008, 01:06 PM	#6
nothowie Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 22	What? I'd be pissed at the Mall Administration/landlord if I were Apple. They pay big bucks and are responsible for bringing in a lot of traffic to the mall..and they rent out the space practically blocking their front door to their competitor? I'd be pissed and threaten to move out of the mall...even though it cost them money.

10-31-2008, 01:14 PM	#9
wheelhot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 465	okayyy, that was utterly dumb. I'm a PC and I cheated death? How can a PC cheat death? I just spray my water hose over you and you will be dead? I'm a PC and I'm converting to Mac Apple is a hardware company, dont believe me? Read this Article!. For those who understand my message, help me spread this info to those who dont get it.

10-31-2008, 12:58 PM	#2
der passant Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 30	Pathetic

10-31-2008, 01:04 PM	#5
dontlookleft Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 157	I laughed.

10-31-2008, 01:18 PM	#10
iReality85 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 220	I can't stop laughing. Leave it to Microsoft to park their booth right outside an Apple Store. In ur eye, Jobs! : P

10-31-2008, 01:18 PM	#11
polar315 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 47	Hilarious Just waiting for the MS employees new dress code of sandwich boards to go back and forth to the office. Have to admit they are trying. Hmmm...it is Halloween this evening....maybe the Apple guys will........

10-31-2008, 01:20 PM	#12
etslee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3	Just sad Seinfeld and Deepak Chopra...wow those Microsoft guys are so hip!

10-31-2008, 01:21 PM	#13
JeffDM Global Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: .US Posts: 9,127	Odd slogan "Life Without Walls" slogan after the Windows flag logo is bizarre. If you don't have walls, why do you need Windows? While there are "walls" associated with Apple's products, there are plenty with Microsoft's too, which one is worse is part subjective, though part depends on the topic at hand too.

10-31-2008, 01:25 PM	#14
kerryb Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 69	I'm the Titanic The hull has been breeched and the sinking has begun, looks like Captain Balmer will be going down with the ship (yelling) undoubtedly.

10-31-2008, 01:33 PM	#15
paxman Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 640	Get out your markers - it GRAFFITI TIME!

10-31-2008, 01:33 PM	#16
Doxxic Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 46	This is precisely the kind of thing that PC does in Apple's ads!!!

10-31-2008, 01:34 PM	#17
NeverInDoubt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 10	All Birmingham Apple fans should stop by and record messages like: "I'm a PC. Goddammit can anyone help me configure my printer!"

10-31-2008, 01:34 PM	#18
Hobbes Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NYC Posts: 1,215	So sad. Why on earth would a dinky little kiosk keep anyone from going into a shiny Apple Store, where free net access and attractive products await?

10-31-2008, 01:35 PM	#19
wirc Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 302	This is hilarious. I bet some ad buyer or whoever did this had a hell of a good time with this one. I bet he got his supervisors laughing all the way up to Ballmer. MacBook Pro C2D 2.4GHz and a battle-scarred PowerBook G4 1.33GHz "When you gaze long into a dead pixel, the dead pixes gazes also into you"

10-31-2008, 01:39 PM	#21
sandro Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 21	What are they thinking? Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Microsoft to hire the same people running McCain's campaign. -- Alex Abate

10-31-2008, 01:40 PM	#22
minderbinder Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,395	I can't imagine most malls or landlords would allow this. Seriously, can you imagine having something set up in front of a store trying to convince people to not go in?

10-31-2008, 01:41 PM	#23
led1002 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1	Odd Place to Put a MS Kiosk Is it just me or does anyone else find it odd that MS thinks that the best place to find their dedicated users is in front of an Apple Store??

10-31-2008, 01:42 PM	#24
bdkennedy1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 402	Desperate. That's my first impression. PC users could give less than a shi* about commercials telling them to use something they already use. Now PC users can upload their own "I'm a PC" video to Microsoft. W O W. And the guy in front of his web cam saying "I'm a PC, and I love peanut butter" - who in the living fuc* cares?

10-31-2008, 01:45 PM	#25
OldMacGuy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 38	Maybe it wasn't such a great idea for Microsoft to hire the same people running McCain's campaign. Sarah Palin in the nude couldn't convince me to switch to a PC. The last of my family has finally switched to Mac. One at a time, one at a time. Like a tiny tick that causes Lyme disease, MS is worried

10-31-2008, 01:46 PM	#26
astrosmash Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 49	It's $300 million. They gotta spend in on something. But to "record your own I'm a PC ad"? I don't even know what that is.

10-31-2008, 01:46 PM	#27
MacTel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 634	Coke vs Pepsi. The taste tests are on. Good luck Steve (er Ballmer I mean). Tory Hagen Break the Wedge!

10-31-2008, 01:51 PM	#30
PXT Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The West Posts: 306	The reason why the Microsoft staffers are in a group of three is the same reason why the East German border guards used to be in twos. It's so that there are always two others to stop the one from trying to escape into the Apple Store. Given what I've seen on this forum from switchers, I'd say that any of these staffers that try to start a conversation are going to get an education. I reckon there will soon be a new type of queue forming at the Birmingham Apple Store. These guys are going to need counseling. Just lucky they didn't do this in Liverpool. They would probably end up locked inside and hoisted up a crane !

10-31-2008, 01:53 PM	#31
ren Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6	It's the "Fix Vista Charity Booth" Go up and ask them "Is this where we go to help fix Vista?" OMG, LOL!

10-31-2008, 01:54 PM	#32
huntercr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 44	Looking at the picture, I think it may fail simply because people will read the banner and say to themselves... "Oh yeah, those Mac commercials.. I'm a PC ... he he he... .. ok now time to go into the mac store" What cracks me up is that Microsoft hasn't been in the advertising business in so many years that they don't even know HOW to run an ad campaign against the underdog. They were the underdog back when they had to advertise ( vs. IBM ) It's sad actually.

10-31-2008, 01:54 PM	#33
asgiov Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 5	Pretty ridiculous.... I'm thinking some Apple fanboys are going to go give those poor Microsoft PR people a REALLY hard time too.... heh... I wonder how wide-spread MS plans to try and make this. The people who are running Microsoft continue to show me what complete MORONS they are. I wish someone would do something about Steve Balmer... that guy annoys the heck out of me.

10-31-2008, 01:54 PM	#34
Buck Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 257	"eat me, I'm a delicious pizza"

10-31-2008, 01:56 PM	#36
MadCow42 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3	Ironic signs... "Life without walls" Ironically, the poster on the booth reads "Life without walls"... on the outside of a wall. Maybe they meant "Firewalls", refering to their security track record... I don't know. MadCow.

10-31-2008, 01:58 PM	#37
gingerbreadboy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1	people should go in there and say "i'm a mac"...etc...it'd be funny if there were more of these than "i'm a pc"

10-31-2008, 02:01 PM	#38
Adjei Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 733	Seems Microsoft is scared of Apple, according to some Microsoft doesn't give a damn about Apple, I mean with only 3 % marketshare why should they, Microsoft is shivering.

10-31-2008, 02:02 PM	#39
timgriff84 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 112	I was with Microsoft up until this one, who on earth wants to sit in a booth and go "Im a PC" If they wanted to get back at Apple they could have just reversed the Apple ads back on them with all the problems Apple are having, by that I mean they could do the following ads: - Macs now have viruses (Even Apple admit this as they've taken the virus free stat off their switch to mac part of the site) - Macs now crash - Official Vista now more secure and Mac - Mobile me not working. Could do a great comparison of the free hotmail working and Apple handing out free trial extensions for there paid for service not - iPhone signal problems vs Windows based phone without signal probs As Apple keeps screwing up on things it seems stupid of Microsoft not to take advantage rather than this current lame attempt.

10-31-2008, 02:10 PM	#40
slapppy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 138	Tacky and stupid.

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