Microsoft begins guerrilla marketing campaign for Surface near Chicago Apple Store
Microsoft has begun promoting its forthcoming Surface touchscreen tablets with an alternative, graffiti-style marketing campaign just a block away from an Apple Store in Chicago.
The Surface advertisement located on the outside brick wall of "We'll Clean Hand Car Wash" was spotted by Yoni Heisler of iOnApple. He characterized the promotion, especially its location on the side of a car wash, as "particularly bizarre."
The advertisement features two blank rectangles drawn in white with the "Surface" name centered and a small Windows logo below. Beneath each is the tagline "Click in," with red and blue keyboards and trackpad, and a small Microsoft logo to the right.
It's likely that Microsoft chose the location for the ad because of its proximity to the Lincoln Park Apple Store. The car wash is just a tenth of a mile from Apple's store.
The Lincoln Park Apple Store is in a standalone building in prime location next to the North/Clybourn Red Line subway station. In 2009, Apple agreed to pay $4 million to renovate the subway station in order to secure the space for its store.
Microsoft plans to compete head-to-head with Apple's iPad with the launch of its new Surface tablets. The product is particularly compelling because Microsoft has designed and built the hardware itself, rather than allowing its partners to create devices as it has done in the traditional Windows PC space.
ARM-based Surface tablets running the touch-based Windows RT operating system are set to go on sale later this month on Oct. 26. That same day, the new Windows 8 operating system will also go on sale and debut in new PCs.
The Surface advertisement located on the outside brick wall of "We'll Clean Hand Car Wash" was spotted by Yoni Heisler of iOnApple. He characterized the promotion, especially its location on the side of a car wash, as "particularly bizarre."
The advertisement features two blank rectangles drawn in white with the "Surface" name centered and a small Windows logo below. Beneath each is the tagline "Click in," with red and blue keyboards and trackpad, and a small Microsoft logo to the right.
It's likely that Microsoft chose the location for the ad because of its proximity to the Lincoln Park Apple Store. The car wash is just a tenth of a mile from Apple's store.
The Lincoln Park Apple Store is in a standalone building in prime location next to the North/Clybourn Red Line subway station. In 2009, Apple agreed to pay $4 million to renovate the subway station in order to secure the space for its store.
Microsoft plans to compete head-to-head with Apple's iPad with the launch of its new Surface tablets. The product is particularly compelling because Microsoft has designed and built the hardware itself, rather than allowing its partners to create devices as it has done in the traditional Windows PC space.
ARM-based Surface tablets running the touch-based Windows RT operating system are set to go on sale later this month on Oct. 26. That same day, the new Windows 8 operating system will also go on sale and debut in new PCs.
Comments
So… hiding behind bushes, wearing camouflage, short, quick surprise attacks, eating berries and other fruits, and crapping in their nests once they leave so others can't use them?
In-store rappers. Graffiti. Ballmer is trying to get some mad street cred, yo.
It actually hurt to type that. MSoft is just embarrassing themselves at this point.
This whole Windows 8/Windows 8 RT/Surface/Windows 8 Phone/"No Metro" is confusing and shaping up to be an epic fail
"The product is particularly compelling because Microsoft has designed and built the hardware itself, rather than allowing its partners to create devices as it has done in the traditional Windows PC space."
I don't think the word "compelling" means what you think it does.
Quote:
Originally Posted by iSheldon
Thank Gawd I don't live in Chicago if that's any indication to where their Apple store is located nearby. Let me check on my map app. Drat- no Streetview so I can't.
Glad you brought it up. This is a good example of the shortcomings of Street View. All it shows is an empty lot... under construction at some future date... not even a hole in the ground.
Very similar to the Surface tablets.
i don't get it.
I wonder how effectively that can be removed, once the campaign is over.
Here's some perspective. On the lower-left, you can see the advertising space on the building (with the pin). On the opposite side of Clybourn is the Apple Store.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Barriault
Here's some perspective. On the lower-left, you can see the advertising space on the building (with the pin). On the opposite side of Clybourn is the Apple Store.
That must be photoshopped. We all know that the iOS 6 maps are worse than useless. /s
Boston: http://i46.tinypic.com/107jhmw.jpg
NYC: http://i46.tinypic.com/2nupyt3.jpg
Cali: http://i45.tinypic.com/qqpd6r.jpg
Chicago: http://i48.tinypic.com/r1ino2.jpg
Texas: http://i50.tinypic.com/35klts3.jpg
Seattle: http://i45.tinypic.com/25tjmes.png
NYC: http://i50.tinypic.com/16kucu8.jpg
NYC: http://i50.tinypic.com/2lmkvb4.jpg
NYC: http://i45.tinypic.com/2h6zfb7.jpg
NYC: http://i47.tinypic.com/34i33hd.jpg
They aren't just advertising the Surface near Apple Stores. They're advertising it everywhere. I'm in New York and I've seen these graffiti ads on at least 15 buildings already. I've seen them take over Grand Central station. I've seen ads for Surface on bus shelters and even on subway platform ceilings. Photos of other ads:
Boston:
NYC:
Cali:
Chicago:
Texas:
Seattle:
NYC:
NYC:
NYC:
NYC:
Thanks- the next time I fly over it I'll be sure to look for it.
I meant, of course, perspective on just how close they are.