Microsoft taps Seinfeld to help battle Apple in new ad campaign

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  • Reply 41 of 145
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lamewing View Post


    I only wish I could be such a "has been" that makes 10 million dollars for a set of commercials. Oh the pain of being a has been.



    The main character behind one of the most ethnically discriminatory TV series of all time, plus the world's biggest monopolist...sounds perfect to me...way to go downhill, guys!!!
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  • Reply 42 of 145
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by lamewing View Post


    I only wish I could be such a "has been" that makes 10 million dollars for a set of commercials. Oh the pain of being a has been.



    My point was-and it has been stated here elsewhere-these two do NOT target the appropriate market. It will be interesting to see how many Mac Books/Pros are sold to college students this year.



    I just recently returned to Apple's world (18 months ago) after being lost in Windows for a long time. And Jerry Seinfield will in no way make me even consider going back. And the same is true for anyone under 35 years old-hell I am 40 and I never even watched the show about nothing.



    Is he rich?-yes-that is good-good for him! But not current, and that is something M$ is in desperate need of.
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  • Reply 43 of 145
    It could burn your eyes like this one:



    http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/16/m...a-promo-video/

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  • Reply 44 of 145
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by irnchriz View Post


    ... WiFi wont connect. It wont shut down correctly. Wont start up correctly...



    That sounds like some of the problems people are having with OS X
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  • Reply 45 of 145
    virgil-tb2virgil-tb2 Posts: 1,416member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Flounder View Post


    You sure about that? I only remember macs. Maybe you thought it was a PC when he had a Mac LC?



    As I recall it started out as original macs (512, Classic, SE) then some LCs, and a 20th anniversary Mac the final year of the show.



    I recall a Windows 95 PC and at least one spoken reference to it by a character, but I could be wrong. Seinfeld was a *long* time ago now.



    Seinfeld has moved to "the dark side" already though. He has shilled for HP and has been on stage with Gates before promoting Windows.
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  • Reply 46 of 145
    davegeedavegee Posts: 2,765member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by J-Shea View Post


    Jerry Seinfeld was paid $1 million per episode for "Seinfeld" during the show's final season. He continues to receive royalties from syndication. Does he need to work for Microsoft?



    Also, it is a bit ironic that Seinfeld would plug Microsoft Windows given that a Macintosh was often seen inside his TV show apartment.



    We can flip that around for an even bigger question...



    Gates has made BILLIONS and BILLIONS with his sale of MS stock does he need to work .... at all?!



    Dave
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  • Reply 47 of 145
    davegeedavegee Posts: 2,765member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by irishspoon View Post


    So CP&B which is an all Mac shop is using an actor/comedian from a show that used a Mac as a prop for a Microsoft ad? Hmm.



    Reminds me of that Jeep commercial from a few years back (okay maybe a lot of years back)...



    Scene top of a mountain with several business types pitching an AD to some car company... "Imagine as the camera pans across this beautiful horizon and stops to focus in on your SUV stilling atop this very majestic mountain plateau."



    They all sigh a deep sigh...



    One exec says yea but HOW are we going to get the SUVs up here? paused response Helicopter! Where everyone says excellent, excellent....



    The AD ends where they all drive down from the mountain plateau in Jeeps....



    Dave
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  • Reply 48 of 145
    Damn, why are you people so passionately angry about this? I like Apple too, but DAMN! They don't call it "The Cult of Mac" for nothing.



    First off, you people who are making fun of Jerry are just jealous. I mean, come on! If you guys were offered $10 million to do a commercial for Microsoft (hell, let's go with TEN THOUSAND), you'd do it without even having to think about it! For ten million dollars, you'd streak through New York City with the Windows orb painted onto each of your butt cheeks.



    Seinfeld's character owned Macs because Apple paid for the product placement, and now it's happening again with Microsoft, but outside of the show, and for a lot more money. Anybody who claims this is somehow "wrong" is clinically insane. You guys talk about this as if it's some kind of moral dilemma.



    And to the guy who called Seinfeld's show "racially discriminating..." come on, dude. Seriously? One of the most memorable characters on the show was Jackie Stiles (Kramer's lawyer). And, BTW, the show (as well as Curb Your Enthusiasm) poked a lot of fun at people who like to play the race card at the drop of a hat. There was a whole episode about Costanza trying to prove to a coworker that he wasn't racist by being seen in public with black acquaintances. And in Curb, a black woman confronts Larry David (Seinfeld's co-creator) about what you're saying, and he's constantly trying to defend himself throughout the rest of the episode.



    Stop thinking so hard about trivial things like Seinfeld doing little work for a lot of money and the ratio of Jews to blacks in his show; aren't there enough REAL problems in the world to focus on?



    Damn!
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  • Reply 49 of 145
    Seinfeld?!? Are you kidding me, he's been off the air for 10 years. Unless MS plans to sell PCs to the 35+ demo, this won't get them far with Gen X.



    Not sure who's brilliant idea Seinfeld was, but shame on CPB for allowing their client to sign the talent. CPB knows and can do much better.
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  • Reply 50 of 145
    Seinfeld had the first Macintosh in his apartment on his show the hole time.

    And now this??? Not Gold Jerry Not Gold.









    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AppleInsider View Post


    Battered and bruised by a long-running advertising campaign on the part of rival Apple, Inc., Microsoft Corp. is turning to sitcom star and world renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld to help clean up the public perception of its Windows Vista operating system.



    Citing "people close to the situation," the Wall Street Journal reports that the Redmond-based software giant will pay Seinfeld a cool $10 million to serve as a pitchman alongside company chairman Bill Gates in a new series of ads that will begin airing on September 4th.



    The ads will use some variation of the slogan "Windows, Not Walls," according to the report, and "stress breaking down barriers that prevent people and ideas from connecting." They'll be just one part of a much broader $300 million campaign, however, which is said to be one of the largest in Microsoft's history.



    Over the past two years, Apple has used series of international ads to attack the shortcomings of Microsoft's latest operating system, Vista, while highlighting the strengths of its own Mac platform. The ads feature staid and witless PC character who's constantly outclassed by a hipster Mac guy.



    Although Microsoft has contested the ads, claiming they portray Vista unfairly, the company has also recognized the recent progress of Apple, which has seen its PC sales growth rate soar to three times that of the overall industry.



    "In the competition between PCs and Macs, we outsell Apple 30-to-1. But there is no doubt that Apple is thriving," Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer wrote in the email to employees last month. "Why? Because they are good at providing an experience that is narrow but complete, while our commitment to choice often comes with some compromises to the end-to-end experience."



    Going forward, Ballmer said Microsoft will be changing the way it works with hardware vendors to mimic the experience offered by the Mac maker in which there will be "absolutely no compromises." As a first order of business, Ballmer promised to begin mending the image of Vista now that the release of SP1 has largely addressed a number of compatibility issues that plagued the software in its early going.



    "Now it?s time to tell our story," he told employees. "In the weeks ahead, we?ll launch a campaign to address any lingering doubts our customers may have about Windows Vista. And later this year, you?ll see a more comprehensive effort to redefine the meaning and value of Windows for our customers."



    According to the Journal, Microsoft also considered a range of other famous personalities for the role ultimately retained by Seinfeld, such as comedians Will Ferrell and Chris Rock.



    The upcoming campaign is to be "the brainchild of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, a Miami-based ad shop that has helped revitalize brands such as Burger King."



    Ironically, the computers featured in the 9-year situation comedy Seinfeld, for which the comedian payed a semi-fictional version of himself, were always Macs.





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  • Reply 51 of 145
    hutchohutcho Posts: 132member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by irnchriz View Post


    Then they get it home and that when the fun starts. WiFi wont connect. It wont shut down correctly. Wont start up correctly. Wont run your programs.



    What a load of crap.



    I just got into Apple recently, because I bought an iPhone (which is excellent). I've been doing some iPhone development, so I bought a Mac. It's the first time I've ever used one.



    I've now used it for 3 weeks doing development, and Mac OS has nothing on Vista. There is simply not one feature that Mac OS has that is lacking from Vista. There are plenty of things that are lacking from Mac OS however.



    Vista, when installed on new hardware, simply doesn't have these problems you mention, and I have done plenty of installs on plenty of PC's. It runs wifi without a problem, never has trouble booting or shuting down (or hibernating etc) and has no problems running any of my programs (most of which are unavailable on Mac).



    You fan boys have to have a reality check.
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  • Reply 52 of 145
    zanshinzanshin Posts: 350member
    Spoken like a lifetime Windows acolyte with nearly 3 weeks of Mac ownership under his belt.



    Here's a Mac-only feature you may have missed: Since you're only using Mac for iPhone development and are an experienced Windows installer, why not install Vista on your new Mac and run both at the same time? (It's a "have cake AND eat it" scenario). I'll bet you a new PC of your choice you haven't done that on a WIndows Vista PC, brand new or otherwise.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Hutcho View Post


    What a load of crap.



    I just got into Apple recently, because I bought an iPhone (which is excellent). I've been doing some iPhone development, so I bought a Mac. It's the first time I've ever used one.



    I've now used it for 3 weeks doing development, and Mac OS has nothing on Vista. There is simply not one feature that Mac OS has that is lacking from Vista. There are plenty of things that are lacking from Mac OS however.



    Vista, when installed on new hardware, simply doesn't have these problems you mention, and I have done plenty of installs on plenty of PC's. It runs wifi without a problem, never has trouble booting or shuting down (or hibernating etc) and has no problems running any of my programs (most of which are unavailable on Mac).



    You fan boys have to have a reality check.



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  • Reply 53 of 145
    rot'napplerot'napple Posts: 1,839member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by JupiterOne View Post


    Cool! Maybe they can follow up with a Zune ad with Elaine.









    OR...



    Make an ad with "The Soup Nazi" and replace his famous phrase of "No soup for you!" with 'No Vista OS updated drivers for you!'



    or



    'No "insert your own thought here" for you!
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  • Reply 54 of 145
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Bageljoey View Post


    This is serious. Jobs needs to lock up Wayne Knight (the guy who played Newman) ASAP



    I'm with you... it just makes sense to put Newman in a Mac vs. PC ad. Make him be a celebrity that "PC" brings in to be his spokes person, and have the ad basically say that who sings the part of the song and dance doesn't change the dance.

    I love it.
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  • Reply 55 of 145
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by amac4me View Post


    So will Kramer (Michael Richards) use one his famous violent bursts through Jerry's apartment door during the Ads?



    Oh wait, perhaps he'll go on a tirade and start telling Gates how Vista sucks?



    Oh Yea and then he should also mumble the part that VISTA really stands for Viruses Inevitable Stick To Apple



    VISTA = Viruses Inevitable Stick To Apple

    repeat after me ..thats the story Jerry
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  • Reply 56 of 145
    And what's all this about Seinfeld only appealing to the "35+" demographic? I'm 21 years old, and I've been a Seinfeld fan for years. Now, it's POSSIBLE that I'm a rare case (I am in the business, after all), and some of my peers outside of LA have actually teased me about liking what they consider a show "for old people," but I honestly don't think I'm among the minority. I remember my friends talking about Seinfeld back in the seventh grade- long before I started watching it myself.



    I wouldn't discredit the whole Seinfeld idea. Could they have chosen somebody more relevant? Yeah, of course they could have. People like Ben Stiller come to mind. But I do think it's bit premature to call Seinfeld a "has-been."



    Perhaps they'll liken Vista to Seinfeld in the sense that, initially, Seinfeld looked like it wasn't going to make it, and then it became known to many people as the best TV show of all time? I'm not saying I agree with that (I pretty much hate Vista), but that might trick some people into believing Microsoft.
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  • Reply 57 of 145
    jupiteronejupiterone Posts: 1,564member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Rot'nApple View Post


    OR...



    Make an ad with "The Soup Nazi" and replace his famous phrase of "No soup for you!" with 'No Vista OS updated drivers for you!'



    I was thinking they would bring in the Soup Nazi when they finally end support for XP.



    "NO XP FOR YOU!"
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  • Reply 58 of 145
    In more recent news: Microsoft hires T-Rex from Jurassic Park to introduce their next generation Windows 7.

    In exchange the T-Rex was promised to be fed the Zune developers.

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  • Reply 59 of 145
    technotechno Posts: 737member
    They think the problem is that their "story" isn't getting through? Are you kidding me! The problem is not that the message is being lost. People have had plenty of experience with Windows and know all too well what it is about. MS is thinking that if they could just get the word out that Vista is great, that people will believe it. WRONG!



    Also, I love how they are trying to say that the reason their end product is mediocre, is because it tries to do too much.
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  • Reply 60 of 145
    ktappektappe Posts: 830member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by cactus_man View Post


    Damn, why are you people so passionately angry about this?



    They're not. They are having fun, and I don't see all that much passion or anger in this thread. Perhaps you're seeing what you want to see instead of what is actually there? You are, for example, the only user of the word "damn" so far.



    Quote:

    First off, you people who are making fun of Jerry are just jealous.



    Jealous of his money? Sure. Of him? Not so much. Honestly, I never found him nearly as funny as he thought he was. Only saw maybe 10 of his shows 'cos they simply never kept my attention or made me chuckle much. Therefore, it's not really a question of jealousy, it's one of being dubious of Microsoft's selection. We're allowed to question Microsoft's moves just as we're allowed to question Apple's. Again, perhaps it's you who is projecting--you cannot understand why we're not in complete awe of Seinfeld's $10 million contract and think that discounts any critique of him or Microsoft. Problem is, it's unclear how that logically follows.



    Quote:

    Seinfeld's character owned Macs because Apple paid for the product placement...Anybody who claims this is somehow "wrong" is clinically insane. You guys talk about this as if it's some kind of moral dilemma.



    It's certainly ironic--you can't deny that. And you are skipping the part where he was featured in one of Apple's "Think Different" ads. That actually does border on a moral dilemma, because he accepted a part in a serious-themed production in which he lent his persona to a "I don't follow the mainstream" claim. Now he's selling himself to the mainstream for $10 million. If that is not a moral dilemma, then it's pretty self-disparaging of him and does, in my eyes, diminish him. And I doubt I'm alone. But you appear to put money above all else, so to your value set if someone is paid for doing something, all other considerations become secondary. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this point.
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