Part Three of the Microsoft Ad Campaign. “I’m a PC and I sell fish!”

Published on September 19th, 2008

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52 users responded in " Part Three of the Microsoft Ad Campaign. “I’m a PC and I sell fish!” "

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# 1 Don said, on September 19th, 2008 at 10:31 pm

This screams “I’m a PC, and I am better than a MAC. No Really. Cmon, the richest guy in the world wouldn’t lie to make himself richer!”

Gee, for all their billions of dollars, wouldn’t you think they could at least buy an original ad campaign?

Pathetic!

Don

# 2 Jim W. said, on September 19th, 2008 at 10:33 pm

A direct smack at the Apple ads. Isn’t that what everyone has been wanting to see?

# 3 Ah_Yea said, on September 19th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

What? Doesn’t a MAC do all that also?

I mean, if they’re going to make an ad, shouldn’t they be telling us why we want a WINDOWS PC over a Mac?

After all, the term PC applies to all personal computers, MAC, Linux, Unix, etc. Many cell phones today qualify as a PC!

Duh!

# 4 pjakobs said, on September 19th, 2008 at 10:54 pm

Apple folks must be laughing their butts off.
Let’s get it straight: I’d never buy Apple again since I want freedom of choice, not being “protected” by a hardware / software vendor. I don’t buy Windows either if I can avoid it, I use Linux. But looking at the ad campaigns, Microsoft is in a very sorry state. They have no innovation left, it seems. They define themselves as almost as good as Apple and almost as good as Google.

# 5 zombieball said, on September 19th, 2008 at 11:05 pm

Not sure why all of you say that Microsoft has no innovation in their ads. The first 2 commercials with Jerry Seinfeld were quite innovative if you ask me. You have to remember Microsoft isn’t trying to directly advertise their products with these commercials, they are trying to simply change their image. In my opinion Bill Gates + Jerry Seinfeld cracking jokes in a commercial alongside Bill’s “finding a new job” video have definitely changed the image of Microsoft in my mind.

# 6 Springheel Jack said, on September 19th, 2008 at 11:19 pm

Linux is a hobbyists OS that is not ready for the casual user like Grandma and it won’t be ready for Grandma for a long, long time, if ever. Macintosh, however, is just what Granny needs and what Granny loves once she got a chance to use it. Same with the wife. Just try to get those two to use Linux–even with Gnome and KDE—after they discover how fun it is to use a Mac. Ain’t happening. Granny and the wife don’t give a damn whether their computer is open source, closed source, or anywhere in-between, either. They just want it to run fast, be easy to use, and not crash. That is enough reason they will never, ever go back to Windows.

# 7 Awake said, on September 19th, 2008 at 11:25 pm

I was at a meeting the other night, and there were 7 laptops present. 3 of them were Mac, and 4 of them were PCs… ONE laptop was running OSX, the other six were running XP or Vista. Two out of three Macs were booted into a Microsoft OS.

I know three people that have ‘reverse-switched’ from Apple to PC. Vista on a newer system is actually better than OSX, and half the price.

And don’t tell me about all that wonderful software that is included with a Mac that doesn’t come with a PC… nobody uses that Mac bundled Mac stuff, except maybe for Apple Mail… you end up installing ‘real’ applications on both platforms.

Apple is a phone and music player company, with good laptops and overpriced desktops.

# 8 Pablo said, on September 19th, 2008 at 11:33 pm

Microsoft should be making ads to sell more Vista-copies.

They don’t, because they know it is a big failure.

And also, copying The PC Guy from the Apple ads is not at all a good idea!

# 9 Russell Bynum said, on September 20th, 2008 at 12:27 am

I have a Mac desktop, a PC laptop, and enjoy messing with Lunux from time to time. Seriously, while the Apple commercials are amusing, these Microsoft ones seem felled with self-pity and “Waaaahhh!” Bill’s company doesn’t need to market its stuff, they have cornered the market and already brainwashed most people into thinking they can never learn to use another operating system! Who care what it is so long as it works and interacts will with other computers!?

Microsoft: Wwwaaaaaaaahhhh!!!

# 10 Jim said, on September 20th, 2008 at 1:28 am

*shrug* I’m not a pc, nor am I a mac. I’m a lover and a fighter and I’m not defined by my computers.

I define them.

There, 20 seconds, and I have an ad campaign. Funny, that.

# 11 Lou said, on September 20th, 2008 at 1:28 am

What a waste of money.
It like they got the Vista team to brew these ads up.

# 12 Joe said, on September 20th, 2008 at 1:29 am

I would like to see an ad saying “Hi, I’m a von Neumann machine” “And I’m a Quantum Computer.”

Now that would be hot.

# 13 Digby said, on September 20th, 2008 at 1:35 am

Ahhhh. A breath of fresh air. Much better without the weird ass Jerry Seinfield. I’m a PC and I shoot tv news.

# 14 pedro said, on September 20th, 2008 at 1:47 am

Although better than the other 2, still pointless.

#6 copying & pasting post of old?

#7 That’s what macfans don’t want to admit. People is only buying mac hardware to use windows on it. The only good decision stevereeno has made was make the mac hardware a clone of any other pc out there. They changed their aim towards dell & other clone makers.

# 15 Pali Madra said, on September 20th, 2008 at 2:13 am

John you were the one who used to criticize Microsoft for not answering the “get a Mac” advertisements and not advertising and now when Microsoft does advertise and answer the Apple’s campaign you have not comments!

That is the easy way out for sure!

# 16 Nimby said, on September 20th, 2008 at 2:27 am

Thank God there’s an election going on.
Election campaign ads = hahahahahahaha
Advertising campaign ads = zzzzzzzzzz

# 17 brian t said, on September 20th, 2008 at 2:32 am

I’m a PC… but I run Linux, and I have no time for Deepak bloody Chopra.

# 18 mthrnite said, on September 20th, 2008 at 2:45 am

I’m a PC, and I am a top official of the federal government contract review panel who is interested in the importation of goods into my country with funds that are presently trapped in Nigeria.

# 19 MarkP said, on September 20th, 2008 at 2:58 am

At least the Seinfeld ads had something truly original to offer. This is MS going Bennington (global feelgoodism). YAWWWWWNNN…

On the other hand, I would love critics of these new MS ads to display a similar level of scrutiny to all marketing bullshit, because that what most marketing is, bullshit. This MS ad campaign is just what marketing does, BS viewers into to feeling something for a product or company that has no rational basis in reality. So, you’ve woken up to one sham, wake up to the rest of it and be free.

# 20 Uncle Patso said, on September 20th, 2008 at 3:27 am

That’s more like it. The first two were more like sitcoms — entertaining, but not at all ad-like. This is AN AD, in the tradition of “I want to teach the world to sing” for Coca-Cola and the Colors of Benetton and Louis Armstrong singing “What a Wonderful World” for (AT&T? I can’t recall now what the ad was for, but it was definitely one of those “feel good” ads).

I have no idea if any of these ads increased sales or measurably improved public perception of their sponsors, but they are/were all memorable.

My first thought on watching this ad was “About time.”

# 21 pedro said, on September 20th, 2008 at 3:30 am

#15 He did and coinciudes with most of us. I think that compared to what they got out so far, they could have been better off without them.

# 22 Springheel Jack said, on September 20th, 2008 at 3:42 am

@14: No, are you?

# 23 Cursor_ said, on September 20th, 2008 at 3:46 am

And Apple IS a PC!

This is what they SHOULD have done.

The whole problem is that the Steventologists have bamboozled the public making people think that Apple is NOT a personal computer.

Well it ain’t a server. It ain’t a miniframe nor a mainframe. It sure as hell doesn’t run as a web server… so what is it? A PC.

What they should be doing is showing how Steventologists rushed out to get an expensive piece of hardware JUST to run WINDOWS on it.

That would hammer home the idea that Apple makes great hardware, but ulttimately people use Windows because IT WORKS!

Cursor_

# 24 Springheel Jack said, on September 20th, 2008 at 4:23 am

“…but ulttimately people use Windows because IT WORKS!”

That’s not what I hear.

# 25 zorkor said, on September 20th, 2008 at 4:28 am

I m a PC and people are racist against me. This is a better than the stinky Apple ads. Even though I use Apple products but keep my PC to do serious work. And I recently removed Windows XP and installed Vista and im loving it. Yes its different but its way better than XP in terms of reliability, security.

Microsoft all the way baby!

# 26 rudedog said, on September 20th, 2008 at 4:36 am

I can’t wait to see the parody youtube videos.

- shot of a guy sitting at a very expensive desk.
I’m a PC and I install malware on your system.

- shot of a guy in Russia
I’m a PC and I’m using YOUR PC as part of my botnet.

How about a ad telling us how you are going to try your best at locking down your OS, removing the bloatware, and increasing it’s overall performance over XP? Now that would be an ad campaign, as long as they followed through with these promises.

# 27 Zancudocom said, on September 20th, 2008 at 4:51 am

This ad is saying I’m a PC and I’m PC, politically correct. I don’t make generalizations about people. People who use inferior operating systems aren’t bad, just unenlightened. In stupidity there is strength!

# 28 Cursor_ said, on September 20th, 2008 at 5:06 am

#24 if it doesn’t work why do so many steventologists dual boot OSX and Windows?

Why not develop software that does what windows apps do for OSX?

It MUST work or else no one would dual boot.

Sometimes simple plain logic overshadows just gut-born ctiticism.

Cursor_

# 29 Mister Mustard said, on September 20th, 2008 at 6:14 am

#13 – Digby

Copy that. Any change in the ads that gets rid of the obnoxious and unfunny Seinfeld is a change for the better.

# 30 Shenzhov said, on September 20th, 2008 at 6:22 am

Windows is not a PC, it’s an OS. An OS that runs on a PC.

I’m a PC and I “SMELL” fish.

But then again as has already been said…

In a world without Walls, why would you need Windows?

# 31 Nimby said, on September 20th, 2008 at 6:56 am

# 26 rudedog : Let’s not forget why there is so much malware directed against Windows. Let’s see – for good or bad – it is ubiquitous. If OSX or it’s successors ever gain a substantial portion of the market (and I believe it’s currently only around 8%) then you’ll see more malware.

Look at it that way and Steve is doing all you Apple fanboys a disservice by advertising. More sales will bring the day of malware closer.

Seriously, I have two laptops. One runs XP and the other runs Linux. I keep hoping Linux will garner more attention so it will be improved and more widely accepted. On the other hand, I realize that means bad things will come, too. -sigh-

# 32 chuck said, on September 20th, 2008 at 7:17 am

I wonder how many people who run Macs, use it exclusively as a Windows PC (either using Parallels or Boot camp).

# 33 Brett said, on September 20th, 2008 at 7:24 am

OH GOD, Deepak Chopra, hahaha!

The €nlightened $piritual £eader!

# 34 JoaoPT said, on September 20th, 2008 at 7:27 am

I’m a Mac and I don’t have malware…yet! Because I’ve got too small of a piece of the pie.
And I usually don’t run in the company.
You see, I’m the one for students, and aunt May, and Bob the designer, and you can see me everywhere in public places. Just can’t see scores of me in the office, nor the render farm, neither in google’s server farms. Why should you? I’m expensive. Except in the reality distorsion field.

# 35 jescott418 said, on September 20th, 2008 at 7:29 am

Yes, this is a direct response to Apple. Now, I guess we will see if it works.
As I see it Apple has been the deceiver and Microsoft has simply taken what Apple could dish out. Apple’s biggest asset is Steve Jobs who has continued to create a sales pitch that distorts everything. Rather then just bragging that Apple’s products are better, it has to imply that everyone else is junk.
Microsoft has a fine line to walk here. It needs to reply to those ads without doing the same as Apple.

# 36 mthrnite said, on September 20th, 2008 at 7:30 am

Xbox 360 & an iMac w/10.5.
That’s MY dual-boot!

# 37 QB said, on September 20th, 2008 at 7:46 am

This ad says, relax, it’s OK to own a Windows box.

#32 Exclusively? Very few that I’ve seen – even at Microsoft. Part time, tons in the tech world. Outside the tech world, only if you have teenage boys who wants to play Call of Duty.

# 38 chris said, on September 20th, 2008 at 7:49 am

This is a good ad. Apple is so snide. Microsoft needs to hit back at them.

I don’t like Microsoft as a company. They bully other companies and sue people all the time. They buy up competitors when they can or put out poorly crafted derivative products when they can’t.

I don’t like Apple as a company. They charge too much for their products. Their brand is all about looking down on everyone because you paid too much for your gadget. They place unnecessary restrictions on the use of their products. These restrictions all point to their disdain for their own customers.

Both companies have pushed for and attained monopolies at different times. Pretending one is some how superior to the other is dumb.

# 39 QB said, on September 20th, 2008 at 8:04 am

Wow, I’ve never seen so many people get so uptight about their computers. Anyway back to the story.

MS is concerned that they’ve lost their edge in the consumer market compared with other companies including Apple. The problem is that they have a steady business model but no products are breaking out. For example, is anyone excited about Windows Mobile, Zune, IE, or Live (search, maps, office, etc)? They are also unsure about whether they want their products to live on desktop or the “cloud” – and in true MS fashion they have chosen both.

There is some interesting stuff in the pipe like Mesh but this ad campaign is about creating a new identity for the brand with the hope that products will follow. Their brand identity is completely unfocused and they are trying to sharpen it – which explains why no products are ever mentioned.

# 40 FRAGaLOT said, on September 20th, 2008 at 8:18 am

This is a great ad and a direct slap in the face at the Mac & PC ads that gave that “PC Stereotype” that this ads tries to break.
It’s brilliant, and simple.

Now lets see if Apple can attempt to break the Mac user stereotype who sips cuppachinos all day at Starbucks, dresses in turtlenecks to “be like Steve”, and behaves as an intellectual snob, and more or less thinks they are elitists.

# 41 Esteban said, on September 20th, 2008 at 8:30 am

It’s not the greatest ad I’ve ever seen, but it sure as hell beats the Seinfeld/Gates S&M ads.

# 42 mthrnite said, on September 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am

#40, I think it was IBM and their blue suits that started that stereotype, not Apple. The “Apple = snobs and grandmas” stereotype is a load as well. I use a Mac, and I drink Maxwell House, have never owned a turtleneck, and only have a high school diploma, and even that’s a GED. I keep my Macs on average of four years before upgrading, so the “pricey” evens out. Clones have their place, lotsa vertical-market software demands them, but for me, a Mac is just a more intuitive system by and large. I remember fights breaking out in the old days concerning WordPerfect vs. Wordstar, and nowadays between PS3 and 360, not to mention Democrats and Republicans. It’s all just a bunch of name calling fanboys when all is said and done. Same goals, just different buttons you have to push to get there.

# 43 QB said, on September 20th, 2008 at 8:48 am

#40

I don’t get that argument – change to what? If I look at Apple’s year on year growth, cash position, brand identity, price growth, and investor targets I’ve got to think they are doing something right. They are outgrowing most, if not all, of their industry.

If I look at your (and others) comments in this blog the Apple brand draws a very strong reaction. That is worth money in my mind.

BTW, if you think Steve Jobs is an arrogant worm you should see Larry Ellison or Steve Ballmer up close.

# 44 geofgibson said, on September 20th, 2008 at 9:10 am

I’m a PC and …

A fatal exception 0E has occurred at 0028:C0011E36 in VXD VMM(01) + 00010E36. The current application will be terminated.

# 45 Nimby said, on September 20th, 2008 at 9:46 am

# 43 QB said : you should see Larry Ellison or Steve Ballmer up close.

Bah. Balmer looks like the lovable monster played by Peter Boyle in Young Frankenstein.

Come to think of it, Ellison looks a bit like Frau Blucher.

# 46 Max Bell said, on September 20th, 2008 at 10:17 am

This PC has fish in it.

# 47 QB said, on September 20th, 2008 at 10:18 am

Nimby, ROTFLMAO

# 48 Paddy-O said, on September 20th, 2008 at 10:27 am

#31 “If OSX or it’s successors ever gain a substantial portion of the market (and I believe it’s currently only around 8%)”

Not. No more than 5%, on a good day. You’d have to see it hit ~25% before much serious effort would go into making malware.

# 49 Chuzpah said, on September 20th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

I can see why you stopped commenting about this. I watched it twice and I fail to see the point of the ad. Watching this does not make me want to buy Windows Vista or anything that Microsoft sells for that matter. This ad is neither funny or innovative like the Apple ads. I want the 2 minutes back that I wasted watching this twice!

# 50 Mister Mustard said, on September 20th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

#49 – Chuzpah

>>Watching this does not make me want to buy
>>Windows Vista or anything that Microsoft
>>sells for that matter.

No, it doesn’t. That’s not the point. M$ST imagines themselves to be like General Electric, with their old “We bring good things to living, we bring good things to life” ads. No product being pimped, just trying to ingrain the M$FT brand in everyone’s brain.

That way, when the come out with Window 7.0 (or whatever), people’s reaction will be “Oh, remember those Gates/ Seinfeld ads”.

Not “Oh Christ, they’re the ones who put out that gawdawful Vista dog of and OS”.

That will only work on people who have NOT USED Vista, though. I will remember this abortion of an operating system (and who was responsible for it) as long as I live.

# 51 QB said, on September 20th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

Hey, Ballmer’s back! And he’s a PC!

# 52 Lou Minatti said, on September 20th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

The first two ads were a waste. I think this ad is a good one.

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