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Seinfeld to plug Micro$oft?? (Page 2)
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olePigeon
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Aug 25, 2008, 06:03 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
10 mil not 300.
Meh. I'd do it for $100,000.
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ort888
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Aug 25, 2008, 06:06 PM
 
It's a good way for him to meet teenaged girls.

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freudling
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Aug 25, 2008, 06:41 PM
 
I don't think I have ever laughed at a Seinfeld joke. He is simply snobbish and annoying. But regardless of that, I just had to laugh when I saw that Microshaft is going to use Seinfeld in their ads. Seinfeld is done, last century. To me this shows how out of touch MS is. Seinfeld? In 2008? Many young people likely won't identify with him at all, but I guess they want to go after the older ones, like people 30 and above. Even so, I am sure that many of use, if Seinfeld does the same old stuff, will simply be tired of it.

At any rate, MS may also simply be rolling the dice, knowing that Seinfeld is an antiquated character, but that he may be able to reinvent himself and capture the world's attention once again.

But with other choices, like Will Ferrell?, I can't help but think that MS is simply out of date and out of touch.

I see MS pulling all kinds of moves now, I think they are really hurting, but they just don't want anyone to know about it. They lost $76 million on their search newtork last year, with about a 6% share, where Google has over 63% share. They are paying people to use MSN search (i.e. find ebay links to auctions on MSN and get heavy discounts on items, like 20% or more). I saw Office for close to 90% off if you have an .edu address... this is just unheard of for them, but they know that they are losing out to Apple and open source.

Sure, they have other popular products, like the XBox, but when other areas start failing, the whole company could implode, sooner, rather than later.

It is actually a cause of concern. As much as I hate MS, Google is becoming the new monopoly. I just hope MS sort of cools it jets and realizes it can't do everything, and it should not expect itself to. Just focus on set markets like business, video games, and a few others like specific software titles, and so forth, and give up trying to own everything.

They really are becoming more and more irrelevant each day. Open source has really taken off. Asterisk PBX is a great example, and so is Linux. I think that MS is simply operating off of outdated business models and strategy. The world is going open source and the way of the consumer. The information age has brought all this on. Apple, being a consumer company, is set to take over. Truly amazing, ironic, etc. if Apple ends up with more revenues and/or market share than Microsoft. The ultimate chess game: Jobs vs. Gates.
     
- - e r i k - -
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Aug 25, 2008, 08:57 PM
 
As succesful as the Xbox is, it's still a huge money hole for MS. About the only profitable divisions they have is Office and Windows.

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Aug 25, 2008, 08:58 PM
 
…and FFS grow up: "Microshaft" and "M$" was funny when I was 13 back in the mid nineties. Along with the Calvin pisses on Windows logo.

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freudling
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Aug 25, 2008, 09:49 PM
 
- - e r i k - -

Thanks, we are now officially all grown up™.
     
xi_hyperon
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Aug 25, 2008, 10:40 PM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - View Post
…and FFS grow up: "Microshaft" and "M$" was funny when I was 13 back in the mid nineties. Along with the Calvin pisses on Windows logo.
Amen. As an aside, it's a little disconcerting to read comments at sites such as endgadget and gizmodo. You'd think we were square in the middle of the 90s, the way people carry on about platform wars.
     
Wiskedjak
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Aug 25, 2008, 11:03 PM
 
Originally Posted by freudling View Post
I saw Office for close to 90% off if you have an .edu address
Actually, massive discounts on Office and Windows for academics is nothing new for Microsoft (same thing for Adobe, Autodesk, Corel, Solidworks).

You want students to build their experience using your software because then they'll be more likely to use it after they graduate. Students can't afford to pay full price, so they'll likely pirate the software instead, giving you three options: prosecute them (and they'll never buy your software), let them use it for free for academic purposes (Autodesk) or sell it to them at massive discounts and make a little money.
     
iM@k
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Aug 26, 2008, 01:33 AM
 
I think our friends at JoT sum this up nicely:

What, me worry?
     
freudling
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Aug 26, 2008, 01:55 AM
 
Wiskedjak blahed:

Actually, massive discounts on Office and Windows for academics is nothing new for Microsoft...

Show me an example(s) of MS giving office away for 90% off to students at large prior to the last few years.
( Last edited by freudling; Aug 26, 2008 at 04:55 AM. )
     
Agasthya
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Aug 26, 2008, 02:50 AM
 
     
Wiskedjak
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Aug 26, 2008, 09:11 AM
 
Originally Posted by freudling View Post
Wiskedjak blahed:

Actually, massive discounts on Office and Windows for academics is nothing new for Microsoft...

Show me an example(s) of MS giving office away for 90% off to students at large prior to the last few years.
MS started selling Office to academics at 90% off back in 2004.
http://web.archive.org/web/200403291...o.ucalgary.ca/

Prior to that, they were selling it to academics for about 50% off. So yes, the discount they offer has been increasing, even though they've always offered large academic discounts.
http://web.archive.org/web/200012100...?software.html

But, I think the increasing discount has more to do with market trends than with competition from Apple, unless you want to argue that Adobe is also becoming irrelevant as a result of Apple. Adobe's academic discounts have also been increasing in recent years, and one could argue that Adobe Elements represents a massive price reduction on the core-functionalities of Photoshop.
http://web.archive.org/web/200503081...tLicensing.htm
( Last edited by Wiskedjak; Aug 26, 2008 at 09:18 AM. )
     
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Aug 26, 2008, 12:02 PM
 
Booyah!
     
cjrivera
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Sep 1, 2008, 02:31 AM
 
"It's weird the way 'finger puppets' sounds ok as a noun..."
     
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Sep 4, 2008, 08:22 PM
 
Total chickenshyt, meandering, non-edgy, mixed-message, unconvincing soft crap that I expected.

Saw it on The NFL opener. Go G-MEN!
     
nonhuman
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Sep 4, 2008, 08:23 PM
 
But didn't he have a Mac in his apartment in the show?





HA!
     
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Sep 4, 2008, 08:28 PM
 
They don't even talk about computers in the stupid commercial. It's a complete travesty.
     
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Sep 4, 2008, 08:30 PM
 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0..._n_120287.html

Here's the article of Seinfeld signing a $10 million endorsement deal.
     
glideslope
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Sep 4, 2008, 09:58 PM
 
Just viewed the first commercial. The most WT* spot I have ever seen, and I'm a huge Jerry fan. So Bill wags his a** and hints at a new operating system in 2015?

Shame on you Jerry. Were a few more Porsches for your collection really worth the personal damage?
( Last edited by glideslope; Sep 5, 2008 at 08:05 AM. )
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Eug
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Sep 4, 2008, 10:18 PM
 
Yeah, I was like WTF too. That is the stupidest ad I've seen in a very long time.

     
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Sep 4, 2008, 10:46 PM
 
Links help when you talk about things on the internet

And yes. WTF?

Love the fact that Bill uses his mugshot on his Shoe Circus card though.

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starman
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Sep 4, 2008, 11:05 PM
 

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Sep 4, 2008, 11:33 PM
 
WTF? Wow.
     
- - e r i k - -
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Sep 4, 2008, 11:34 PM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
It took you 20 minutes to find it or what?

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Atheist
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Sep 4, 2008, 11:51 PM
 
Just saw the first ad. I think WTF is the only reasonable response. I mean seriously, WTF was that? It wasn't even a commercial.
     
Dakar V
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Sep 5, 2008, 12:01 AM
 
U just caught the end of an ad. Adjust your shorts? What a great gag, Jerry. WTF indeed.
     
starman
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Sep 5, 2008, 12:39 AM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - View Post
It took you 20 minutes to find it or what?
No, it took 5 seconds. WTF are you talking about?

Oh you're being clever because you posted the same link with some asshat title. I see.

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Sep 5, 2008, 12:40 AM
 
That ad worked. I want a churro now
     
stevesnj
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Sep 5, 2008, 01:07 AM
 
Delicious?!?!?!?



'Think Different' seems to be a lot better...dont you think?
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- - e r i k - -
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Sep 5, 2008, 02:06 AM
 
Originally Posted by starman View Post
No, it took 5 seconds. WTF are you talking about?

Oh you're being clever because you posted the same link with some asshat title. I see.
As opposed to being not very clever?

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nikstar101
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Sep 5, 2008, 04:14 AM
 
Actually i don't this the ad was terrible. Not great, like the Think Different ads, although the Mac Vs PC ads aren't exactly a work of art.

It does have some good points, such as it doesn't specifically push a product (Vista). It just heightens the awareness of Microsoft. Which will do well if Microsoft release a new spanking product in the next couple of months. Otherwise they will have to keep this up for a while. It was a good idea to include Bill Gates as he has an instantly recognisable link with Microsoft.

On the bad side, well it is a bit out of date. Yes Seinfield is a funny guy (or at least in my opinion) and probably one of TVs most successful people. But he was at the height of his career in the 90s. Not 2008. They need a fresh face, like someone mentioned earlier.

Anyway i don't think this will harm Microsofts image but its not exactly radical.
     
OreoCookie
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Sep 5, 2008, 05:20 AM
 
The ad was boring. But then again, I have never `gotten' the appeal of Seinfeld, so perhaps I'm the wrong guy to judge. Some small things were kinda funny, like using Bill's mugshot on his Clown Club Card

Bill's sense of humor is commendable these days
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analogika
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Sep 5, 2008, 05:53 AM
 
So it's more of an "image" ad, trying to generate some buzz and the sense that Microsoft has a sense of cool and isn't as dry as its reputation.

Partly successful.

I hope the shoe aspect of the ad isn't meant to be construed as symbolic, though, because I'm pretty sure an implied message can be construed that is the complete opposite of what MS would want.
     
OreoCookie
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Sep 5, 2008, 06:00 AM
 
Originally Posted by analogika View Post
I hope the shoe aspect of the ad isn't meant to be construed as symbolic, though, because I'm pretty sure an implied message can be construed that is the complete opposite of what MS would want.
I don't think so. IMO it's just about `we have humor, too' and image.
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Sep 5, 2008, 06:12 AM
 
Or the 'we have $10 million to waste, too.' Pretty much the same as the old Super Bowl ad below, only with Seinfeld instead of a monkey:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnQMq5wtZcg
     
analogue SPRINKLES
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Sep 5, 2008, 09:11 AM
 
What the hell was that all about? I don't even understand what they were trying to get at.
     
Sherman Homan
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Sep 5, 2008, 09:24 AM
 
1) Computers are supposed to be moist and chewy.
2) Microsoft sells shoes and bread sticks in malls.
3) Bill Gates is concerned about your shorts.
     
Eug
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Sep 5, 2008, 09:53 AM
 
Originally Posted by analogika View Post
So it's more of an "image" ad, trying to generate some buzz and the sense that Microsoft has a sense of cool and isn't as dry as its reputation.

Partly successful.
How so? I wouldn't use the word "cool" at all. I would use the word "self-deprecating".

It comes across as yes-we-know-we-are-uncool-geeks and... well... that's it. I didn't understand much more from the ad either.
     
starman
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Sep 5, 2008, 10:58 AM
 
Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - View Post
As opposed to being not very clever?
As opposed to making a title that looked like it was an actual link to the video. Your title make it look like a link to a PSA.

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Kevin Dunahee
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Sep 5, 2008, 11:12 AM
 
W.

T.

F.


This has to be a joke. Nobody sucks at marketing that bad. It's just not possible.
     
Eug
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Sep 5, 2008, 11:28 AM
 
     
cjrivera
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Sep 5, 2008, 12:03 PM
 
Originally Posted by Dakar V View Post
Adjust your shorts? What a great gag, Jerry. WTF indeed.
I thought the "butt wiggle" represents the excrement that passes for Microsoft operating systems.
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Stogieman
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Sep 5, 2008, 12:50 PM
 
Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES View Post
What the hell was that all about? I don't even understand what they were trying to get at.
Didn't you catch the subliminal message? It's about Jerry trying to switch Bill over to OS X. "You're a size 10.... Told ya... you're a 10."

Slick shoes?! Are you crazy?!
     
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Sep 5, 2008, 12:54 PM
 
They'll be more of these ads. Bill and Jerry will 'bond', only later will a computer be seen.

And, I'm in total agreement : WHAT THE FOOK?
     
Maflynn
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Sep 5, 2008, 01:08 PM
 
After seeing that first commercial, I couldn't help but wondering, what the heck. What was goal for this commercial, that Bill Gates is a dork (an extremely wealthy dork but a dork nonetheless), and Jerry is not funny? If so they succeeded marvelously
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Sep 5, 2008, 01:21 PM
 
That sucked most horrifically.
I don't understand this marketing approach, but obviously most of us here are not their targets.
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zro
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Sep 5, 2008, 03:58 PM
 
That was pretty entertaining.
     
turtle777
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Sep 5, 2008, 04:00 PM
 
Farking stupid.

Fits M$ just well.

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Eug
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Sep 5, 2008, 04:04 PM
 
I actually like the squirting music ad campaign better.
...and I hated that ad campaign.
     
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Sep 5, 2008, 04:53 PM
 
My thoughts after reading some comments:

Best expectations: I think of Microsoft in a much better light than before.

Current reaction: Um... that's kind of funny... in some parts... huh?


So IMO that means they could have chosen a better direction. We'll see.
     
 
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