That Jerry Seinfeld - Bill Gates Commercial

[Logan]

WTF?

[sabotai]

I've seen it a few times and...I can't remember what it was for.

[Jas_lov]

I think it had something to do with shoes but why would those two be promoting shoes?

[Pumpy Tudors]

I have no idea what you're talking about. Did this air during a shitty Mets game or something?

[Swaggs]

I'm guessing it is a counter to the John Hodgeman/Justin Long Mac ads.

I found it to be very weird and very long.

[Swaggs]

It is a Windows commercial, I believe.

[sabotai]

[Logan]

Googled and found this:

Seinfeld and Gates' Microsoft misfire | Web Scout | Los Angeles Times

[samifan24]

A very strange ad. Why would anyone think this ad was a good idea?

[EagleFan]

With Seinfeld doing all those American Express commercials before I had just assumed it was another of those without really paying attention to it. At least it could potentially make more sense it it was an American Express commercial. It makes no sense as a Microsoft commercial.

[Young Drachma]

It was entertaining, strange and uniquely Microsoft.

Misfire ftw.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I'm guessing it is a counter to the John Hodgeman/Justin Long Mac ads.

Gates has never come across as a good sales pitch guy, or he would have been doing this a long time ago. One only need to look at Seinfeld's over promotion of the Bee movie to know Jerry isn't your pitch man either. On the other hand, I get a little excited every time I see a new Mac/PC ad.

My goal this Christmas is being able to get a super cheap laptop and slapping Ubuntu Server edition in it and that will be pretty close to being my main computer outside of doing some stuff on my PC. I'll probably go the cheap route down the road for a Mac as well. As long as I can port over certain Windows applications, and it's only getting easier, then there is less and less reason to have a PC. I have no problem playing older games due to any limitation my computers might have due to getting them on the cheap. Oddly enough, the laptops I would be looking at pretty much match what I currently have as a PC so I wouldn't be losing out on anything, and I might be actually gaining. And yes, the Mac ads along with Vista were big factors in making the future switch.

[Phototropic]

This further confirms my belief that Seinfeld has never been funny outside the context of his own show.

[ISiddiqui]

That's fucking hilarious commercial.

Come on, folks, it's a commercial about nothing! And Gates also showed a sense of humor. I can't wait for the rest of them .

[MJ4H]

I have laughed my ass off at Seinfeld's stand-up before. He is very funny to me (and millions of others).

[sterlingice]

I never liked the show Seinfeld- I think we've trod this ground on the board before (unlikeable characters, proprietary humor, east coast wannabes, etc). Tho I have found his standup to be pretty funny.

This commercial... well, wtf

SI

[Karlifornia]

Better than those douchey Mac ads featuring Justin Long. They're beloved by the advertising community...yeah..because the advertising community is a bunch of douchebags.

This one was off the wall..and that scores points for guts...better than li,p-wristed Mac yuppies.

[Poli]

Personally, I'm looking forward to my first edible computer.

[digamma]

Delicious.

[TheOhioStateUniversity]

The sheer weirdness of that commercial made it hilarious to me

[Drake]

I actually liked it.

[SFL Cat]

I think they both came across as "wtf am I doing in this commercial?"

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Better than those douchey Mac ads featuring Justin Long. They're beloved by the advertising community...yeah..because the advertising community is a bunch of douchebags.

This one was off the wall..and that scores points for guts...better than li,p-wristed Mac yuppies.

I find this very amusing, especially since someone basically already said in the thread that these commercials are partly responsible for that person wanting a Mac (I guess that makes the person a possible easy cult inductee).

I agree with you about those commercials and find it funny that these commercials would actually convince someone to get a Mac.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

I find this very amusing, especially since someone basically already said in the thread that these commercials are partly responsible for that person wanting a Mac (I guess that makes the person a possible easy cult inductee).

I agree with you about those commercials and find it funny that these commercials would actually convince someone to get a Mac.

I think the commercials, at this time, have a familiar feel to them and are used pretty well to keep people informed of what is topical.

They made fun of Vista's bugs when it first came out. They are currently, in a to-the-point yet fun way, letting the word spread that MS Office now works on a Mac and that Apple's specialists (or whatever trendy name they have for their support) will convert all your PC files to your new Mac.

I've never owned a Mac and am pretty pleased with Windows XP, but I think these commercials are very effective (and probably even moreso if you are a dissatisfied PC user).

[ISiddiqui]

Though I'm not the only person I know who thinks that the Mac v. PC commercials backfire a bit because the Mac guy seems like a prick.

[JetsIn06]

Fwiw, I loved this commercial.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

That's fucking hilarious commercial.

Come on, folks, it's a commercial about nothing! And Gates also showed a sense of humor. I can't wait for the rest of them .

I agree. It's not so much about Windows, the 360, Zune, and or even really about Microsoft directly. I think it shows Gates in a lighter light, and creates a buzz with two high-profile personalities in a commercial together. I do wonder if the weirdness of the commercial was one of the goals. Maybe it was intended to be a mock "Seinfeld" episode with Jerry and Bill, which was a show based on nothing.

I think it depends on if this is a "story" of commercials, and this is a set-up ad.

[Eaglesfan27]

I thought the 1st commercial was meh, although it was clearly going for that "Seinfeld" vibe (surely I can't be the only person who immediately thought of Kramer cooking in the shower when Seinfeld made the reference about wearing the shoes/clothes in the shower.) But, it seems like even if the experts think it "missed the mark" that it succeeded in getting people talking about the commercials. As far as the product, are there really many people out there who don't know that Gates is trying to sell Microsoft products and not shoes?

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

I thought the 1st commercial was meh, although it was clearly going for that "Seinfeld" vibe (surely I can't be the only person who immediately thought of Kramer cooking in the shower when Seinfeld made the reference about wearing the shoes/clothes in the shower.) But, it seems like even if the experts think it "missed the mark" that it succeeded in getting people talking about the commercials. As far as the product, are there really many people out there who don't know that Gates is trying to sell Microsoft products and not shoes?

Usually the first set of ads in a major advertising campaign aren't really about much in particular. Most of the time don't get high marks. They are off-the-mark, yet aiming to create buzz and get people talking. The following ads will zone in on crafting the message better. So far, Microsoft has scored big time in the first step.

[Lathum]

I found it a little disturbing.

and I liked it

[Lathum]

the only thing worse then bad publicity is no publicity

[Drake]

Question: Did Seinfeld look about 65 in that commercial, or was it just me? Either that or he's the victim of a really evil tanning bed + a couple of horribly botched plastic surgeries.

[Neon_Chaos]

I actually found it funny.

[KWhit]

I thought it was hysterical.

[Fidatelo]

I enjoyed it.

[Terps]

My favorite commercial right now.

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Though I'm not the only person I know who thinks that the Mac v. PC commercials backfire a bit because the Mac guy seems like a prick.

I generally have an immense distaste for commercials that try to paint you as an idiot for liking a different product. I have it to the level that I make it a point to not buy their products.

Might as well just have a guy come out and go - "Buy a Mac. If you don't, that just proves you are a big fat retarded douchebag. Don't say we didn't warn you. Fuckers"

[JPhillips]

Isn't that true with any kind of comparison commercial? How could you possibly buy that soap when our soap is so clearly superior!

[Mustang]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Isn't that true with any kind of comparison commercial? How could you possibly buy that soap when our soap is so clearly superior!

We need advertising like in Crazy People.

Metamucil: We help you go to the toilet so you won't get cancer and die.

Paramount Pictures presents 'The Freak.' This movie won't just scare you, it will fuck you up for life."

[Daimyo]

When was the last time Microsoft had a negative commercial or advertising campaign against a competitor? I think the Mac commercials are entertaining and almost always stop fast forwarding to watch them, but it is a bit unfair. If Microsoft used similar tactics the uproar would be significant.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Drake

Question: Did Seinfeld look about 65 in that commercial, or was it just me? Either that or he's the victim of a really evil tanning bed + a couple of horribly botched plastic surgeries.

Looks like he has a beer gut too!

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Mustang

I generally have an immense distaste for commercials that try to paint you as an idiot for liking a different product. I have it to the level that I make it a point to not buy their products.

Might as well just have a guy come out and go - "Buy a Mac. If you don't, that just proves you are a big fat retarded douchebag. Don't say we didn't warn you. Fuckers"

I agree, sell your products on their own merit, don't tear the other guy(s) down.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Daimyo

When was the last time Microsoft had a negative commercial or advertising campaign against a competitor? I think the Mac commercials are entertaining and almost always stop fast forwarding to watch them, but it is a bit unfair. If Microsoft used similar tactics the uproar would be significant.

It's also Marketing 101 - if you're a brand leader, don't ever associate yourself with the weaker competitors, and if you're that weaker competitor, do everything you can. It's why Pepsi always talks about Coca-Cola for example.

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Fidatelo

I agree, sell your products on their own merit, don't tear the other guy(s) down.

If only politicians, specifically those running for president this term practiced this philosophy...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Mustang

"Buy a Mac. If you don't, that just proves you are a big fat retarded douchebag. Don't say we didn't warn you. Fuckers"

That's pretty much been Mac's positioning for quite a while now I'd say. Even as they now try to move out of the niches they'd retained some strength in, I think it's difficult for them to get beyond that mindset (since it's pretty much how they look at it IMO).

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

If only politicians, specifically those running for president this term practiced this philosophy...

Which is exactly why I hate politics. I always end up voting for the people I hate the least, rather than the people I like the most.

[SFL Cat]

Originally Posted by Drake

Question: Did Seinfeld look about 65 in that commercial, or was it just me? Either that or he's the victim of a really evil tanning bed + a couple of horribly botched plastic surgeries.

You're not the only one. I thought Gates looked like he had aged better than Seinfeld.

[Glengoyne]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I found it a little disturbing.

and I liked it

What he said

[fantom1979]

I really like this commercial. It shows a side of Gates that is not shown very often. Its a commercial about nothing (Seinfeld) with the richest guy in the world shaking his behind.

[AgustusM]

I found it odd, disturbing and brilliant all at the same time.

first commercial I have rewound BACK in the 2 years I have had my DVR.