I have tremendous respect for Microsoft and how they operate as a business. (It doesn’t hurt that they are one of our top clients too). But their new TV commercial really doesn’t make sense to me. Take a look:
What makes it even more disappointing to me is that I like Bill Gates and I am a huge Jerry Sienfeld fan. I’m disappointed the combination doesn’t work here. I just think the writing is bad. Strange, dry humor that underdelivers.
I’m not the only one who feels this way. A blogger for Computer World wrote “It’s one of the worst, most pointless ads in history”, while a headline in the Sydney Morning Herald read ” ‘Bizarre’ Microsoft ad misses mark.”
Worse, I have no idea what this commercial is actually promoting. I’m guessing Microsoft is tired of getting bashed in the funny Mac vs. PC commercials, so they wanted to have a creative commercial of their own. Unfortunately the Mac vs. PC commercials are legitimately entertaining, while this is not.
I did read that one of the ad producers’ goals was to get people talking. I guess that worked… but maybe not in a good way.