Discussion on:

Microsoft shares its strange view of the Windows family again

Intellectually, I understand what Microsoft is trying to convey, but, to put it diplomatically, I think there is room for improvement. Do you like the commercials? Is a Windows 7 PC on your holiday shopping list?

...like we all know, only scary hacker kids want those "L00nix" systems.

It seems, from the scenes of Kinect and XBox 360, then flash over to the WinPC,
that this is to convey some sense of "family" of devices used by the family.
However, I don't usually get stirred by advertising anyway.

Maybe it would make more sense if they showed the grandparents or a college kid being able to participate in a family celebration through a lwebcam on a Windows PC. That would convey a message. Windows connects your family.

The Bill and Jerry ads were strange enough. This is no better.

They should fire their advertising firm.

Or, they've been steering the ads themselves. MS is just so, obvious with their ads. Not very sophisticated. Not that I have much respect for advertising or marketing of any sort. It's just that with MS, it's like, I see what you were trying to do there, nice try, thanks for playing, didn't work, see you next time.

Start me up.

Just look at their product names: Word, Surface, Paint, WordPad, Notepad, even Windows and DOS. There are others I can't think of at the moment (not coffeed-up yet) and the analogy fails at some point, but you get the idea. Not that there's anything wrong with that. A rose by any other name.... Yeah, their ads do leave something to be desired. It's like they are trying too hard to be cool.

As for buying a Win 7 PC, my PCs are all of relatively recent vintage and serve us well, so no. They all have Win 7 installed anyway (except the one test box with Win 8). I upgraded from XP as soon as it was available.

I don't think the MS commercials are anything special, but "Is a Windows 7 PC on your holiday shopping list?" seems to miss the boat too. This is Tech Republic...I've had my Win7 machines for a while now and I'm SURE I'm not alone. This is the wrong question for this audience.

Bob

I have taken several polls since Windows 7 released and in each one, over 75% were still using Windows XP.

I was thinking the same thing, I already have Win 7 so why would I buy another computer? The votes should have been yes, no, already have Win 7.

Since retiring, I find my needs for a computer minimized!! With the ads for Windows 8, I am really looking at open source!!! Retirement means saving money where possible and my computers are all dual core, with plenty of ram, ans storage, so I am seriously considering Linux in one form or another, rather than the pricey option of upgrading to Win 8. I have been happy with Open office and Libre Office!!!

NO personal computer is on my shopping list, W7 or otherwise. Some of those voting 'No' are getting computers with other OSs, some no computer at all, some may retrofit to XP.

The subject is Microsoft's holiday advertising.

I am not shopping for a Mac, Linux, Solaris, IOS or android box either.

Bill

because your kids will post it on the internet to prove to the world that you are a goof-ball. I know from personal experience that this happens.

"You! I learned it from watching you!"

On the minus side, they can be too quick to post.
On the plus side, they can troubleshoot and solve computer problems for themselves and their friends.

I actually thought the Jerry & Bill ads were pretty funny, in a Seinfeld sort of way. They didn't make me rush out and buy a PC, but then I can't think of any ad other than one touting the prices at Office Depot or Best Buy have.

This family ad for MS reminds me, content wise, of the old Apple ads where people were using their Mac to put together a personal mix of songs on a CD. Yeah, that was sometime back I know, but all it was doing was showing you something you could do with your computer that was fun. Pretty much the same idea as this ad.

The Microsoft ads seem to be really sarcastic. A family with ingrate children posting a youtube video of their father playing with the Kinnect on the XBox, with the words "Tech-NO" over it? Really classy....

Now, compare the above ad above to this one with heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diUjVY8zRJc&feature=relmfu

Tell me which one makes you smile

Oh, yes. The Apple ad wins, hands down. Of course, it doesn't urge me to get my feet moving in the direction of the nearest Apple Store, but it does associate a real human response with the Apple brand. Chances are that your brain will make the association with the ad when you happen to see another iPhone. Like the author said, I'm not aware of the science behind advertising, but I think that the way Apple brought its product together with a very human story is one of the better devices.

Coors had a series of ads featuring head honcho Pete Coors ambling around a mountain top, talking about the family product, surrounded by snow-covered firs and spruce and the glory of the Rocky Mountains. They're the only commercials that ever made me want to get in the car and go buy a six pack of beer.

Mind you, they didn't make me want to buy HIS beer...

Liked the Seinfeld-Gates endeavor. Didn't notice much of a sales pitch, and it's not laugh out loud humor even though the "family" seemed to be filing the roles of the Seinfeld TV minor characters, those inexplicable beings Jerry, Elaine, Goerge, and Kramer encountered in every episode.

As for the second item, what were we talking about?

I know a less expensive way for MS to sell Windows 7 to the XP generation, and it wouldn't take a complicated ad campaign. Lower the price.

I don't think yo have to get it. Look at the number of comments, here. MS is getting buzz off their quirky ads. Sometimes if your ads are too slick, people forget the product.