Our take on Microsoft’s Shoe Circus

Ever wonder what an agency like ours thinks about industry buzz? Here's a limited-time only glimpse into our minds. (Names have been redacted to protect the belligerent.)

To: Burns + Part Time/Interns
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:46 AM
Subject: Windows, yada, yada

The 300 million dollar Microsoft ad campaign has finally kicked off
with Jerry Seinfeld and Mr. Microsoft himself. Let's see where this
crazy PC comedy duo takes us... first stop the discount shoe store.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afR5J7eskno



To: Burns + Part Time/Interns
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:48 AM
Subject: RE: Windows, yada, yada

Ok, that was weird. They only talk about Microsoft in the last 15 seconds.

To: Burns + Part Time/Interns
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:48 AM
Subject: RE: Windows, yada, yada

I saw it yesterday and personally think it may be one of the most pointless ads ever.

To: Burns + Part Time/Interns
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:50 AM
Subject: RE: Re: Windows, yada, yada

This is a good example of what happens when a brand has to re-define the persona that their competition has labeled them with. Mac vs. PC has been brilliant, and this ad shows that Microsoft is hurting from it. Now they seem to be trying to humanize Bill – the Microsoft surrogate – but not afraid to let him still be a nerd. In fact, they seem to be suggesting his nerdiness is what will bring great things from Microsoft in the future. It is a shame that their subtly just comes across as .... what the?
 
I don't know if that really is the campaign strategy, but if it is they are still a long way from making Microsoft a cutting-edge, consumer-centric brand.
 


To: Burns + Part Time/Interns
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:51 AM
Subject: RE: Re: Re: Windows, yada, yada

I think they're playing off of Seinfeld being a show about nothing.

To: Burns + Part Time/Interns
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:53 AM
Subject: RE: Re: Re: Re: Windows, yada, yada

Yeah, but Seinfeld was actually funny.