In an attempt to appeal to the hip, mod audience, Microsoft is hiring Jerry Seinfeld to be its pitchman for the Vista operating system. This is being considered as a counter to Apple's successful "Mac vs. PC" commercials. It is expected that he'll use a variation of the new "Windows, not walls" slogan.There are two problems with this strategy. First off, while he was an icon of the 90's, Jerry Seinfeld hasn't been relevant for a few years now (Bee Movie didn't do so well, despite his major attempts at promotion). American Express got him when he was a big deal and I'm sure more people used their production as a result, but I'm not so sure that would work now. Plus, it's not like he needs the money.
Second, the Vista operating system has gotten bad press. I mean baaaaaad press. Much of it deserved. Microsoft would be better served by having Jerry pitch whatever operating system came next rather than Vista, because there is a lot of negative publicity there to counteract.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
8-21-2008 @ 1:18PM
Allison Solow said...
This is a betrayal. TV Seinfeld was always a Mac guy. He had a Mac Plus in his apartment and later variations. I believe it was pre-IMac days.
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8-21-2008 @ 2:44PM
Fullman said...
Allison, if you payed attention to a majority of all movies and TV shows, there are usually Macs everywhere. It's clever product placement, not an actor/character's preference.
If Hollywood was the real world, a majority of all computer users would use Macs. ;)
8-21-2008 @ 8:10PM
bc said...
Actually, with Apple it's often not paid product placement, as the logos are frequently not shown or taped over--it's just that set designers going for a certain look liked the aesthetic. Witness numerous shows that have used Apple Cinema Displays--both clear lucite and aluminum versions--hooked up to Windows computers, as indicated by the live windows on screen.
8-21-2008 @ 3:07PM
Jake said...
Seinfeld is washed up. Bee Movie sucked and he isn't going to convince anyone to by this POS operating system. Microsoft made Vista too crappy and XP too good to replace with Vista. And on top of that Microsoft is already developing a new OS to replace Vista, because nobody wants Vista if they can help it.
*note I don't own a single piece of Apple technology.
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8-21-2008 @ 3:10PM
Robin said...
Please refrain from any commentary regarding technical aspects as they are outside of the intended scope of this site. Your comment "Second, the Vista operating system has gotten bad press. I mean baaaaaad press. Much of it deserved..." does refer to the known bad press, but then offers your own opinion of "much of it deserved" could lead to other non-technical people forming an opinion based off your commentary, leading to additional bad press. Perhaps a link to other technical minded people's articles who spent the time detailing the problems (most of which are actually poorly written 3rd party drivers or software) that they have with Vista would be suitable. Maybe a link to the mojaveexperiment.com would be suitable for you as well, since you think Jerry should promote Microsoft's "next" operating system anyways.
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8-21-2008 @ 3:15PM
Jimmy said...
John Hodgman, is that you?
8-21-2008 @ 4:41PM
Scott said...
The Mojave experiment marketing? You mean where they show users a perfectly-controlled environment running Vista (totally unlike what a user will encounter on his own), fool them into thinking it's not Vista, get them to say nice things about it, then embarrass their customers by showing what dupes they were? Essentially blaming the customer for Vista's problems? That one? Even Seinfeld has a better chance of being successful than that.
8-21-2008 @ 3:31PM
Robobagins said...
Please don't go in OS wars here. Seriously every windows operating system has gotten "bad press. I mean baaaaaad press. Much of it deserved." Just like every Mac OS has gotten the opposite. Yes I'm over generalizing. Let's just keep it to the TV stuff.
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8-21-2008 @ 9:21PM
alex said...
I think 2000 was pretty popular.
9-16-2008 @ 2:28AM
HD Guy said...
Vista was horrible experience for me. I don't care if God appeared from the heavens to do a commercial - I'll stick with XP.
When I'm in the mood to use a slow, buggy, drm riddled peice of crap I'll give Jerry a call.
Hope Windows 7 is better or MS may be in real trouble.
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8-21-2008 @ 5:43PM
David Gerard said...
Microsoft? Out of touch? Never!
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8-21-2008 @ 8:10PM
bc said...
At least Jerry's still alive, unlike Charlie Chaplin (IBM/Microsoft in the early '80s) or Ghandi or Martin Luther King (Apple's "Think Different" campaign).
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8-21-2008 @ 11:11PM
Han Solo said...
So....I guess these are going to be "Commerical's about NOTHING".
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8-21-2008 @ 11:16PM
Usama said...
I've been using Vista since Jan 2007, and I love it completely. Using Windows XP is hard now because I'm so much more productive with Vista.
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8-21-2008 @ 11:22PM
Vito said...
Jerry, I love ya, but you don't know what the $&@# you're talking about. Vista sucks.
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8-21-2008 @ 11:23PM
Vito said...
Jerry, I love ya, but you don't know what the $&@# you're talking about. Vista sucks.
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8-22-2008 @ 1:50AM
Riley Freeman said...
2 things. seinfeld is always relevant seinfeld has to be the show that get replayed the most throughout the day aside from news.
second ur very own site said he was going to be coming back with another show so it makes perfect sense
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8-22-2008 @ 12:37PM
George said...
Vista isn't perfect, but the majority of its problems can be attributed to poorly written third-party drivers and software, combined with an effective marketing smear campaign. This is what happens when an industry driven by constant change and evolution meets the mass market.
As for the Mojave Experiment presenting users with a perfectly controlled environment running Vista... ever tried running OSX on non-Apple hardware?
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8-22-2008 @ 7:47PM
Europa said...
Robin must work for Microsoft. I don't care how you spin it, waaaaaay to many people have complained about Vista for it not to be a major problem. Waaaaaaa to many have gone out their way to get it off their machines and or have it uninstalled from new machine for it not to be a piece-o-crap. And waaaaaa to many companies have refused to upgrade to it for it not to be a piece-o-crap. And yes, that's my opinion, op-ed, what-ev-er!
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8-25-2008 @ 12:05PM
Europa said...
And I'm not a Mac fan btw. I love Windows but Vista is crap.
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