Videogum Home - designed by Guilherme Rosa

 

September 19, 2008

New Microsoft Ads: We Don't Need No Fancy Big-City Elitist Computers That Work

thumbnail icon: New Microsoft Ads: We Don't Need No Fancy Big-City Elitist Computers That Work

Say what you want about the Seinfeld Microsoft ads, at least they were vague. The new commercials, a delayed-by-several-years reaction to Mac's "I'm A PC" ads starring Justin Long and John Hodgman, are clearly trying to position PCs as the average everyday person's choice of computer. Where the Mac ads were criticized for being elitist, at least they addressed the superiority of their product over the competition, emphasizing the fact that PCs get viruses and break all the time. While these ads elicit feelings of democracy, community, and cheers for the underdog, the simple, bare, painful truth is that I don't want to choose a computer based on what a 90-year-old great grandma chooses. I want one that, you know, works. Also, Eva Longoria is not a populist icon:

I hate the smug, smarmy "I blog for Obama" guy.

Posted by Lindsay at 10:15 AM in
Tags:  |




20 Comments

grace6697

i call BS on Pharrell.

Posted by: grace6697 profile link at 09/19/08 10:23 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down
Gabe

These ads have really opened my eyes to all the different kinds of people you can hire to pretend they're a computer.

Posted by: Gabe profile link at 09/19/08 10:45 AM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down
bingo gas station

hey kid, I'm a computer.

Posted by: bingo gas station profile link in reply to Gabe's comment at 09/19/08 1:01 PM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down

you take back what you said about eva!

Posted by: Kevin at 09/19/08 11:07 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

i'm confused, however, as to how they got the "PC" guy from the mac commercials into their commercials too. am i missing something?

Posted by: Kevin at 09/19/08 11:10 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

They got the PC guy in their ads because Jon Hodgman's first name is not Sean (as in "sean@windows.com"). Apologies if I didn't pick up on your possible facetiousness.

Posted by: Chadams in reply to Kevin's comment at 09/19/08 11:23 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

i'm confused too, did mac license a clip from their own commercial to be used in one for their competitor?

Posted by: susan profile link at 09/19/08 12:39 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

it only looks like john hodgeman...its not really him

Posted by: urallidiots at 09/19/08 1:25 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

ah yes, a Deepak Chopra endorsement always works out...just ask Mike Myers...

Posted by: all your pink are belong to us at 09/19/08 1:56 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down
aaron

this is cool, i guess. it doesn't make me laugh like the I'm a mac/PC commercials, but it works. I think i saw bill gates on Oprah and he was talking about how much he cared about America's rising high school drop out rates, so i guess this commercials work with the whole "i'm rich, but i still feel connected to you poor people" facade he's got going on.

Posted by: aaron profile link at 09/19/08 2:21 PM | Reply
Score = -1 Vote up Vote down

I recently bought a macbook for school and I was very sad last night when I realized it doesn't have paint. Maybe all microsoft needs to do is make a commerical that says, I'm a P.C. I have paint.

Posted by: Elena at 09/19/08 2:48 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
hard liquor, soft holes

yeah, because that obama guy is not nearly as smug and smarmy as 99.999% (with a 0.001% margin of error (look up what that means on wikipedia, mac users)) of mac users.

i hate justin long.

Posted by: hard liquor, soft holes profile link at 09/19/08 4:41 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
Lindsay

I'm not a mac evangelist, I just got sick of having to buy a new PC laptop every year. it got to the point where I couldn't afford it and needed something that would last. I think these ads are probably pretty effective, I'm just saying that the "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" ads addressed the benefits and liabilities of each product, not just the kind of person who bought them. I couldn't possibly care less if my computer is cool, I just want it to work.

Posted by: Lindsay profile link in reply to hard liquor, soft holes's comment at 09/22/08 11:56 PM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down

he's also a lot less smug and smarmy than the d-bag that writes these articles

Posted by: dill pickle in reply to hard liquor, soft holes's comment at 09/23/08 1:14 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
GrimEden

This is light years better than the Jerry Seinfeld crap.

Personally, I think the middle one with multiple languages is the best.

Posted by: GrimEden profile link at 09/20/08 12:18 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down
Parker

PCs work. If they didn't they wouldn't have the vast majority of the computer market. Apple sells expensive computers. To have Justin Long you must have a shitton more money than if you were to get an HP or IBM or etc. In that latest commercial it shows you that people who aren't trendy bloggers or going to grad school for sculpture installation are most likely using PCs, not annoying you with their iPhone or replacing their broken iPod with another newer flashier iPod every year. And Bill Gates is just cuter than Justin Long. And the facade of philanthropy he's got goin on is real. 2 cents.

Posted by: itsthenewjanbrady profile link at 09/20/08 3:34 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

fraid ive gotta agree with Parker. Gates Foundation kind of justifies all the years of sucking and viruses. But if I could afford a macbook air, I'd prob be callin Parker a peasant and posing for some really pretty ipod ads and paying for music.

Posted by: wah at 09/21/08 2:42 PM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down

These ads are unintentionally funny because (especially the third one) talks about offices and workplaces, you know, where you'd most likely USE a computer. I can't wait to see that rancher shovel up some "number two" with a PC, or that deep sea diver blog about sharks 50 feet beneath the water.

Posted by: Eric profile link at 09/21/08 4:37 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

it sounds like some of them were payed on the side to say 'im a pussy'

Posted by: vinnysag at 09/22/08 3:41 AM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down

haha
the irony is that mac pros, imacs and macbook pros are conclusively beaten by their cheaper equal-power windows and linux counterparts, ranging from adobe CS to video encoding tasks, nto to mention games.

its a marketing slogan, these pieces of trash break jsut as often, if not more, than any other OS. and in the case of the mac, its the awful coding of the OS that is to blame, as opposed to malicious third-party additions. enjoy your opportunity cost, fools. lern2computer

Posted by: zxcvzxc at 11/09/08 8:09 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Leave a comment


Staff

  • Founder/Editor-In-Chief: Scott Lapatine
  • Senior Editor: Gabe Delahaye
  • Executive Editor: Amrit Singh

Info

Contact

You Can Make It Up logo
Gabe loves fan fiction. You Can Make It Up features his own personal alternate adventures starring some of our favorite characters.

You Can Make It Up: People Tell Carrie Prejean What An Asshole She Is

Carrie Prejean turned the video camera off, put on some clothes, and stepped out of her house. It was a beautiful day outside. The air smelled like apples, and the late morning light hit the world in just such a...

MORE »

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time logo
After watching Death Sentence, a terrible movie starring Kevin Bacon as a father in search of vigilante justice directed by Saw's James Wan, Gabe embarked on The Hunt For The Worst Movie of All Time. This is his sad journey.

The Hunt For The Worst Movie Of All Time: In The Land Of The Women

If you are a sassy and sarcastic young man in an American sitcom who represents the sitcom writer's desire that a nerdy Jewish teenager can somehow be the desirable romantic hero in this world, then eventually you will get a...

MORE »

Monsters' Ball logo
This week's five highest rated comments as voted on by you, the lowest rated comment as voted on by you, and the editor's choice.

Monsters' Ball: The Week's Best Comments

I shouldn't even be here right now. I SHOULD BE GETTING INTO MY COSTUME! If I don't hurry, my facepaint won't be dry before I get to the MOONVIE theater, and everyone will be like "hahah, you look like you're...

MORE »

Double Dog logo
Blogging about TV and movies isn't all fun and videogames. Every week, Lindsay or Gabe will be presented with a physical or mental challenge that tests their bravery,patience, and taste.

Double Dog: I Took A TV Bus Tour Alone In A "Just Jack" Tshirt

The Challenge: I had to go on a 3.5 hour bus tour of totally random TV and film locations in New York City. Alone, and wearing a specific ridiculous tshirt. And I had to find someone to take my picture...

MORE »

Videogum Movie Club logo
Let's all go to the movies, and let's all see the same movie, and let's discuss it here.

The Videogum Movie Club: 2012

Uh. OK. Well, first let's address what this movie did well, like the disappointed parents we are (or at least that I am), recognizing that the negative feedback won't be useful or constructive if it isn't preceded by something positive....

MORE »