What's With the New Microsoft Ads?

Microsoft unveiled its first foray into Seinfeld world today with an ad starring Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates. Some of you might be confused as to how the billionaire shopping for discount shoes while Seinfeld eats a churro will get you to buy Microsoft products. Well, you’re not alone.

Yesterday Microsoft Senior Vice President Bill Veghte sent a memo to all employees explaining what the whole $300 million ad campaign is about.

TechCrunch has a copy of the memo, which says the ads are meant to "tell the story of how Windows enables a billion people around the globe to do more with their lives today. We must inspire consumers with the promise of what Windows uniquely makes possible across the PC, phone and web.”

Perhaps that is why the first ad ends with Seinfeld asking Gates this nonsense:

“Are they ever going to come out with something that will make our computers moist and chewy like cake, so we can just eat them while we’re working?”

Or maybe not. The memo continues:

"The first phase of this campaign is designed to engage consumers and spark a new conversation about Windows -– a conversation that will evolve as the campaign progresses, but will always be marked by humor and humanity."

Check on the humanity part, but Microsoft is going to have to work on the humor if it wants to compete with Apple’s popular Mac vs. PC commercials. Seinfeld may have created the first show about nothing, but the market has expanded exponentially since the show last aired. And viewers aren't likely to enjoy watching him try to yada yada his way through shilling Microsoft products. Especially when he's getting $10 million to do it.

See also:

• First Gates and Seinfeld Ad Released: Gates is Comedy Genius
• Seinfeld to Shill for Microsoft. Not That There is Anything Wrong With That.