March 27, 2009 - 12:36, by Dostalek, Kevin
I wrote a few months ago about some of the
new ads coming from Microsoft- specifically the bizarre Bill & Jerry ones and also the very promising "Life without Walls" (aka: I'm a PC) ones.
I just saw this new one out there, which takes a similar direction to the "Life without Walls" campaign, but is quite the different approach. What I really like is that finally MS has shown the chutzpah to directly attack Apple. No more snarky references to Apples campaigns ("I'm a PC"), but here Lauren (the character in the advert) actually goes into the Apple store and leaves disappointed because she could afford so little on her budget.
Perhaps it's risky throwing the "I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person" line in there, but I applaud them anyway! It's the truth, and of course by definition "cool" is always the miniority. The message I get here is: wouldn't you rather be smart than cool?
Anyway, I don't know if this ad's is intended to get TV play or just online, but check it out below and tell me what you think.
MS Advert Video
November 13, 2008 - 12:40, by Dostalek, Kevin
I just finished both listening to the audiobook and reading the paperbook of Seth Godin's newest book
Tribes. Of all the books I've read/listened to this year (and the list is considerable, > 25), this one shot straight to the top of my list.
I highly recommed this book to everyone (I'm buying many copies to give away as Christmas presents). And for those of you with Audible accounts (or the willingness to create one), you can get a
FREE copy of this book
HERE. Also, if you use iTunes (blah), then I believe if you search you will find it for
$0.99.
[Correction: Looks like that was just for a limited time, it's now $5.95] Seth is a great narrator, so I almost would recommend the audiobook over the print copy... but if you're like me, after listening to it, you'll want your own print copy too.
October 7, 2008 - 02:43, by Dostalek, Kevin
The Ad Generator has been around for awhile, but I keep coming back to it as a tool to help dislodge my brain and make new connections and bring forth ideas.
Flash
Unfortunately, that wasn't really how or why this first generation mashup was created. It was created by taking real corporate slogans, putting them through a randomizer (real time), and then pairing them with pictures from Flickr that are taged with words from the random slogan (again in real time).
Certainly this juxtaposition explores how we attach meaning to words and pictures (and do so very quickly), but it also highlights how most advertising takes meaningful ideas and applies them to undifferentiated products and services seemingly on whims.
October 6, 2008 - 02:42, by Dostalek, Kevin
September 19, 2008 - 02:26, by Dostalek, Kevin
After years of watching those stupid Mac commercials Microsoft has responded with a great campaign of there own. At first I was pretty skepticle as I saw this commercial during the Colts season opener which frankly made absolutely no sense:
Gates/Seinfeld Shoe Circus Commercial
But launched yesterday was the Windows Not Walls campaign which I find absolutely brilliant!
Windows not Walls Commercial #2
Nice job! But I still don't get the Bill and Jerry thing. Maybe this extended commercial will help you guys figure it out, but I'm still saying WTF.
Bill & Jerry New Family Extended Commercial
But really, doesn't Jerry Seinfeld remind you all of Rob Oyer? Or is it just me?