Building Windows, not walls
Summary: I don't care who Microsoft ad agency Crispin Porter puts in the starring role along with Chairman Bill Gates in its $300+ million campaign. But I am intrigued about what kind of messaging Crispin and Microsoft think will reinvigorate Vista's image and make Microsoft less of an Apple chump.
The Wall Street Journal is the second publication to report that Microsoft's soon-to-be-launched coolness campaign will use the slogan "Windows Not Walls" as its rallying cry. (Here's the first report in AdWeek citing that same slogan.)
I don't care who ad agency Crispin Porter puts in the starring role along with Chairman Bill Gates in its $300+ million campaign. Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Hillary, Michael Phelps. But I am intrigued about what kind of messaging Crispin and Microsoft think will reinvigorate Vista's Windows' image and make Microsoft less of an Apple chump.
Here are some of the themes I'm betting we'll see in whatever kind of campaign goes live on September 4:
- Windows is everywhere. It's on your PC, your mobile device and in the cloud. (It's not really on your Xbox or your Zune, but that probably won't stop the ad folks from designing these into the picture, as well. Update: Technically, you can make the case that Windows is inside the Xbox, as Windows-Now.com's Robert McLaws reminded me.)
- Because Windows is everywhere, you don't need to be tethered to your desk. You can do Windows computing at the beach, on a boat, in the tub or on a moat. (Cue, Dr. Seuss.)
- Windows is not a closed ecosystem. There are hundreds of PC and phone makers who build Windows-centric devices. There are developers embedding Windows Live programming interfaces into their programs and services. (Don't expect any terms as uncool as "API" or "ecosystem" to rear their heads in this ad campaign, though. I'm doubtful we'll see any direct mentions of Apple, either. That's just not the Microsoft way.)
Just for fun, I googled "Windows, Not Walls" to see what came up. Reference No. 1 was an abstract of an educational paper entitled, "Writing Assignments as Windows, Not Walls: Enlivening Unboundedness through Boundaries." There were a few refernces to Dan Fogelberg's eighth album, "Windows and Walls." And there were lots of ads for home construction companies that do windows but not walls (or both windows and walls). Hmm. Not a lot of inspiration there....
I wonder whether the the Empire will strike back? Will Microsoft take the high but boring road and simply produce another Bill-Gates-centric spoof video? Will there be a theme song? An action figure? Free coupons for Live Search Cashback bucks? A chance to guest blog on "Engineering Windows 7"?
What are you expecting Microsoft to as part of its upcoming "Windows, Not Walls"campaign?
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Talkback
Building Windows, not walls
[i]will reinvigorate Vista?s image and make Microsoft less of an Apple chump.[/i]
As of lately the chump has been Apple with their failures. This ad is going to do wonders for Microsoft and Vista. Two of the most well known figures in their fields will be appearing in commercials together. Both have a huge following and fanbase. You can bet this is going to increase sales for Microsoft Windows Vista. Seinfeld has always been a comedic genius so we are all going to laugh. I really can't wait to see what the commercials are.
Its going to go something like this"
JS: What is the deal with Vista?
BG: Its the most technically advanced Windows operating system to date. With increased security, stability, scalability, and reliability its easy to see why people are choosing it over the competition.
JS: Who are these people that use Vista?
BG: Everyone! Its on every desktop.
Oh, man thanks for the laugh.
count.
The millions who've benefited...
Maybe
or not to buy Vista PCs, are they?
By the way, look up non-sequitir in the dictionary.
Of course they're not...
Obviously.
Hey, Sleep...got a question for you
I got a question for you
I've always found it quite ironic, given the sheer volume of ABMers on ZDNet, whenever one of those ABMers dare suggest that 2 non ABMers constitute some kind of coordinated Microsoft love-fest. :)
@NonZealot
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=229
Read the "hmm. my opinion." post about half way down and especially the "re: Excellent" one. :-) Don't forget to read my other ones too.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=231
Btw, I think you'd have known I'm more of a linux guy by now. One more thing, thanks for the mention. :-)
NZ I did forget to say...
Arm. A. Geddon: My sincere apologies then
@NZ about apologies
Thought I'd throw out another post. Read the "WTH?" from:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=1087
I would have linked the actual post but I think you know what that's like. lol
No, Userama...
non-sequitir?
Did you mean nonsuit (in dictionary) or Non-sequitir (in encyclopedia)?
Dictionary suggestions:
nonsuit
nonsuited
nonsecretor
NON SEQ
non seq
non seq.
nonsugar
Consecute
non liquet
nonvector
non sequitur
Encyclopedia suggestions:
Non-sequitir
Non Sequitur
Non sequitor
Non sequitur
Non-sequiter
Non-sequitur
Nonsequitur
I guess I need a better dictionary!!!
I would bet
I know that people who hate America and cannot stand to see a company making money are not fans; they are called jealous or socialists.
Re: increased security, stability, scalability, and reliability
Oh, and yeah there will be lots of laughs, mostly at the "has-beens" of society. Windows and Seinfeld will go nicely together as they lead each other further into obscurity....
I can't wait for this train wreck to happen and can't wait to see the Mac vs. PC ads after that. MS is gonna get tore up.
Can't you come up with...
Aside from ones that get deleted for profanity that is.
Awwwww look at that....
Too bad you don't know what your talking about. I didn't use any profanity in my posts that got deleted. NZ seems to feel a little frightened when confronted with the truth by hitting the "Alert moderator to an offensive message". Even funnier is ZDnet's willingness to delete things without even reading what they said, either that or they are nice and chummy with NZ. I wouldn't even doubt that this one get removed either....guess we'll have to wait and see.
I think you're a little late to the game and may want to figure out what is going on before you comment on things that you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.
By the way, isn't this the same exact thing you posted to me last time??
Tsk, tsk...
Don't let it get to you, Kid.
Hey, you brought it up,
Oh, yeah!