New Microsoft ad: Older Windows PCs are no longer good enough

Microsoft is launching a new phase of its "I'm a PC" campaign on prime-time TV in the U.S. tonight.

Here's the spot (thanks to GeekWire for the YouTube pointer):

This is no Seinfeld commercial. Instead, it's a straightforward ad whose theme is Windows PCs have come a long way in the past few years, and are worth another look.

It's prime time for Microsoft to push this message, since Windows 7 launched a year-and-a-half ago, and Windows 8 isn't expected to debut on new PCs for more than another year. The PC market, as a result of the decline of netbook sales, coupled with the rise of iPad/tablet sales, isn't growing much, which is denting Windows client revenues.

Microsoft and its Crispin Porter + Bogusky agency chose a somewhat odd way to emphasize the idea that Windows 7 PCs are worth checking out. As Microsoft explains the new campaign:

"Instead of waiting for them (users) to come to us, we bring a PC store to them when they least suspect it. In the TV ads, we target unsuspecting real people by transforming a room in their home into a personal PC store with a wide array of innovative, beautiful hardware."

It seems to me that Microsoft could accomplish the same if the company would open some more Microsoft Stores -- especially here on the East Coast, where the still-unopened Atlanta store is Microsoft's only current option out this way. As I've blogged before, buying a PC here in New York City is a pretty dismal experience. I wouldn't know about the wide variety of Windows PCs if I wasn't a member of the press, privy to Microsoft showcases.

In Europe, Microsoft recently began touting the Windows Collection Web site as a way to share with potential customers some of the newer Windows 7 PC form factors that have been introduced to the market in the past few months.

What do you think of the new Windows ads? Have you seen any new Windows 7 PCs introduced recently that might make you trade-in your good enough XP or Vista machine?