Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Humor, Odds and ends
A funny Microsoft ad? Yes
I'm not a big fan of Microsoft marketing and promotion. The Seinfield/Gates ads left my scratching my head, and the Laptop Hunter ads really irritated me.Now Microsoft has released a really clever marketing video, but apparently had to leave their regular (Mac loving) agency behind.
The video, called Microsoft Office 2010-The Movie (YouTube link) was made by Dennis Liu of Traffik Filmworks (we interviewed him last year). He had a free hand and a big checkbook, and the video that resulted is hip, clever, and fun to watch. We even get a quick glance of Clippy's grave.
I was beginning to think that Microsoft was suffering from a complete humor bypass, but this shot at building expectations and mindshare for Office 2010 is a sure winner.
And remember that Microsoft will offer a free, web based stripped down version sometime next year that supports the Mac on Safari or on FireFox.
Now what happened to Microsoft Bob?
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
JKT said 4:36PM on 7-14-2009
Until this actually airs on a real TV station, MS has not exactly regained its sense of humor or its hipness.
Reply
kyle p snyder said 4:18PM on 7-14-2009
Ok, all M$ hatred aside, that's some seriously funny shit!
Reply
dsdevries said 4:24PM on 7-14-2009
Wow! Add that to the "Adam's Family" like introduction video of the Office 2010 web apps and Microsoft might actually do well in the movie scenes!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ecq32KJ5RGo
Reply
City 17 said 4:26PM on 7-14-2009
Didn't find it that funny really, pretty tired of them making jokes about clippy been done to death. Meh.
Reply
grantcrockford said 4:26PM on 7-14-2009
hmmmmm, i laughed a little, but not that much.
OK i laughed a little more than that- mostly at seeing clippy get what he deserves! annoying little clippy ba$*@rd!
Reply
ryemac3 said 4:29PM on 7-14-2009
Not for nothing, but Dennis Liu uses a Mac.
Reply
Dave Barnes said 4:41PM on 7-14-2009
Melinda buried Bob in the back yard.
Reply
iceman said 4:49PM on 7-14-2009
reminds me of http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac/apple_getamac_beancounter_20081019_480x272.mov
Reply
Aqua Victorian said 10:09PM on 7-14-2009
...lulz killer.
Ken Cohen said 5:46PM on 7-14-2009
A well done ad. Now if only Word and Excel didn’t crash so often. Or regularly corrupt their documents. Or use dialog boxes nested 5 deep. I know, I know, I’m being idealistic...
Reply
brian said 5:12PM on 7-14-2009
Great job, looks like a real high-budget movie preview, and fun in-jokes for those who get them, but unlike the I'm-a-Mac campaign, it doesn't actually give any REASONS to buy Office. I really wish they would have continued the Seinfeld series--I thought the last one was good and wanted to see where they'd go from there.
Reply
artifex said 12:47AM on 7-15-2009
The ad's intent seems to be trying to generate excitement for the latest sequel. (Keeping the movie analogy) Not about trying to convince someone to try something for the first time. I think it does a good job of it, assuming this isn't a one-shot, and there are follow ups to carry the message of specific improvements, and hence the need to buy in to the upgrade.
dennisaliu said 5:20PM on 7-14-2009
hey guys! glad you liked the vid. I use Macs and PCs. I gotta say that I love Apple, but I love Microsoft too. I just like technology in general.
TUAW rocks.
Reply
Haro! said 12:18AM on 7-15-2009
Dude you totally broke my heart with that. Your videos are still awesome though!
artifex said 12:53AM on 7-15-2009
Dennis: wonder how many people are gonna be skipping back, to try learning how to make Ws with their fingers. ☺
Cash said 5:30PM on 7-14-2009
Of course the Laptop Hunter ads irritated you... it's called "getting a taste of your own medicine."
Apple ads have been irritating PC users for years, but most of us learned to take them in stride. Talking shit about the competition has always been the lowest form of advertising, and Apple has been one of the worst offenders for a long time, most recently with their "I'm a Mac" campaign, so either be irritated equally, or just get over it Mel.
Reply
lvidal said 6:27PM on 7-14-2009
Listen:
You are a painter and you do the paint that you consider your oil painting master piece, and you call a friend of yours, a painter too, to show him your painting, and you tell him that you are going to show it next month in one of the most important expos of its kind. 15 days before that expo "your friend" calls everybody in the business to show them his new creation and you, uninvited, decide to go to check what's he got and when he reveals what's behind the white blanket you can't believe what your eyes are seeing: it's just a bad, cheap aquarelle copy of your original painting. Your mind doesn't know how to think. After all your work and inspiration another guy took your art, convert it in a garbage and betrayed you you a knife in your back. That's what Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer did with Steve Jobs with Windows against Mac OS. Do you expect flowers from Jobs?
robogobo said 6:31PM on 7-14-2009
@lvidal I guess you saw the Anthony Michael Hall movie. jeez.
Rubbinz said 5:38PM on 7-14-2009
Not enough vomiting wives.
Reply
kageysea said 3:18PM on 7-17-2009
That was just completely stoopid. I guess in relation to the other dumb ads they have released lately it isn't as bad BUT that doesn't make it funny or even good, it still suxs.
Reply