Posted 03/30/09 at 08:44:24 AM by Paul Lilly
Microsoft's fourth attempt at an ad campaign may finally deliver a worthwhile message to consumers. The latest has nothing to do with Jerry Seinfeld and chewy computers (attempt one) or unattended 8-year-olds hooking up digital cameras to a notebook and declaring "I'm a PC" (attempt two), and then there's the Mojave Experiment (attempt three). Instead, Microsoft's newest ad takes aim at Apple by pointing out the gross pricing disparity between a Mac and a Windows-based PC.
In the ad, a young woman named Lauren says she's looking for a laptop with "speed, a comfortable keyboard, and a 17-inch screen" for under $1,000. Microsoft tells her if she can find it, she can keep it. Lauren's first stop? An Apple Store:
"For $1,000 they only have one computer available and that's a 13-inch screen," Lauren says. "I would have to double my budget, which isn't feasible. I'm just not cool enough to be a Mac person."
After later finding an HP Pavilion that "has all of my qualifications" for $700, the ad flashes "Congrats, Lauren. It's a PC."
Well played, Microsoft. And also well timed.
View the video here thenĀ tell us if you like Microsoft's new ad campaign in the comments section below.
Links:
[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/one4yu2c
[2] http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/165113.asp
[3] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIS6G-HvnkU
[4] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/choose_your_poison_justin_long_or_jerry_seinfeld_os_pitchman
[5] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/new_microsoft_ads_emerge
[6] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/new_ad_campaign_wants_you_chew_gum_not_surf_internet