Windows 7 sales push embarrassment
October 6, 2009 by Valerie HelmbreckPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, e-commerce, operating systems
Selling a new version of your operating system isn’t as easy as it once was. Just ask Microsoft. On second thought, don’t.
Unless you really enjoy watching how hard and fast the mighty have fallen, you probably don’t want to subject yourself to the most recent marketing ploys of the software giant.
We’re talking, of course, about the hysterically stupid and amateurish videos the company’s put together and posted on YouTube in hopes of igniting a groundswell of “Windows 7 Launch Parties.”
The videos have gone viral on the Web, but not in a good way. At least, not in the way Microsoft is sure to have intended.
Personally, I was so embarrassed for the company after watching just a few minutes of one of the most recent videos (click here if you dare) I couldn’t continue. It takes an awful lot for me to feel sorry for a multi-billion dollar company, but these videos managed.
The scene: A multi-cultural, multi-generational gaggle of four friends gather in a kitchen to discuss how much fun and how relaxing it was to throw a fete for their nearest and dearest in order to share their excitement over Windows 7. (As one co-worker asked me, “Why would these four people ever be in a room together?” Good point.)
The words “easy” and “fun” and “relaxed” are peppered throughout the video. And of course, the Gang of Four laugh a lot — to give us the idea that they had so much fun at their launch parties they’re still laughing.
You’ll be laughing too, but not in a good way.
It’s “totally informal” and you’ve got lots of choices, we’re told over and over and over and over again. “It’s all up to you,” the vivacious actors repeat, just in case you thought Microsoft was going to hold a gun to your head unless you gave guests the hard sell.
There’s an even more tedious video of some nursing home residents editing their photos at a “party” here — and this one has bonus Japanese subtitles and the lead actor pronounces “voila” more like “walaa.”
Which leaves us wondering who the target audience for these videos might be. Old folks who don’t know any better and need to find an excuse other than their birthday for a party?
In the end, what’s really striking is how amateurish and dull these videos are. Does Microsoft really think people will rush right out for balloons and confetti to usher in their latest OS? Do they really think their users are such rubes they’ll actually be seduced by these sad little films?
FinanceTechNews.com delivers the latest Finance news once a week to the inboxes of over 150,000 Finance professionals.
Click here to sign up and start your FREE subscription to FinanceTechNews!
October 1st, 2009 at 11:54 am
Just imagine a real OS install-fest such as Linux. Every bit as easy as XP or Vista and completely free. Comes with a free office suite too! No worries about viruses either.
October 1st, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Alas Valerie, perhaps you dont see in these ads that MS is showing us that the stand-alone branding concept is changing more towards the medium as the message, not the product itself, but who are your friend s and what do they use. by example if your are my friend you will like the health care plan proposed by Pres Obama, you not my friend if you dont support “his” choices. Likewise, these vids are not about brand switching, they are to reinforce to the believers that they are still amoung friends if they buy windows-7. Perhaps presenting your comments as pity and not viewing the whole video only screams your dislike for creative efforts that do not reinforce your current world view.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:18 am
I agree with Valerie, I watched what I could take of the video. That is 4 minutes of my life I will never get back.
Awful. Confusing, distracting, and yes, pitiful….
October 6th, 2009 at 11:25 am
Well, the incentive for hosting is getting a free copy of Win7. I signed up but never heard from them again.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Do I really need a “current world view” when choosing my OS? As for me I choose Ubuntu 9.04. It is free and has a host of free software to do anything windows can do. Now that is something I can excited enough about to throw a party for friends.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
i gotta be honest, i didn’t think it was that bad. i’ve seen worse i guess, this is more like a 6 out of 10 i think. they’re clearly actors & it’s all obviously rehearsed, but it gets the message across.
it’s just too bad that microsoft didn’t release vista before getting all the bugs out, that alone may have killed them forever. now everyone will assume that 7 has similar problems, too bad.
October 6th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I’m with D Franklin! I could only stand maybe 2 minutes of the video. All the rambling made my head hurt!! Has anyone seen the commercial running? Although they’re using a cute little girl (the only thing that got my attention), I didn’t get much from the commercial either.