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Microsoft Hiring Seinfeld for Major Ad Campaign

The Wall Street Journal reports that Microsoft is hiring comedian Jerry Seinfeld for a series of new ads in which he will appear alongside Microsoft's Bill Gates.

The new ad effort is expected to use some variation of the slogan "Windows, Not Walls," according to several people familiar with the matter. Those people say the point is to stress breaking down barriers that prevent people and ideas from connecting.

The first ads are scheduled air starting on September 4th. Seinfeld is reportedly being paid $10 million for his work.

The ads are part of a $300 million advertising campaign from Microsoft in an attempt to overhaul their image. Specifically, one Microsoft executive has stated that Apple's 'Get a Mac' ad campaign has had a damaging effect on Vista's image.

"We've got a pretty noisy competitor out there," Brooks said of Apple whose "I'm a Mac... and I'm a PC," commercials criticize Windows Vista. "You know it. I know it. It's caused some impact. We're going to start countering it. They tell us it's the iWay or the highway. We think that's a sad message. Software out there is made to be compatible with your whole life."

Apple has continued their 'Get a Mac' ad campaign with more ads directly targeted at Vista.

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45 months ago
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,407702,00.html

Microsoft Corp., weary of being cast as a stodgy oldster by Apple Inc.'s advertising, is turning for help to Jerry Seinfeld.

The software giant's new $300 million advertising campaign, devised by a newly hired ad agency, has been closely guarded. But Mr. Seinfeld will be one of the key celebrity pitchmen, say people close to the situation. He will appear with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in ads and receive about $10 million for the work, they say.
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45 months ago
This is a bit ironic since Seinfeld proudly displayed his latest Mac in practically every episode of his sitcom. I guess "B-Movie" didn't bring in the paycheck the way he wanted.
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45 months ago
I'm just waiting for this to fail. $10 million for an ad campaign?! People do feature films and don't get paid as much! I like Jerry Seinfeld but he's not exactly the youngest and hippest stand up comedian out there, I think Microsoft is about 15 years too late.
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45 months ago

This is a bit ironic since Seinfeld proudly displayed his latest Mac in practically every episode of his sitcom. I guess "B-Movie" didn't bring in the paycheck the way he wanted.


Exactly! He was a mac user when mac's weren't cool. How are they going to play that off?
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45 months ago

"The new ad effort is expected to use some variation of the slogan "Windows, Not Walls,""


'Fire Windows, Not Firewalls!' ? :D

Maybe not.
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45 months ago

Exactly! He was a mac user when mac's weren't cool. How are they going to play that off?

Throw cash around, and pretend it never happened. :p
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45 months ago
And all those old pics will come to the fore.

They need someone like Jeff Dunham.

Bill could be played by Achmed the dead terrorist.

Job's?? Why Peanut, of course. :D
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45 months ago
Maybe play a switcher in reverse?

"I used to be Mac now I'm a Windows guy...."
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45 months ago
http://www.youtube.com/v/vNDEwsIGJKI&hl=en&fs=1 (seinfeld in apple ad)

I have an instinctive dislike for Jerry Seinfeld. I think it was when I heard him criticizing the person suing his wife on Letterman in a very uncomfortable way. Then I was annoyed that he was so smug with Oprah. Then I was annoyed that he had these really annoying promos for the bee movie during each commercial break of the office one week. And then I've heard him be quite an apologist for scientology. And he's into cars, which is always a turn off to me.
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45 months ago
Maybe he can share some with Michael Richards.
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