MacRumors.com

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.