Honestly, I have to admit the Ads are kind of cute, and are funny at times.

But, I suppose they're trying to duplicate the Seinfeld show, which was as they themselves said, about nothing.

The Ads also seem to be about nothing.

Unless they get more focussed later on, I just can't see what good they will do.

And I'm trying to look at this seriously, as a former Ad man, without making the usual Microsoft jokes.

I don't see any Vista promotion at all. I don't get it.

On the other hand, it was fun to watch, kind of like the 'internal' MS videos.

They're still working overtime to polish that turd, aren't they?

They should really fire their ad agency. While the ads are kind of dorky/cute.... they completely miss the mark. Just more proof that MS doesn't give a crap about it's users..... and why I, Thank God.... USE A MAC!

Just another half-ass attempt by microsoft to be cool. Which will never be the true no matter how many billions of dollars Gates spends. If he actually gave a crap about the POS product (software) his company put out then maybe he'd have a chance. Gates is a great marketer and seer of opportunities.... but he's selling a Yugo in a Honda box..... It's always been that way... and I suspect it always will be.... Until they start seeing a major drop in market share then maybe they'll wake up.

Okay, so Jerry meets Bill in the shoe store and takes him home to meet the family. Notice that Jerry has no wife. I can't wait to see who's invited to Bill and Jerry's wedding in California.

I have to admit that the mass hating on a pretty awesome ad campaign is a bit silly.

To be honest, I think that this may be the best product MS has put together in 10 years (not that I'm thinking of anything from ten years ago)... I really like the ads, they're much more fun than some hyperactive nutjob screaming about his furniture and eating raw onions (don't ask, but they're real ads).

Must... Buy.... PC....

I concur - there is no requirement to hate this campaign out of hand. I was not crazy about the first ad but it was quirky enough to be interesting. The fact that it didn't mention Windows makes sense - they don't need to to. As an intro to the characters it served the second instalment well. The full length version of the second ad is really good. Really well done and very funny. Seinfeld is clearly developing into the MS version of Mac and Gates obviously the MS version of PC. I like that Gates was slightly grumpy and aloof. I like that they play themselves. I love the way they mix with the family. The whole thing is endearing and absurd. The point of this campaign is NOT to sell Vista or MS directly. I am absolutely certain that by the end of the campaign A LOT of people will have a different attitude to MS and what it stands for. In terms of Apple - I suspect the campaign might succeed at making people a tad more cynical about the present Apple ad campaign which essentially paints Apple as god's gift to mankind. Having seen the beginnings of the new MS ad campaign I feel the Apple campaign might soon soon look a smidgen long in the tooth. I totally agree with iCarbon - this is probably the best product MS has produced in a very long time. I would wait a little before attacking the campaign too aggressively if I were you. Give it a little time.

Are these "regular folks" who use Windows instead of Mac the same people who choose Leno over Letterman, and McCain over Obama? When did mundane become better than elite?

I think that you are right, they are simply building a 'brand' awareness right now for the 'Bill and Jerry show', inoffensive and humorous and ready to lead into more overt messages later on. Notice the reflection at the conclusion of each one, this time it was Seinfeld saying something like:

'Bill, you've connected over a billion people - I can't help wondering what's next, ...'

We can!

All good fun.