So the Seinfeld/Gates ads for Microsoft were a bit odd and not generally regarded as a success but combined with their latest “I’m a PC” ads Crispin, Porter + Bogusky are really taking the game to Apple. The NY Times had a perfectly executed Apple roadblock banner campaign couple of days ago but it really did feel a bit elitist, and frankly boring.
The iPod has put an Apple product in the pockets of half the western world but somehow it’s lost a bit of brand mojo or mystique along the way. I’m not saying I want to go back to the days of $6000 laptops but maybe it’s time for the “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” campaign to get retired.
Update: here’s the main ad on Youtube…
Another Update: Eric Karjaluto has a great post in the subject too: http://www.ideasonideas.com/2008/09/microsoft_ads_leverage_flaws/