Thursday, September 4, 2008

I Hated Marketing Class

Yahoo! News
Microsoft kicks off $300 million Windows marketing push

SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) kicked off a $300 million marketing campaign on Thursday, aimed at improving the image of its Windows Vista operating system and strike back at Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) "Mac vs. PC" ads.

The first commercial of Microsoft's new marketing push, being created by advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, aired on Thursday featuring comedian Jerry Seinfeld and company co-founder Bill Gates at a shoe store.

Despite selling more than 180 million licenses since its launch in 2007, Windows Vista continues to suffer from the perception that the operating system is clunky and hard to use compared with Apple computers.

Aiya, it's not perception. I have a Mac mini sitting next to a Sony VAIO running Vista Home Premium, Service Pack 1, and Vista is harder to use and maintain. I'm not even running the latest Mac OS (Leopard? Tiger? Panther?). The only reason I bought the VAIO was for games; the gaming selection is crap for Macs. In hindsight, I should have bought a PowerBook and either a PS3 or XBox 360 for games. I would have to spend a lot more money though...

I have a suggestion. Microsoft should take the $300M and hire more software engineers (they're only $250k/year fully burdened) to write a better OS. At least spend some money and come up with better error messages. Even better, give me $1M and I won't complain about Vista on my blog anymore.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

very very reckless.

insulting the Chinese Communist government and Microsoft on the same blog. you're really playing with fire.

i can see someday where the customs agent at the PRC asks you to fire up your computer to see if there is any subversive material on your notebook and up comes the blue screen of death.

at least you're smart enough to not criticize google.

Anonymous said...

Such a thing like firing up the computer only happens in the US custom where no privacy of personal data is protected.