Forget what you might have heard about already-cracked DRMs, ethically questionable blogger relations or any other problems surrounding the new Microsoft Vista operating system. The software has finally arrived and its launch is being accompanied by a $500 million marketing push. That includes not only TV, print and online buys but also sponsored games and huge publicity events like the one featuring Microsoft's Steve Ballmer and, of course, Bill Gates. Everyone is out to make this the biggest product launch in Microsoft history, which in their mind equals best. Microsoft is just one of a number of companies who have decided to eschew ad campaigns with celebrities in favor of ad campaigns with some not-quite celebrities. They're using a relatively unknown comedian named Demetri Martin to promote Vista to the tech-savvy, Comedy Central watching crowd. More and more companies are using non-celebs for their campaigns as a way to break through the ad clutter in a more down-to-earth way.
1. This is something that keeps bothering me, when we purchase anything from a company. It is suppose to be ours, but when you buy something from Microsoft you don't own it outright. They tell you how to use it and what you can do with it. That's like buying a car and the Car Company tells you how to drive and where you can go and how many miles to put on it. This is not right, just my thoughts thanks.
Posted at 9:31AM on Feb 1st 2007 by alvan_mccauley