New MSFT Ad: Funny, Won’t Sell Vista

Although this is reportedly just the first in a longer series of commercials featuring Jerry Seinfeld, if the others are anything like this one they won’t necessarily do anything to boost Vista. They may create a favorable view of Microsoft as a company, by association, however. We’ll see.

Bill Gates is already well regarded (because of his foundation, etc.). This spot is mostly about Gates himself and not Microsoft the company.

If you like Seinfeld you’re likely to think the commercial is funny/quirky (I do). Many people have said they don’t “get it” or that it’s “not funny.” But it’s really just about creating buzz and starting to get people to think about Microsoft in a slightly different way. In those limited respects, I believe it succeeds. (I’m apparently in the minority.)

But you tell me: