Microsoft's Comeback?

Microsoft is seen as an outdated company that makes software that doesn't really work. People associate them with crashing computers, programs that take forever to load, and slow internet connections. Often times people tell me how much they hate Windows Vista; but if I ask them if they've ever actually used Vista before, they usually admit that they've either never used it, or have just played around with it maybe once or twice.  They usually can't point out specific problems with the OS except for maybe "Program X doesn't work on it", where X is some 3rd party software that Microsoft has nothing to do with. 

I've been wondering why Microsoft has been so silent while Apple rags on them day in and day out with their "I'm a PC/I'm a Mac" commercials. They have been doing a phenomenal job perpuating the stereotype that machines running Vista are horrible. It's great to see that Microsoft has finally responded.

I think their "I'm a PC, and I've been made into a Stereotype" ad campaign is a huge step in the right direction for the image of the company. Microsoft really can't try to convince people that they're 'hip' like they've tried to do in previous ad campaigns. (By the way, whoever decided that hiring Jerry Seinfeld is a good way to make the company seem modern should be fired.) Their only hope was to make themselves appear as if they're the OS used by people who actually get stuff done, and not just want their computers to look pretty. I think people will see these commercials and start to reconsider Microsoft as a company that makes good reliable software that tons of people use.

I believe that if Microsoft wants to push forward, they need to show pictures of their OS working in their commercials. If you have seen Vista before, you probably agree that the graphical user interface is stunning. It is just as beautiful, if not more beautiful then Apple's OS. I think people still think of clunky Windows XP when they think of Microsoft and that's something the company needs to change.

I'm interested to see where Microsoft goes with their ad campaign and how the image of the company will change.