Sunday 31 August, 2008

Will CP save the PC?

To be cool or not to be cool,that's the question facing Microsoft. PCvsMacC01Apple has thrashed Micros0ft with a series of  ads depicting Mac as cool guy and Windows as stodgy oldster.The ad is said to be one of the most successful campaigns in US.Apple was convincing  students to get their first MAC's during the back to school season,stressing that Apple products are much more "cool" than any other gadget.

Now Windows is ready to strike back but not exactly in the same 36641-JerrySeinfeldway. Microsoft  is launching its new $300 million ad campaign on Sep 4, with the slogan  "Windows not Walls" .It will feature Bill Gates,the face of Microsoft,but also surprisingly the sit-com star Mr.Jerry Seinfeld.

This move has led to a lot of discussion.Who exactly is Microsoft targeting? Initially when MS hired Crispin Porter + Bogusky(said to be the best of best ad agencies)whose ads are very popular with the younger generation,it was thought that MS is also trying to look cool.But to everyone's shock & surprise CP+B has convinced MS to hire Mr.Seinfeld aged 54,whose popular show ended a decade ago. It is said that that MS will not try to position itself as hip happening cool software as Apple's MAC but will be appealing  to a more mature audience.

While many of MS fans are not happy with the sitcom star , ad agencies are watching whether CP+B will fail for the first time in such a major project.

Any way its officially war between the two brands     MacVsPC2_550x413                     Jeff Hicks, CEO,CP+B says "There was a time,when it was Avis against Hertz, Coke against Pepsi, Visa against American Express. I think Microsoft is at the epicentre of the great brand challenge of the next decade -- or millennium."  

Now the question is Will CP+B be able to save PC?

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