racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

Apparently, Microsoft has realized that a lot are shying away from Windows Vista due to bad experiences, the steep hardware requirements, or simply because of bad reputation. HLWT and Ars Technica report that comedian Jerry Seinfeld has signed on to endorse Windows Vista in a $300 million ad campaign.

“If a book about failures doesn’t sell, is it a success?” Perhaps not, but Microsoft hopes that a new $300 million ad campaign about the flailing Windows Vista will somehow turn it into a success with the help of comedian Jerry Seinfeld. The campaign will be one of the largest in Microsoft’s history, and is expected to begin on September 4.

In fact, Seinfeld may not be the only celebrity involved in the new Windows Vista campaign. The ever-popular “people close to the situation” have informed the Wall Street Journal that Seinfeld is simply “one of the key celebrity pitchmen” that will appear alongside Bill Gates to discuss Vista’s merits. According to the WSJ’s sources, the company has also considered Will Ferrell and Chris Rock among a multitude of other personalities, although there was no indication as to whether they had also been hired as part of the campaign.

I guess this is similar to Apple’s Get a Mac ads, with Justin Long and John Hodgman. I know Justin and John’s celebrity status is nowhere near that of Jerry Seinfeld’s, but the Get a Mac ad series has gained cult status because of its in-your-face humor. Especially when bashing Windows Vista.

I’ve been a regular Vista user since I acquired my Presario B1256 but on my netbooks, I use Windows XP. Vista is just too power-hungry for those small critters.

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