'I'm a PC': It's Viral Now
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News Commentary. Microsoft Watch readers crack me up. This afternoon, I spit out my coffee reading comments to post "Hello, I'm a PC." |
I've pulled together some of the funniest comments and gone searching YouTube for parodies of the ad campaign; instead, I found individuals asserting "I'm a PC." The Twittersphere is full of similar assertions, too.
To recap: On Thursday Microsoft launched the "Windows. Life Without Walls" campaign. The first commercials are "I'm a PC," with people asserting that's what they are and, sometimes, why.
Microsoft is clearly trying to take the campaign viral, by encouraging people to upload short "I'm a PC" videos to the Windows Web site. Independent videos on YouTube, and even "I'm a PC" assertions on Twitter are affirmations of the campaign's effectiveness.
Today, at Apple Matters, Chris Howard explains why "Microsoft Kicks Apple's Wussy PC's Butt." He rightly sees the "I'm a PC" commercials as responses to Apple's "Get a Mac" ads, which portray the PC character as a pathetic geek compared with the cool Mac. He writes:
"It's kinda like some lame jock picking on a nerd and the nerd has finally had enough so invites his friends over to meet the jock. And his friends just happen to be the likes of Michael Jordan, Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps and Muhammad Ali. It's like the old saying goes: You pick on me, you pick on my friends."
As I predicted, there was initial negative reaction from the Mac community to the commercials. "I haven't met an Apple person yet who gets these ads," Chris writes. "They are totally lost on Apple users."
But they're not lost on the people asserting that "I'm a PC," whether with pride or to mock Microsoft. Either way, it's valuable viral marketing for Microsoft. I've been critical of the marketing approach taken by Microsoft ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky. Maybe I'm the one who didn't get it. But I do now. Thanks to Apple's "Get a Mac" ads, the phrase "Hello, I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC" is part of the popular lexicon. But if Microsoft's countermarketing campaign is effective—and that in part means TV commercials running day and night—the first part will be wiped away leaving only "I'm a PC" to the lexicon.
Now for that collection of "I'm a PC" quips, many of which do poke a little at Microsoft:
Microsoft Watch commenter JM wrote: "I'm a PC and I am the blue screen of death."
Microsoft Watch commenter Dateman wrote: "So if there are no Walls, what is holding up the Windows?"
Shaniqua, via Twitter: "I'm a PC and I have a image processing vulnerability in SQL Server 2008."
Microsoft Watch commenter Jge wrote: "I'm a PC and I'm selfish ;)"
Jeremy, via Twitter (presumably referring to Microsoft's ad agency using Macs): "I'm a PC, but apparently I'm not capable of producing an advertising campaign."
Microsoft Watch commenter Philosopher wrote [parodying the 60-second "I'm a PC" commercial]:
"I'm a toilet!"
"And I'm a toilet!"
"I'm a toilet with glasses."
"I'm a space toilet."
"My name is Roger and I'm a toilet."
"I'm a toilet and I'm flushed with pride."
"I'm a toilet and a human being. Not a human doing. Well, maybe I'm a human being who is doing, well, you know what I'm doing. I'm a toilet."
And down in the red light district, "I'm a public pay toilet."
And further on down, "I'm a toilet, but I'm not a public toilet and I don't take you-know-what from anyone."
Shaniqua, via Twitter: "I'm a PC and I came with six stickers and 32 trial software programs."
Sean posted to YouTube: "I'm a PC ... I'm even a child of DOS."
rescye posted to YouTube: "I'm a PC, and I have a cow on my head."
Ryan posted to YouTube: "I'm a PC, and I'm a penguin."
Eric, via Twitter: "I'm a PC, but I still wish I was a mac."
[Please send your tips or rumors to watchtips at live.com]
Related Posts:
- 'Hello, I'm a PC', Microsoft Watch, Sept. 19, 2008
- Windows: Life Without Walls, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 18, 2008
- Canceled: The Bill and Jerry Show, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 18, 2008
- Mojave Goes Prime Time, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 13, 2008
- Bill and Jerry: A Couple of Coenheads, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 11, 2008
- Clowns but No Windows at the Shoe Circus, Microsoft Watch, Sept. 4, 2008
- Walls Without Windows, Microsoft Watch. Aug. 21, 2008
- Why the 'Mojave Experiment' Fails, Microsoft Watch, July 30, 2008
- Viral Vista: The 'Mojave Experiment,' Microsoft Watch, July 29, 2008
- Can Negative Vista Perceptions Disappear?, Microsoft Watch, July 28, 2008
Comments (17)
Thanks for sharing what you've found. It is very amusing. I think anyone including Microsoft would be able to predict ridicule from Mac users, but I don't believe that means they don't get it. It just means they're poking fun. You're right the viral marketing campaign is working if indeed people are making a big deal for or against it. I can only assume that Microsoft expected and planned this from the beginning and I thoroughly enjoy watching the banter. However, it won't convince me to buy Vista though.
Posted by Coder Blues | September 24, 2008 2:47 PM
You should really include links to the twitter comments for maximum context lol.
http://twitter.com/ShaniquaB
Posted by urmom | September 24, 2008 3:20 PM
Shaniqua, via Twitter: wrote
"I'm a PC and I came with six stickers and 32 trial software programs."
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So close to the truth
Posted by Ralph | September 24, 2008 3:36 PM
Some smart person made this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIAOWFb9z5E
Posted by veggiedude | September 24, 2008 5:13 PM
I'm a PC, and I patrol the beat. Evenin' all...
Posted by Lawrence D'Oliveiro | September 24, 2008 6:27 PM
It's viral, all right. "It", as in Microsoft Windows XP Professional, that is.
"I'm a PC and I am the Black Screen of Death"
www.openmalaysiablog.com/2008/09/the-black-scree.html
Posted by Philosopher | September 24, 2008 7:03 PM
I'm a PC and my Life Rocks!"
Posted by Douglas S. Taylor | September 24, 2008 10:47 PM
I'm a PC and I develop software for the *mass* market... ;)
Posted by James Legan | September 25, 2008 7:15 AM
I'm a Linux PC, unpopular but great and rock solid.
I'm a XP PC, I'm great because there are so many things I can do that others can't.
I'm also an Acer laptop and I'm sick of myself because I'm just a piece of crap!
Posted by Ryannoyed | September 25, 2008 7:49 AM
Nice try, but the people in the I'm a PC add are rather nerdy and non-appealing.
It will make MS fanboys happy, but won't get them dates at the Apple store.
Posted by just a drone | September 25, 2008 8:09 AM
The retort is the Apple Ad that states that a Mac is a PC too. Thus the Mac is all the computer you will ever need.
Posted by James Katt | September 25, 2008 9:57 AM
I'm a clone and also a chameleon. Watch me change my (OS) colors at will.
Posted by TC | September 25, 2008 12:23 PM
Joe says: "'I'm a PC': It's Viral Now"
Hasn't it always been?
Posted by Gerardo Tasistro | September 25, 2008 9:26 PM
I think it is the first time I've ever been quoted on the Internet...I think I'll retire now I've had my 15 mins of fame...
But should it have been:
"If there are no Walls, what are holding up the Windows?"
Not Joe's mistake, mine, getting plurals and singulars mixed!
Posted by Dateman | September 25, 2008 10:52 PM
"I'm a PC, and I'm creating a viral Internet sensation! Oh wait, I'm also astroturfing for Microsoft! Whups, was that out loud?"
Seriously, Microsoft has been caught red-handed blatantly astroturfing in the past (e.g., "man on the street" letters to the editor of newspapers around the country that turned out to be from Microsoft sales reps, etc). Some of the viral videos out there are probably legit, but mostly this is just more of the same M$ astroturfing.
Posted by You Can't Handle The Truth! :) | September 25, 2008 11:41 PM
@Gerardo Tasistro says:
Joe says: "'I'm a PC': It's Viral Now"
Hasn't it always been?
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Did Joe misspell one word and it should have read:
""'I'm a PC': It's Viruses Now" as in MS Windows computers (mostly) are loaded with viruses and malware, as opposed to most alternative operating systems which are mostly secure, or greatly secure in comparison to Microsoft products. The fact that Microsoft still cannot secure their operating systems on the internet has to be reason enough to switch. Distrowatch.com it will set you free.
Posted by chips (the real one, spelled little c with an s on the end) | September 27, 2008 5:50 PM
Re: "The fact that Microsoft still cannot secure their operating systems on the internet has to be reason enough to switch. Distrowatch.com it will set you free."
Amen!
But... for those who have no choice but to stay with Windows, I offer the following advice based on personal experience among over a dozen systems and that is NOT affiliated in any way with the vendor:
The paid-for version of Panda antivirus is very cheap, it's solid, it's remarkably unobtrusive, and it's highly effective. By comparison, the antivirus offerings from Norton and Symtantec are expensive, unreliable, and obtrusive. I don't care about Symantec's name, but I feel sorry to see Peter Norton's good name attached to such a shabby product.
YMMV. But not by much, I'd wager.
Of course, if one hangs onto Windows and still has wads of cash to burn, by all means send it off to Symantec or Norton. The price of jet fuel is becoming outrageous, and the poverty-stricken CEOs of those companies are increasingly desperate to keep their private jets in the air and their legions of private staff well paid.
Posted by Philosopher | September 29, 2008 9:17 PM