Microsoft Wants You to Party Like It's XP
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No, really. The company wants you to throw a house party in order to promote Windows 7, sometime between Oct. 22 and 29. Your reward for hosting the social event of the season will be a Signature Edition of Windows 7 Ultimate and "your very own Windows 7 Party Pack," as well as the chance to win a PC worth $750, according to a site called houseparty.com, which encourages people to raise the roof in order to pump commercial brands like Ford. Host one. Seriously. See how fast the crowds beat a path to your door when they hear about your officially suggested party theme, which could range from "PhotoPalooza" to "Media Mania," "Setting Up with Ease" or even "Family-Friendly Fun." (Actually, given Microsoft's Windows 7 rollout strategy, I'm surprised they're not suggesting that you use your support documents for Windows Vista as fuel for the grill.) When Microsoft devotes its advertising and promotional energies to efforts such as its "Laptop Hunter" ad campaign, which concentrate on dollars-and-cents economics, the company sees what it claims are positive results. Microsoft's track record with funkier, "hipper" ads and promotions is much less stellar; the "Bing jingle," for example, simply doesn't jibe with its overall brand image. The parties seem to fit into the latter category -- Microsoft products let people get things done, and play some nifty games, but you'd be hard-pressed (I think) to find the average person on the street willing to break open the bubbly of his or her own volition in order to celebrate the latest rollout of its operating system. Maybe I'm wrong, and the average Microsoft house party will bring the funk like it never been brought before -- but I think I'd get better attendance by inviting friends over to play Xbox 360. |
Comments (10)
Nick, they say great minds think alike.
Windows 7 – Its party time! (just don’t mention Vista)
http://openbytes.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/windows-7-its-party-time-just-dont-mention-vista/
Quote from the link: "Lets cast our minds back to around November 2006, its the release of Vista and there are announcements of “Vista parties” in many countries.
Do those parties look a little silly now? Lets look at some of the comments users have made about Vista and imagine groups of people with childlike excitment celebrating the release of Vista. Was Vista worth having a party for?"
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Notice that MS has to bribe people to do this with "gifts" and a chance at a "free computer." The same old "free computer strategy" is still alive and well with MS.
Posted by Chips B Malroy | September 4, 2009 3:27 PM
Well, I've applied to host a party and I think it will be fun. I have plenty of relatives and geeky friends who will come to it, and we'll have some nice snacks and a few drinks...well, maybe more than a few. ;) Hey - if it gets me a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, why not?
Posted by Mark | September 6, 2009 10:52 AM
Quote "Hey - if it gets me a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, why not?"
and if I understand it correctly you COULD WIN, not you will. You see nothing wrong with this type of advertising? As it was said on the site (their words) "swallow your pride" and have a party about a product which hopes you will (indirectly) sell it? Tell me are you taking pictures? are your friends happy you are inviting them for a chance to win yourself a freebie? Are your friends happy to be displayed on the net?
Its all a little silly and desperate if you ask me. If you honestly expect me to believe that the majority of these "parties" will not be staged/fake attempts to get a freebie, then really (IMO) you are as out of touch as the promoter.
At least though this campaign is better than the one where Microsoft offers to feed the hungry in exchange for your loyalty (IMO) - I wonder how many meals the CEO of Microsoft has missed?
Posted by Goblin | September 8, 2009 6:31 PM
This is no slam dunk. The site clearly says IF YOU'RE SELECTED you will receive the aforementioned goodies such as the freebie Win7. What's the cost-benefit ratio here?
Posted by Stratocaster | September 8, 2009 9:24 PM
When Microsoft slips into Tupperware-style promotions, we know something is seriously suspect.
Equivalent of having the dialogue lapse into baby-talk. The issue is not what is being said, but what is no longer discussed.
Clearly, the corporate engineering effort on Windows 7 is already over-- the product has been parametered, and the plastic-wrapped carcass is ready to be tossed to the teeming masses.
Of course, there is a history and context behind all this. Vista was withheld an extra year to turn it into a DRM vending machine, but without a significant increase in consumer value or security.
Many insist this was the point at which Vista, as a viable improvement in Windows, died on the operating table.
As chairman Gates once said, "it's software, it's buggy-- get over it!"
Posted by Bob Greene | September 9, 2009 1:57 AM
Quote "This is no slam dunk. The site clearly says IF YOU'RE SELECTED you will receive the aforementioned goodies such as the freebie Win7. What's the cost-benefit ratio here?"
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Yep and its the entering you need to do in order to get a chance to get your hands on a freebie.
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Lets forget for a minute about what Windows 7 may or may not turn out to be....what on earth will people do at these parties?
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Its almost similar to an Anne Summers party where the host invites people over in order to sell them things....
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If there was no prize or freebies how many of these Windows parties would actually be held by legitimate users?
Posted by Goblin | September 9, 2009 5:55 PM
Ah, whoop de whoo! So what?!?! It's just a party for crying out loud! What's wrong with having a party? What's wrong with having fun? Me and my buddies love PC's and having parties. Any of you all who don't like it, that's your choice. I'm having my Windows 7 party and me and my buddies are going to have a good time! We've loved Windows 7 RC, and can't wait to have the final product. And the party!
Posted by FreeLee | September 9, 2009 7:25 PM
Hi FreeLee,
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Forgive me for thinking that your text is straight from the PR on the party page....so you love parties? - Great! It requires Windows 7 in order to facilitate it? Ok. ;)
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I completely understand you enjoying a party, why then do you feel the need to announce it? (or in the case of the compo, document it)
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I think the part "We've loved Windows 7 RC and can't wait to have the final product. And the party" sounds like MS official line (IMO) that to me either suggests:
a/you've dragged into the MS marketing machine that is at work completely or/
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b/ you're simply posting what people should be thinking (according to MS)
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This of course is only my opinion, but to all the independent and unconnected IT pro's or hobbyists - is FreeLee's post representative of anyone you know? Do you know anyone in your circle of friends/colleges that talks like this or is so excited about an OS that they would say this?
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Keywords:
"Buddies"
"parties"
"having fun"
"good time"
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Sound's very iffy to me. (and I would say that regardless of which company was promoting these type of parties)
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I think Joe Wilcox called it Gorilla Marketing...
Posted by Goblin | September 10, 2009 5:12 PM
@Goblin,
Sorry you think my post is part of some type of Microsoft PR. When I went back and read my post, I did have a chuckle, because you are right. But honestly, my buddies and I really are very happy with the Win 7 RC and really are looking forward to the final product. And we are going to have a party and we are going to have fun. Some of us really are enthused about Windows 7 and we do like to party. Although you could argue we are geeks! But thanks for your comments Goblin, you really did make me laugh at mine!
Posted by FreeLee | September 22, 2009 9:19 AM
I signed up to be a party host because frankly, if I tell them "Sure. I'll host a party about Windows 7," and I get free stuff in the process it is no loss to me. I'm a college student, I live with 3 other guys in a university housing apartment... kinda use to random parties of random stuff. That and the stuff for it is already there so I don't have to spend anything for it. Plus, I got Windows 7 Pro for free before it even came out (MSDN Academic Alliance), and I have been using it for over a month now. No errors, nothing has crashed, everything has worked perfectly. Plus they're offering Windows 7 to college students for $30 bucks anyways.
Posted by Gizmoo | September 23, 2009 11:59 AM