Thoughts On the New Windows Vista and Apple Ads

Michael Gartenberg | March 13, 2007, 09:31 AM

Windows Vista Ad

Apple Ad

Lots of buzz about both the new Apple ads and the new Vista ad. I think they're very different. I like the Windows WOW concept as a starting point, but beyond showing flip 3D, the ad doesn't show a whole lot more of the product. Consumers need to see what Vista can do. It will be important to see if there's follow up ads that show off  more Vista capabilities. The overall imaging is very nice and I love that Microsoft has worked to get the Vista experience integrated with other media. (on recent episodes of Heroes, the previews for the upcoming week's show were done in Flip 3D windows.) Excellent way of extending the Vista brand into consumers thinking and show off the new Vista UI.

The Apple ad is a stark contrast. It continues the concepts we've seen before and it they still work. It's funny, makes the point and did I mention, it's funny. There's been criticism that the Apple ads aren't accurate. Without a doubt they're exaggerating issues in order to make a point (after all, Mac OS X has a security mechanism that also asks for permission before it executes certain functions. It does get triggered far less than the Vista mechanism) but I don't think they're pushing the envelope into being disingenuous. It is a marketing ad after all not an analytic comparison of features.