"What was most perplexing of all to me was that, although I was certain that the ads contained Chinese phrases and sentences, every Chinese person to whom I showed them emphatically maintained that they could not understand a single word."
posted by roll truck roll on May 18, 2013 - 56 comments

Back in the day, Ken Segall helped create Apple's Think Different campaign and helped name the iMac. More recently he worked on JC Penney's Yours Truly, commercial, before JCP ousted Ron Johnson as its CEO. He writes a sharp, entertaining blog called Ken Segall's Observatory, where he offers opinions on advertising and design geekery. His take on Ron Johnson's failure is interesting, as is this post on what it takes for an advertisement to stand out in a crowd. He calls attention to surprisingly decent ads from Microsoft and Dell, critiques terrible ads (from Microsoft and JC Penney and even Apple, and comments on whether skeuomorphism has its advantages. He's also fond of discussing product names. Give this one a skip if advertising gives you hives, but for those of you who're interested in things like this Segall's blog is especially choice stuff.
posted by Rory Marinich on May 3, 2013 - 26 comments

"Why I left Google": James Whittaker joined Google from Microsoft in 2009. Now he want back to MS, and explained why he left Google
posted by growabrain on Mar 13, 2012 - 128 comments

In a two minute-and-forty-two-second advertisment against advertising, Microsoft explains why you should use their product instead of that of their competitor [via]
posted by Blazecock Pileon on Jul 29, 2011 - 138 comments

Microsoft attempt to recreate the magic of the Songsmith commercial (previously) with Windows 7 Launch Parties
posted by minifigs on Sep 23, 2009 - 186 comments

The Wait is over. Microsoft brings Seinfeld and Gates together. The verdict?. Meh. (Previously).
posted by Xurando on Sep 6, 2008 - 86 comments

Celebrity computer endorsements throughout the ages.
posted by Artw on Aug 21, 2008 - 65 comments

The human network is the paradigm and the infrastructure which supports social software.
posted by zippy on Jun 25, 2007 - 16 comments

Hooray! Great news for those who love to communicate - Microsoft have released a new version of their popular Windows/MSN/.NET Messenger software! So, let's glance at the new features: there's a great new look with a spinny logo thingy, and... and, erm... well... it's had some features removed... like the ability to use third-party add-ons... and, oh but wait, there's new pop-up advertising and alleged spy-ware! Oh...
posted by Pretty_Generic on Nov 26, 2002 - 20 comments

More guerilla corporate advertising. So another major technology company vandalizes a city (a la the peace-love-penguin thing) and gets a slap on the hand. Obviously, this company can afford any punishment that could come their way for mere vandalism, and the publicity about the punishment process itself just leads to even more free advertising for them. (Not to mention, the free advertising they're getting from people like me commenting on the publicity ;) ) Can anything be done to keep the judicial system from becoming a new advertising medium?
posted by badstone on Oct 30, 2002 - 16 comments

Microsoft counters Mac's 'Switch' campaign using the testimony of an unnamed 'freelance writer' who seems to be all sorts of things, including a stock photography model.
posted by Hall on Oct 14, 2002 - 51 comments

That's 1 for "guilt", 271 for "great"! At a company's site devoted to "Decoding The Emotions Driving Consumer Buying Behavior," Steve Ballmer's speeches are "decoded" as an example of how to sell. Is this an example of useful knowlegde used for evil purposes?
posted by victors on Feb 18, 2002 - 14 comments

Microsoft - The best is yet to come...
Has anyone seen the new Microsoft commercial? I'm not saying that Bill Gates is pandering, but when it was over my fly was down and my TV smelled like White Diamonds...
posted by CrazyUncleJoe on Apr 6, 2000 - 9 comments