Microsoft Ad FAILS: A Look At The Worst Microsoft Commercials (VIDEO)

Microsoft's tried to put its unfortunate "Vista" chapter behind it with the launch of Windows 7 -- but has it put an end to bad ads?

This Slate video takes a look at misguided Microsoft ads through the ages, from the earliest Windows 95 commercials through the company's online ads for Windows 7 launch parties.

Check it out, then tell us what your least favorite (or favorite!) Microsoft ad is.

Know a Microsoft ad so bad it sends chills down your spine? Or maybe there's one that got you psyched about PCs? Tell us!

Microsoft Ads

 

Click participate, then enter a description of the ad (and a link to it, if you'd like) then click submit.

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Comments

[mattgab1]

The "Bing" commercials are rather irksome, in my opinion, as well.

[Eris23]

What's funny is that the only people who will truly care in the end are Apple cultists and, additionally, Microsoft could still outsell OS X without doing any advertising at all. Go figure.

[dudeguyman]

Not EVERY ad Microsoft has done has been horrible (though many were, and are). Check out http://clearification.mekanism.com/ for one of the most unique and interesting campaigns ever - got majorly written up on Mac blogs as being surprisingly good coming out of Redmond. Check it out.

[notb observer]

Hihihi ! Amazing that a company of this size and power cannot manage to get the kind of consistently top class advertising that Apple does, not to mention much smaller companies...
I've been a die hard Mac fan since I bought my first computer (a Mac IIsi) , my current computer is a MacPro which has an XP partition for the one PC only program I use to tune up my vehicle.
The thing that strikes me about the Windows 7 rollout is that Micro$oft is making a huge deal about "the user", as if they just discovered this aspect of software design... Apple has been all about the user from day 1, coming out with a long series of innovative products to answer our needs whether with their computers, the Newton, the iPod or the iPhone, they really understand users and how people work and live, so to me it's worth paying extra for that kind of product. Microsoft has contributed nothing but a series of operating systems that still seem to be built on the DOS prompt mentality.

[peterg76]

How about this for a slogan:

Microsoft Windows: after 24 years, we think we finally got it right.

or:

Windows 7 - so complicated you can't tell how flawed the security is!

[neutrino74]

Don't know when this ran. Probably in the 90s MS ran an ad on the theme of "where do you want to go" while in the soundtrack you heard a selection from Mozart's Confutatis Maledictus in which the chorus sings of the souls of the damned burning in hell forever. Good times.

[ReturnOfTheTruthTellaPod]

Does Huf.fPo get revenue from Apple or do they just think apple is super neat? Why are they always att.acking windows and playing up Apple?

[Mountaingrl]

Apple IS super neat. :)

[revhatchell]

they probably use apples, so the know the difference.

windows is an os generically built for any hunk of hardware.

apple is a tuned 64 bit system with hardware/os synergy.

[MsAlyss85]

I am wondering the same thing. I don't have a bunch of money to pay for an expensive operating system, but I did find a way to make a super cheap custom-made computer from parts bought off of newegg and the like. Granted I run a non-Mac OS (boohoo I'm not trendy) but it definitely gets the job done for cheap! With the economy the way it is why are people bashing Windows OS? It is only the operating system and not the PC itself. Some people just need to learn and be wise with their computer purchases...

[nanderson65]

Yeah!
I built a car from an old 57 Hudson and put a Fiero engine in it and drove it backwards...
and it works just fine... What am I not 'trendy' for getting a car that works with it's own parts.

[fignew]

It's called being an apple fanboy/fangirl. Some seem to think that using a Mac means that they are hip and know about computers.

[NYkid]

My idea is to use open source software like Linux (Ubuntu in my case). Goodbye d_irty t_ricks monopoly M$.... forever.

[NYkid]

My idea is to use open source software like Linux (Ubuntu in my case). Goodbye dirty tricks monopoly M$.... forever.

[fignew]

Good stuff. Archlinux user here :)

[roger3815]

Yes, the commercials where they basically give away the PC's are just too dumb to watch.

Seriously, the only way they can sell a computer is to give it away?

When do I get my free PC?

[tonewheel]

Microsoft doesn't make or sell PC's.

[ReturnOfTheTruthTellaPod]

A. They dont sell computers

B. They have something like 90% of the world OS market

[Terrence0258]

Clown Microsoft all you want and everyone involved with that company will keep laughing to the bank. I heard a rumor that their janitors made six figures.

[audadvnc]

I'm happily watching this Microsoft debacle on an HP tower computer - running Xubuntu!

[HalEBurton]

The current "Windows 7 was my idea" is the biggest bunch of loser commercials I have seen in a while.

[bettyx1138]

PCs suck so bad i don't kno why ppl use them.

[A Meat Beetle]

Of course their ad failed. Their products fail. That's why I avoid them like the plague.

[bettyx1138]

me 2.

[surajshah]

hahaha... the ads fail or passed can only be measured by the fact tha MS has 90% of the PC segment.
if steve jobs had not mismanaged his company in the 90-95 which can be seen in the movie "pirates of silicone valley" he could have been much better...

personally i believe if MS would not have helped making PC cheap.. we would not have this computer revolution that we are seeing... we would have been buying 2000 macs forever...

is there a cheap 7 inch 300 $ laptops available from apple?