Microsoft ad: Seinfeld & Gates shoe shop flop

The new Microsoft ads started last night. Here’s the first in the $300 million ad campaign featuring Jerry Seinfeld:

TechCrunch has an email from Microsoft SVP Bill Veghte to all employees:

The overall goal is to inspire consumers and “tell the story of how Windows enables a billion people around the globe to do more with their lives today.” This first phase, he says, “is designed to engage consumers and spark a new conversation about Windows – a conversation that will evolve as the campaign progresses, but will always be marked by humor and humanity.” The ads are just an icebreaker, he ads, to reintroduce Microsoft to consumers.

The only positive notice I found for the ad comes from Sarah Perez, who was happy the ad didn’t directly counter the Mac vs. PC ads. She says those ads are funny but sometimes smug leading to some serious “Mac guy backlash”:

There won’t be any backlash with this Microsoft ad, though – no matter which side of the fence you’re on, it’s hard to watch Bill Gates in action and not see him as just the goofy, geeky guy that he is. And the bonus shot of his Shoe Carnival card featuring his mug shot? Hilarious! If anything, Bill came across as a loveable nerd, not a ruthless businessman of an evil corporation, as many like to paint him these days.

Seinfeld’s pulling in a cool $10 million for the gig.