Microsoft fires Seinfeld… Apple hires Seinfeld!

Blogged on September 18, 2008 at 00:02

Well… sort of! First things first: according to Microsoft “the move was planned”. Add to that the fact they say that “this was not unexpected”. Even further, apparently the reason for the departure (nice way of putting it, I know) was *not* the popularity (or lack thereof) of the commercials, although “people would have been happier if everyone loved the ads”. Sigh…

Come on Microsoft! The only “product” coming from Redmond that truly engaged me in the last few years has been “discontinued”? Are you kidding? I loved the ads. In fact, I was hoping they’d turn them into a Friday night TV show. I’m sure it’d be a huge success and, anyway, both actors desperately need the money and fame… right? Seriously now, to me this campaign feels like Microsoft’s attempted to do a “gut move” approach to marketing. You know, one of those ideas that come up in a meeting and everybody thinks it’s just plain crazy and nonsense and your boss goes all crazy about it and approves it… Ya, Microsoft does have $10M to contract Seinfeld, then pay him $3M per ad and after two fire him (and probably the rest in the $10M for settlement). So why not do “what the crazy creative dude suggested in the meeting”?

I can’t believe they actually did these commercials… Just like I can’t believe they did the whole Mojave Experiment campaign! Do they realize that what attracts users to Apple is brand identity and “connection”? Does anyone connect with the whole Mojave-fast-food-style “brand”? The one where fake people (aka paid actors) act like they’re really surprised by the awesomeness (”wow factor”, right?) of Vista? How is that supposed to sell more of something that’s been selling a lot (better than XP) and most of the people really argumentative against it are the ones that have actually used it, thus rendering Mojave an overall failed argument?

Anyway… I really hope Microsoft gets their act straight! Apple needs good competition and Microsoft has the money and market positioning to do so… But they need to start by firing everyone in the marketing and product branding department… and Balmer.

I do have an idea for Apple: a set of “Switch” commercials featuring… Seinfeld! They could go on and on mocking his Microsoft ads and how he gave up on Microsoft and their inability to connect with people, bla bla bla… In my opinion, with the talent Apple has in this department, they could not only capitalize on Microsoft’s flop, but even help Seinfeld career get back on its feet. I actually think he can be quite funny! Maybe he’d charge almost nothing since Apple would be actually benefiting him at the end of the day…

Pretty darn good idea huh?? Ya, I thought so too… :p

PS: If Apple uses this idea I should probably be hired in the process… right? ;) hehehe

Adobe to announce Creative Suite 4!

Blogged on September 16, 2008 at 14:03

Okay, so Adobe is getting prepared to announce their Creative Suite 4 (CS4). Yes, you’ll have to pay for it!! No, it won’t solve all your problems!!

I have the Master Collection (CS3), bought 4-5 months ago! Except very few bug fixes released soon after installing, I haven’t seen a *single* substantial update since then… I did see CS3.3 come out (paid upgrade) and the announcement of CS4 (paid upgrade).

From the current suite, I use Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat and Fireworks heavily! I barely touch any of the other apps but getting the $2500-heavy Master Collection is still the cheapest way to get those.

From the other applications that I own from the suite, I did try/want to use Bridge/Version Cue but it’s the most unstable and useless piece of crap I’ve seen. All other apps are either good to have around but useless to me at this point (eg. After Effects) or completely and utterly junk (eg. Dreamweaver).

Being a web designer/developer that frequently works with audio/video (not Soundbooth though), I’m pissed at the fact that I’ll to keep upgrading to the new(est) Master Collection just to get bug fixes and compatibility problems solved.

I’ve been thinking: why can’t they make bundles by number of apps??? For instance, choose 5 apps from our lineup and pay $1200; choose 8 apps and pay $1800; etc… The current model is a “Microsoft-style” way of selling crappy or dieing products (read “Dreamweaver”) for people that want Fireworks or Illustrator…Plus I can’t get Lightroom 2 in any collection… Why can’t I get LR2 instead of… say… Dreamweaver??

Also, until the release of the new 3.3 suites, if you wanted InDesign *and* Fireworks you’d HAVE to either get the Master Collection or 2 different collections (more expensive). I *needed* InDesign *and* Fireworks so I was bound to the Master Collection (which is fine because I need the video apps…). This was just fixed with 3.3 but guess what: that was 2 months before CS4!!!! So if you bought that CS3.3 you will have to pay to get CS4… 3 month later! Pretty awesome huh? (CS3.3 was release 2 months after I got my CS3)

But they should definitely use a system like the one I mention above, where we choose the apps we need and pay by the number of apps we buy!

OHH… and point releases that ACTUALLY FIX things and are FREE would be greatly appreciated… Paying for new release upgrades JUST because I want  bugs fixed and don’t even care much for the new features is OUTRAGEOUS!

Alright… I’m glad I got that out of my chest!
Have a great day guys!

PS: Sorry about the rant guys… Long time no post, and what a way to come back! This is actually an expanded version of a comment I left on TUAW’s announcement of the 9/23 event… Oh well… I needed to rant! ;) After all, us bloggers, we’re all “criminals and terrorists” or just “anti-social people mad at world”… right? ;)

EDIT: I had a phrase I never ended plus I didn’t have any links to any of the products… Added those and added a reference to Lightroom 2! (which is my new *love*)