Microsoft Ads: First Phase To “Engage Consumers, Spark Conversation”

So the tech and geek crowd is a little underwhelmed by the new $300 million Microsoft advertising campaign featuring Jerry Seinfeld that kicked off tonight . It's mostly content free, with just one mention of Microsoft near the end. It's a far cry from the brilliant Microsoft v. mac ads that Apple has run over the years. So what's the deal? In an email we've obtained from Microsoft SVP Bill Veghte to all employees, he talks about the goals of the campaign. 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. Later this month they'll do a deeper dive, which I assume means talking about features. One thing's for sure - the ads have sparked conversation. Full text of email is below: