I just watched that second ad today. It might actually be more confusing than the first ad. What are they selling? Are these the ads that were reported to be fighting back at Apple's ads that slammed Vista? If so I don't see it. I was hoping to see it as friendly competition can be fun. I just don't get these ads- other than they are making Gates a bit funny and more human which is nice.

I am with macgirl. The selling point of the ad is pretty confusing, but Gates comes off as pretty funny. I quite enjoyed the "are there any monsters in this story? - Yes, it's okay there's a firewall" joke.

My take on these ads is that they are sort of like palette cleansers. Microsoft has endured so much negative press over Vista, that I think they want people to stop, take a breath and remember the Microsoft that they loved. The Bill Gates Microsoft.

I'm sure that we'll see them slowly work more content into future ads. I can already see them start to frame PCs as computers for "the rest of us", while Macs are viewed as sort of elitist computers. We'll see more as the campaign progresses.

Personally though, I liked the first ad more than this one. This one ran really long. I didn't find it as fun or as charming as the first ad.

About John McCain's technical ineptness, it's something that he's working on. He has said, "We have upgraded our website, and we've tried to be more active in blogging and all the means of communication that young Americans rely on to form their opinions and decide their vote." Besides he can always learn about computers from Cindy and Bridget. Cindy has said that she and Bridget love computers.

i still feel like their ads are a a 4 minute tv show rather than an ad for Windows.
i dont like them still =/

i so needed that backup connection when i restored my phone due to screwiness and erased all my contacts. i know have 20 phone numbers collected of the 100 that were lost!!!!!! damn damn damn

they really failed to connect to me or any of my peers. Their target audience. FAIL.

I agree with calamari. Microsoft is trying to renorm your mode of thinking about PCs. I think these ads are refreshing since they're not in your face saying "Buy Windows!" or trying to make comparisons between Mac & Windows. The increasing Mac vs PC drama of the past decade or two has been completely overrated. Each has their own pros and cons, neither are perfect.

Personally, I think both commercials fail. The only reference to the computers is in the jokes (the firewall etc..) and I think they wanted to show Gates in a "everyday Joe" fashion, making him seem funny and more relate-able. However IMO, it failed because it came off unfunny (unless you think Gates butt wiggle is funny, then you will love it. I found it odd.) It also seemed to "out-there" and I doubt a majority of the consumers will like this ad. I was expecting classic Seinfeld humor, however instead ended up with a confused look upon my face saying "WTF was that?"