Microsoft Knows How to Party

Sure, Microsoft’s earnings beat expectations this quarter. At 40 cents a share, earnings were 8 cents above Wall Street estimates. The company's clearly doing something right with regard to business. But their marketing strategy may be another story. At least this effort below:

Gizmodo pointed us to this (we think unintentionally) hilarious video in which Microsoft tries to get us to see the benefits of using their new software platform Microsoft 7 by throwing our very own Windows 7 launch party. Hang the streamers, set out the chips, program your iPod — and huddle around the computer!

That’s right. The video, which plays more like public service announcement than an exciting product launch, features four racial-and-age-diverse actors in block colors talking excitedly about how they made Windows 7 "the guest of honor" at their party.

Already the product reviews for Windows 7 have been largely positive. And we doubt the ads will have a negative effect on sales. But it doesn’t do anything to dispel the stereotypes that Apple’s Mac vs. PC ads have been hammering home.

We’d say, to make sure your ad campaign will be a hit, stick to offering people food.