Microsoft burns our eyes with Vista promo video

It's official, Microsoft knows no shame. We used to think that the Zune tattoo guy was bad for publicity, but now it's clear that the video promo team needs zero outside help in dragging whatever shred of dignity this company has through the mud. Whoever thought up this Bruce Springsteen-defiling "Rockin' Our Sales" piece of garbage to promote the launch of Vista SP1 should be fired instantly and sued for defamation. It's just that good. Video is naturally after the break.

[Thanks, Jacob S.]

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Apr 16th 2008 1:31PM]

Crap! I can't see the video . . . server at work blocks it.

I bet it's good . . . and by "good" I mean "gut-wrenchingly bad."

[payne @ Apr 16th 2008 1:34PM]

Must... Stab someone... With pen...

[Imitor @ Apr 16th 2008 1:38PM]

My eyesssssss, I'm meltinggggggg!!!

[CubeGuy @ Apr 16th 2008 1:46PM]

It wasn't so ba- HUUUUNNNNNGHHHHHHHH!

[geekmorgan @ Apr 16th 2008 1:52PM]

....so BitLocked will return a stolen laptop huh? That's what the video implies.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Apr 16th 2008 1:56PM]

Are you guys rubbing it in that you can see it, and I can't?

Or are you just trying to get your comments at the top of the Comments page by replying to my comment, even though you have nothing useful to say in regards to my dilemma?

I was hoping someone out there in Engadgetland would have a neat work-around to bypass a filter so I could actually see these videos that are always popping up.

You guys are useless. But I love you nonetheless.

SPPT

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 16th 2008 1:59PM]

Trust me SPPT,

They are doing you a favor by not helping you bypass your work's webfilter.

[Rafer @ Apr 16th 2008 2:04PM]

The guy in the picture is flaggin out Bloods.

[Seth @ Apr 16th 2008 2:06PM]

I've always liked my Vista computer, but now I want to curl up in a ball and cry. This video will/has made little babies cry.

[snitch @ Apr 16th 2008 2:12PM]

Dam even i can find a better video promo check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLlPnobhSdc

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 16th 2008 2:20PM]

Here you go mate:

http://www.saadrabia.com/download/microburn.flv

[Jack Storm @ Apr 16th 2008 2:25PM]

its like getting rick rolled. without rick.

oo man gotta get the song off my head now :-/

[WS @ Apr 16th 2008 2:31PM]

This video is about as good as the operating system it promotes...

[Greg @ Apr 16th 2008 2:40PM]

OH GOD
Lucky you!
This is solid proof that Microsoft is ran by idiots, and further proof that Vista sucks.

[ICEBEAR @ Apr 16th 2008 2:43PM]

What I am wondering about is the guy that uses that video in their reel. That guy should commit sepukku to atone for that..... or at least cut off a pink, or something

[schagg @ Apr 16th 2008 2:44PM]

http://208.65.153.251./watch?v=sPv8PPl7ANU

try it with the IP instead. sometimes that gets around those filters.

[DJEJ @ Apr 16th 2008 3:59PM]

My eyes! The goggles do nothing!!!!

[brendan @ Apr 16th 2008 4:00PM]

"Vista, gotta get me some!"

[Aguiluz @ Apr 16th 2008 4:21PM]

I think my eardrums blew.

[computer.dude.28 @ Apr 16th 2008 5:06PM]

I couldn't watch the whole thing! And the captions only enhance the lame!

[A-Pow @ Apr 16th 2008 5:29PM]

the fact that people get paid to produce that is mind-boggling.
i could crap on video and that would be better. in any case, well done microsoft, you have proven once again that you are out of touch with consumers, no, businesses, no, enterprises, no, everyone, yes. that's it, everyone, they're out of touch with everyone.

[YoJIMbo @ Apr 16th 2008 6:52PM]

According to this website, the dude in the beginning with the red hankie in his right pant pocket is um... dirty:

http://alt.xmission.com/~trevin/hanky.html

[Backlin @ Apr 16th 2008 7:29PM]

You'll want to wait until you get home, then not watch it.

And I was hoping the picture was a Photoshop, guess not.

[JLTate @ Apr 17th 2008 10:13AM]

Bwaaahhhahahahahah.

That video was great (in a so-stupid-it's-funny sort of way).

[Andrew @ Apr 17th 2008 11:40AM]

Try a google search for youtube proxy or facebook proxy etc. My work does the same thing ;)


Not that I ever goof off on company bandwidth =P

[Andrew @ Apr 17th 2008 11:40AM]

Also, I must say, that as the GAYEST video I have EVER seen. Please, someone, rickroll me. I beg of thee.

[Matt Ferens @ Apr 16th 2008 1:31PM]

I'm still waiting for the "Death Star" blimp that was supposed to fly around cities when they initially launched Vista.

[Steve Cuccia @ Apr 16th 2008 1:32PM]

This can't be real...

[ZeRo @ Apr 16th 2008 1:38PM]

Definitely a fake... there a reason why it's on youtube and not on MS site.

[John @ Apr 16th 2008 2:33PM]

ZeRo -- a lot of companies are using YouTube to get marketing buzz. It's free and has a huge user base.


Also, this video is lame, even if it's only intended for MS employees.

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Apr 16th 2008 6:01PM]

I could almost guarantee it is a Microsoft internal production that was intended just for the sales team. One thing I like about MS is how they'll do over the top things like this for internal use only.

They had Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant do a thing called "Office Values" just for Microsoft in the UK. It's absolutely hilarious:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9076288729387457440

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Apr 16th 2008 6:20PM]

I also feel kind of sorry for their sales team. They're having to do their best with the cards they've been dealt. It's not like they designed Vista after all.

I wonder if they've started keeping the developers on the opposite side of the campus away from sales.

[boe @ Apr 16th 2008 1:32PM]

Hard to say which is worse - the OS or the crappy video about the crappy OS. It is nice to see the the people who wrote Vista were allowed to use the same amount of talent in making the video.

Good thing is I'm sure MS will ignore the negative reviews about this video just the way they ingored the negative reviews about Vista when it was in Beta, RC, production release and SP1.

[Sudo @ Apr 16th 2008 1:38PM]

hurrr

[Josh L @ Apr 16th 2008 1:40PM]

Considering that this video was a lighthearted joke intended only for viewing inside the company, I too would ignore "negative reviews" of it.

Get over yourself.

[Boostjunkie @ Apr 16th 2008 1:45PM]

Um, have you actually used SP1, it works great for me. And this video is supposed to be a joke. Microsoft does a lot of funny internal videos.

[Irwin @ Apr 16th 2008 2:07PM]

LOL go to hell boe, u don't know what you're talking about, no random retard can make something like that.

by the sounds of things, mostly everyone here thinks its a commercial. well it isnt, its just a bloody internal promotional video, meant to be dumb ass and funny for their employees

[boe @ Apr 16th 2008 4:11PM]

Irwin - I'm impressed you stopped sucking from Ballmers Man Teats long enough to vomit out your response.

I never said this was going to be a TV promo - but even as an internal video it is an utter failure - much like Vista.

I don't hate MS - I use XP on two of my personal computers and my laptop. I have MS products installed on 95% of my systems from workstations, file servers, e-mail servers, web servers, ftp servers, database servers etc. I do however think Vista sucks - big moose - no matter what OS you put it on XP runs faster. XP runs more apps than vista. I can get more drivers for XP. I can boot my PC faster. I can shut down my PC faster. I can copy files to my primary drive, secondary drive and network MUCH MUCH FASTER.

I've actually run benchmarks - with Vista on several types of hardware 2 Gigs of memory, 2.6 Core 2 processors, 512mb video cards and 32mb cache hard drives with 500GB of storage.

Before you spew out the idiotic thing so many people say like SP1 fixes that or their was a fix out for that a while ago - THERE ARE NO FIXES. There are PATCHES - they don't get Vista to perform at the speed of XP. Anything Vista can do XP can do better so it is a crap OS - PERIOD.

And before you make some inane comment about DOS or 95 being faster - copy a file to the network using DOS or 95 - not faster than XP - yet VISTA IS SLOWER THAN ALL OF THEM. Try doing some video editing in DOS - NOPE? FASTER IN XP than VISTA.

Since I don't expect you to take my word for it - go to Vista and try googling VISTA XP Benchmarks - are all the people who ran the benchmarks "retards" too?

SO many people want to be Ballmer's pillow biter and defend Vista - try doing it with FACTS if you are so sure you are right. I've given a factual response - GOOGLE vista, XP and benchmarks

Or try GOOGLING vista and industry research companies such as gartner.

[Ghen @ Apr 16th 2008 5:44PM]

well said boe, I guess you got voted down for typing in caps? I voted you up though to help offset.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 16th 2008 1:34PM]

I use vista and all, but Come on Microsoft! I'm seriously concerned right now about Vista sales. :(

[pagancollective @ Apr 16th 2008 1:52PM]

Don't be. I just did my part by buying this song in the newest batch of Rock Band DLC this week.

That guitar solo is a bitch...

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 16th 2008 2:07PM]

@pagancollective: lmao. :)

How do I reach dese keeds????

[Dude @ Apr 16th 2008 1:34PM]

Get the stick out of your Apple arse.

It's meant to stupid-funny.

[phanbouy @ Apr 16th 2008 1:40PM]

like you, right? except for the funny part.

[Kei @ Apr 16th 2008 1:34PM]

that was utter crap

[Ian @ Apr 16th 2008 9:00PM]

my eyes and my ears are bleeding. i think i should be dead in 10 minutes from that, kinda like the ring.

[WicK3d GooSe @ Apr 16th 2008 1:35PM]

This video is way better than Apple's Air Commercial.

[Khris @ Apr 16th 2008 1:43PM]

Only if you're a wanker.

[Aaron Wanker @ Apr 16th 2008 1:54PM]

My last name is wanker... but I'm okay with that now.

[Jared @ Apr 16th 2008 5:59PM]

Dude, that sucks Aaron.