Microsoft's Vista promo video just a "spoof"

Turns out Microsoft's unfathomably horrendous Vista SP1 promo video that turned up yesterday was just one great big spoof -- a spoof Redmond apparently had no qualms spending a good bit of dough on rather than just re-dubbing some old video from yesteryear. Nevertheless, a company representative said to be "familiar with the reason behind the production" noted that "they thought folks internally would get a kick out of not taking themselves so seriously all the time, but some people thought that's exactly what they were being -- serious." He continues on to say that this "little piece of art" had "caused quite a few laughs in Microsoft's hallways." Um, yeah -- and here in the outside world we aren't laughing any quieter just knowing this masterpiece of comedy was indeed intended as a joke.

[Thanks, Rooshma]

[deep @ Apr 17th 2008 10:07AM]

All of Microsoft is a spoof.

[Gaz @ Apr 17th 2008 1:03PM]

Binbags, plastic binbags and some paper clips, maybe a memo pad or 2, some photocopy paper, dividers and staples, till receipt rolls x 10 and a diagram please.

[James @ Apr 17th 2008 9:48PM]

Our ecosystem rocks!

[Kit @ Apr 17th 2008 10:47PM]

I don't really know why people seems so angry and think it's totally stupid...

I personally think a company is brave enough to laugh at themselves is much more important than making best products. It is because I'm sure they will really learn from their mistakes and do it better next time...

[fred @ Apr 17th 2008 10:07AM]

Please, Engadget, can you get over yourself?

It's a stupid video, not evidence that MS took part in the Holocaust.

[Ellianth @ Apr 17th 2008 10:30AM]

Yeah.

Quit being bullies. Last I checked, making an operating system was a lot harder than fixing quotation marks in a link. And look how long it took you guys to do that...

[Mark @ Apr 17th 2008 10:31AM]

Not so fast...

http://www.microsoft-caused-the-holocaust.com

[V3LOCIP3D3 @ Apr 17th 2008 12:29PM]

how did engadget not know this was a joke? damn, that's sad

[Zoroaster @ Apr 17th 2008 1:14PM]

Yeah anyone who couldn't tell immediately that this was intended to be a joke is an idiot. Seriously Engadget, I'm pretty disappointed none of you guys realized this. Microsoft may not be as hip as Apple, but nobody on earth is this lame.

[ben @ Apr 17th 2008 2:06PM]

@Zoroaster: I beg to differ.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FvyGydc8no (Hillary4U&Me)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNTPqG6ZECU (Raining McCain)

[Andrew @ Apr 17th 2008 10:09AM]

This sounds more like damage control. I've re-watched it with the new press release in mind and still think those behind the video are huge dorks.

[Jason Dash @ Apr 17th 2008 11:51AM]

Damage control? When the video was first leaked to the public it explicitly said it was an Internal video. Just some sites, who obviously wish for people to bash MS, conveniently left that fact out.

[RC @ Apr 17th 2008 3:23PM]

Benny Goodman: Take my wife--please!

Internet: Boo! Hiss! How can you be so cruel, she should divorce you!

This is like an IQ test. If you think MS made the video seriously. You're stupid.

[superfresh @ Apr 17th 2008 10:10AM]

In other news...

Steve Jobs announces MacBook Air was also intended as a joke.

[swingin' dick hero @ Apr 17th 2008 10:47AM]

Same applies here..

"they thought folks internally would get a kick out of not taking themselves so seriously all the time, but some people thought that's exactly what they were being -- serious."

Nah but seriously.. It's not a bad product, just too ahead of it's time. I don't know statewise but here where I live I find it hard to go totally wireless.

[Dude @ Apr 17th 2008 10:12AM]

If only Apple had made it. Then Engadget would have found it "artful" and funny.

[Quix @ Apr 17th 2008 11:51AM]

Apple would never have made something as ridiculously stupid as that, spoof or not. The point is moot.

Your attempt to drag Apple down with Microsoft into the Pit of Offensive Tackiness fails.

[ben @ Apr 17th 2008 12:18PM]

Yeah, Apple did that with their pretentious switch and get a mac ads.

[iPriest @ Apr 17th 2008 12:43PM]

@ ben : You just hate those adds because they remind you every time of what a big loser you are.

[ben @ Apr 17th 2008 1:52PM]

You're right-- but how does that make them good commercials?

[Special_K @ Apr 17th 2008 2:27PM]

@ben:

They work by slowly grinding your self-esteem into nothingness, so that they can then offer to sell you a replacement: a Mac. I mean, watching those ads made me realize how pathetic a human being I am by not having a Mac... Oh God! FLASHBACK!!! I'm so terrible! I'm worthless! Just look at me: I'm fat, slovenly, and I'll settle for anything! Shit, John, control... just... just remember what Dr. Weber said: "Buying a new Mac will only make you feel better for a few months." No, fuck Dr. Weber! Good thing I've got the Apple Store on speed dial. Fuck yeah, MacBook Air, here I come!

[YoMomma @ Apr 17th 2008 3:53PM]

Quix: Apple would never have made something as ridiculously stupid as that, spoof or not. The point is moot.

But they made the MacBook Air.

[sergams @ Apr 26th 2008 6:28PM]

Example of an awesome Apple video...?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbJy0O4UFSM

[superfresh @ Apr 17th 2008 10:12AM]

Wow. Godwin's Law applied to the second post. That has to be some sort of record. You are very efficient. Were your grandparents German?

[Zeus.:God @ Apr 17th 2008 10:12AM]

Its pretty obvious... But wait, you're Engadget. Nevermind.

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

This is going to dissappoint a lot of people who wanted to believe Microsoft's PR department had reached a new low.

Personally, I don't see how anyone could ever take something that feels as much like an inside joke as this does and think it to be an actual marketing campaign.

[andyg8180 @ Apr 17th 2008 10:14AM]

MY EYES!!! lmao

okay, i expect this from Best Buy (employees know what im talking about)... im shocked no one has called FAKE yet lol

[Djunior80 @ Apr 17th 2008 10:14AM]

No Sh*t! The video was a spoof???? It took you guys a day to figured that out! A lot of the posts yesterday from readers had already mentioned that the video was a spoof, and had you checked sources a little more you would have known! Oh, well...I guess anything to put Microsoft down is a great story here!

[Chris @ Apr 17th 2008 10:17AM]

Here Engadget, let me help you wipe that egg off your face.

[Ty @ Apr 17th 2008 10:18AM]

Cut them a little slack, guys. Not everyone is cool enough to pay Jimi Hendrix's record label to use "Purple Haze" in a commercial.

Or Steppenwolf, Propellerheads, Bob Dylan, Barry White, or the Rolling Stones. All artists who make me think "personal computer" every time I listen to them. Thanks, Apple!

[OSnix*-geek @ Apr 17th 2008 10:22AM]

You mean like start it up?

Microsoft used Rolling Stones "Start It Up" to promote windows 98.... so why do you think M$ doesn't have the cool to use someone...welll.. coool

[Ty @ Apr 17th 2008 10:31AM]

It's "Start me up," actually. I'm not saying M$ isn't guilty of pandering popular music for marketing purposes. I mean, that is what this post is about, isn't it? And also the fact that the video is horrible.

I'm just saying that the Apple love-slaves at Engadget need to get over themselves every once in a while. A lot of things go on internally at companies that are supposed to be "comedy," that result in simply being unintentionally funny, and unintentionally horrible. I mean, the terrifying pictures of Ballmer should be enough to make Engadget feel good about themselves on a daily basis. Or at least allow them to do high-fives and ass-slaps at the water cooler every once in a while. So when you think about making that post tomorrow that reads "Microsoft Springstien video actually possibly maybe real, perhaps" please just let the internet forget this horrible shit ever happened.

[jakem @ Apr 17th 2008 11:44AM]

Windows 95

[Zeek @ Apr 17th 2008 10:19AM]

Looks like Bill G. still has a job at MS.
Reading Engadget and damage control.

[ChuChu @ Apr 17th 2008 10:21AM]

It's dumb as a spoof, it's dumb as a real vid, it's just plain dumb. I don't say this as a MS hater or Apple fanboy either. I say this as someone with a low tolerance for bad comedy.

[anonymouspimp @ Apr 17th 2008 10:25AM]

@ChuChu

If you made a spoof video about your job, the sales people at Microsoft probably wouldn't think it was funny either.

None of us were the intended audience, so they weren't trying to make you laugh, at all. If I were a MS salesperson, who knows, I might have thought it was hilarious. But I'm not... so I don't know!

Bottom line is, somehow Engadget got their hands on it, and made a big deal out of nothing. Surprise surprise... lol

[phanbouy @ Apr 17th 2008 6:05PM]

pimp, i forgot that seething suckage can somehow be not only tolerable but welcome because you work for some particular company.

hmm... sounds like a variation of stockholm syndrome.

how's Redmond these days?

[phanbouy @ Apr 17th 2008 6:10PM]

wait wait... ain't done witcha yet. so.. your implication is that engadget wouldn't have posted this travesty of a video if it weren't by MS. riiiiiiiiight. sure they wouldn't. because clearly something so hideously bad that generates tons of page views and comments would never have been posted. because it's all a CONSPIRACY!

anonymousfanboy, you may remove your tinfoil hat now

[anonymouspimp @ Apr 18th 2008 11:59AM]

Phagbouy, I see what you did there!

How is Redmond? Not sure, but the weather in Chicago is pretty sweet today (it was supposed to rain but its nice out!). How's the temperature in your mom's basement?

Anyways, based on your reply (mostly the second one, the accusations about working for MS in first one were at least clever, although overused around here lol), I'm not surprised you don't understand what I was saying.

Basically what I was saying... now pay attention... this is really complicated stuff here... "wait wait wait"... you seem pretty slow so I should use an example... If I made a "funny" video about landing a client, or getting "pumped up" for a Markman Hearing, or preparing for a deposition, and distributed it to my office, and one of our partners thought it was "hilarious" and posted it on YouTube, I am sure nearly everyone would think my stupid video (like the M$ video) was terrible (like the M$ video)!

wait wait... I ain't done witcha yet... rofl... so your implication that I implied anything other than what I actually said is wrong. However, my implication that Engadget has a tendency to blow certain stories out of proportion without knowing all the facts, is not. :(

Well, phagbuoy, i'm gonna get back to my conspiracies now... lol

/me reaches in desk and grabs tinfoil hat.

[phanbouy @ Apr 18th 2008 3:42PM]

typical fanboyism, "pimp". deny the logic of the vast suckitude that is this albatross of a video, and change my name to call me gay. good luck in the 7th grade.

[anonymouspimp @ Apr 21st 2008 12:41PM]

Pot, meet kettle. (ask your folks what that means if you don't get it)

At least you took your whippin' like a big boy. rofl

[tysonkam @ Apr 17th 2008 10:23AM]

This is your Windows and Office dollars at work, and your investment dollars as well... if you arwe a shareholder.

Be proud!

[fred @ Apr 17th 2008 10:30AM]

A cheap digital camera and Windows Movie Maker really tanked their profits for this quarter no doubt.

/heap big sarcasm

[Andir3.0 @ Apr 17th 2008 10:43PM]

Yeah, right... and I'm sure all those people worked for free to make the video too?

[NNTPgrip @ Apr 17th 2008 10:28AM]

Nice sense of humor assholes. Vista is one of those products you look at and think, "If I actually have to deploy this crap, I'm not so sure I want to work in IT anymore."

I really don't think I'll update my MCSE again.

This video would have been funny if it came out six months after Windows 7 was released (and only if Win 7 doesn't suck)

[fred @ Apr 17th 2008 10:35AM]

Can you explain what exactly makes it "crap"?

Outside of the 10th grade terminology, I will assume you actually used it and intelligent enough to elaborate past the obvious attempt at low quality Windows bashing.

[boe @ Apr 17th 2008 11:37AM]

Fortunately you can still sign the petition to keep XP alive until a better OS from MS comes out

http://weblog.infoworld.com/save-xp/

All that is necessary for the triumph of Vista is that good IT men do nothing

[NNTPgrip @ Apr 17th 2008 10:45AM]

Oh, here ya go, let me do your job for you MS Employee #358729357 a.k.a. fred:

"I've been using Vista for x months, and have never had a problem. Had some bad ? drivers at the start, but all that's just peachy now, and all is right with the world. I mean come on, XP? what kind of luddite are you? You must just be some sort of apple fanboy. Blah, Blah Blah.

[fred @ Apr 17th 2008 10:49AM]

"Oh, here ya go, let me do your job for you MS Employee #358729357 a.k.a. fred:"

So I ask for something a bit more adult than "crap" and thus I must be working for Microsoft?

And on top of that you didn't take the opportunity to elaborate, but instead acted even more childish.

[NNTPgrip @ Apr 17th 2008 10:58AM]

@fred: Welcome to the internet