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]
posted Apr 17th 2008 10:02AM
Please, Engadget, can you get over yourself?
It's a stupid video, not evidence that MS took part in the Holocaust.
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...
Not so fast...
http://www.microsoft-caused-the-holocaust.com
how did engadget not know this was a joke? damn, that's sad
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.
@Zoroaster: I beg to differ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FvyGydc8no (Hillary4U&Me)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNTPqG6ZECU (Raining McCain)
All of Microsoft is a spoof.
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.
Our ecosystem rocks!
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...
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.
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.
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.
In other news...
Steve Jobs announces MacBook Air was also intended as a joke.
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.
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.
@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
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?
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
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.
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.
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
If only Apple had made it. Then Engadget would have found it "artful" and funny.
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.
Yeah, Apple did that with their pretentious switch and get a mac ads.
@ ben : You just hate those adds because they remind you every time of what a big loser you are.
You're right-- but how does that make them good commercials?
@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!
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.
Example of an awesome Apple video...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbJy0O4UFSM
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?
Its pretty obvious... But wait, you're Engadget. Nevermind.
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.
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
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!
Here Engadget, let me help you wipe that egg off your face.
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!
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
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.
Windows 95
How did you guys seriously not understand that this was a spoof from the moment you saw it?
Looks like Bill G. still has a job at MS.
Reading Engadget and damage control.
This is your Windows and Office dollars at work, and your investment dollars as well... if you arwe a shareholder.
Be proud!
A cheap digital camera and Windows Movie Maker really tanked their profits for this quarter no doubt.
/heap big sarcasm
Yeah, right... and I'm sure all those people worked for free to make the video too?
This video was just plain BAD. Spoof or not, it was painful to hear. Putting something out like this just shows you have no clue how lame you are.
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)
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.
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
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.
"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.
@fred: Welcome to the internet
@boe
"petition to keep XP alive "
You got more people signing to stop Uwe Boll from making movies.
Man, you gotta do getter than that -3-y=~
Perhaps "New Coke" really was nothing more than a marketing scheme, but we all know how that turned out.
Ask the share holders if they think it was "funny".
Shareholders look at profits and earnings, not internal videos.
I wouldn't care if they raced chimps in the basement, as long as they brought in the dough as expected.
I guess we could ask the shareholders who are also Sales Department employees... Otherwise their opinions are also moot.
Oh boo hoo. I have been using Vista for a year now and have had zero problems. I am a power user. I use ulitmate media center and a custom build running 2 monitors and pci-x raid 5. Never had a problem. Rock solid. No driver issues. The real problem is people who want to use Vista on their old piece of crap computer. Get a clue people. Quit your whining and buy a NEW mid to high end computer. Stay away from the low end crap as it is for suckers only.
I have to agree
I've been using vista since release and im using now on an intel celeronm processer laptop with 1 GB RAM and never had a problem with it at all so grow poeple and chillax layback drink a cold beer and have a good time.
Who cares about a spoof video you're arguing about a video and wasting part of your life Its a VIDEO THAT does'nt matter
AT the end of the day (it gets dark)
Right, because we all want to spend a giant portion of our income on computers every two years. I'm glad you have the money to spend, others are not so fortunate.
It makes me sad that poor people = "suckers" in your world view.
@kfast
Looks like the real culprits are the big-name computer makers who push out "Vista capable" machines that barely manage to run it. Thank God there are people like you in the world who want Windows to fully utilize their computer's potential.
@Eddie
Who said you had to buy a new computer every two years? I only just bought a new laptop after using my desktop for 5 years (and yes, it runs Vista fine). I bought the laptop for university and to have a chance of playing Crysis.
"ulitmate media center", eh. Gosh, that sure is the hardest of cores.
I've been using vista for 15 years and named all my kids vista and I never had any trouble.
~VOTE PEROT~
Is it possible to laugh any quieter if I wasn't laughing to begin with?
Obviously this was a spoof, but it really doesn't matter does it? Any way you look at this, someone at Microsoft put an awful lot of time and effort into producing this and thought this was a good idea. Sure, it's a drop in the bucket to the giant that is microsoft, but if stuff like this seems like a good idea to the people at Redmond (and is any indicator of their taste and sense of humor) then I don't really want them designing my software.
This video was hilarious to me, if only because I had already decided long ago to stop buying anything they make.
It's called free viral advertising...
It's viral alright,
Fred, I can define why I think Vista is crap - I can't speak for NNTPgrip but I'm guessing he researched and found the same issues that most IT people have.
On a new PC Core 2- 2.6 GHz or higher, 2 GIGs of memory or more, 512 MB fast video card, fast hard drive with 32 mb cache, gigabit ethernet -
Vista boots slower than XP
Vista shuts down slower than XP
Vista copies files internally slower than XP
Vista copies files on the network slower than XP
Vista runs many apps slower than XP
Vista wastes significantly more system resources than XP
Vista makes some simple processes far more clicks than XP
And no, there are no fixes as some claim for Vista - there are "patches" and a service pack but even with all the latest drivers, patches, service pack - Vista is slower.
Since some people refuse to believe this and insist their system is fine with Vista - please oh please google vista xp benchmarks so that if you want to insist upon arguing you'll at least know you are wrong.
Some say "well it isn't all about benchmarks" - so would you tow a trailer behind your sports car for no reason? Why slow down your computer on purpose?
Who buys a new computer and says - hmmm - how can I slow this down?
Are there any apps you can't run on XP that you can on Vista - there sure are plenty of apps you can't run on Vista that you can on XP. Are there any drivers you can't get for XP that you can for Vista - there are plenty of drivers you can for XP that you can't for Vista.
So we come to the old argument about running DOS since it is "faster" - try copying a file to the server in DOS - no faster than XP. Try doing some video editing in DOS - nope fine in XP. Try playing COD4, Quake4, FEAR etc in DOS - nope - fine in XP.
My only guess on why people like Vista would be that they like saying yes every time they open an app or try and do something in Vista - yes I really wanted to open that app.
The final thing for Vista as a must have - DX10 - wait you can run DX10 games on XP - hmmm - so why didn't MS just release DX10 for XP - they said it couldn't be done because of the hardware layer interaction yet a single teenager figured out how it could be done.
While I do feel your pain.
I feel the need to explain that MS probably did not design this product for you specifically. More like for the masses. And the masses are happy with it. Thats the problem. The masses (including me) aren't mad the system is taking 2 seconds longer to move their word and excel documents to the usb drive.
I don't know why you are dissing the security feature (the "yes that was me" thing you were talking about) . That security feature has made it so that I don't need an antivirus. Granted it does not replace an antivirus, it does in my case because I'm smart enough to know exactly whats running and what should not be (where not to go online etc.)
To finalize I would like to also let you know that, half way through writing this I realized that I was wasting my time but decided to finish anyway. You see I realized that you are just somewhat of a troll. I'm sorry to be insulting you like this and I do realize that you have valid points on the speed issues.
Read the next comment for the "troll" thing.
The reason I decided to conclude that you are trolling and just hating MS and probably any product they make is because:
You mentioned the Windows Defender (click me everytime you are doing something important window), well you mentioned that it was a problem, that it is a negative.
So once I read that I realized "Wait a minute, this person seems very knowledgable, he knows his speeds, terms and even bechmarks. So why is he making such an ignorant comment about Defender? a person of his intelligence obviously knows that you can JUST TURN IT OFF !!!!
Thats when I decided that you are just a hater, pointing fingers, mud slinging and using any method (regardless of validity) to degrade "X" company that you dislike.
No offense intended. But you know your stuff and you should not be using petty info man.
Ysleiro,
Fraid you are mistaken about me hating MS - I run MS products on 95% of the systems I support. While I support mac and linux, I prefer MS. I just realize that Vista is a dud and is having a hard time hearing the masses as you call them.
I have upgraded plenty of people's home machines from Vista to XP so I don't think everyone is as happy with Vista as you think. I'm not saying everyone hates Vista just that the majority prefer XP - both home and business users.
Yes you can turn UAC off - funny thing though - it tells you your system isn't secure if you turn it off every time you boot - so you go from one nag to another.
There is no option not to install UAC, there is no option not to install DRM, there is no option to tell Vista to copy files as fast as XP, no one can justify that as expected in every new OS, XP copies files as fast as dos, 95, 98 etc. That is just plain bad programming.
If I was an MS hater - I would say run OSX or run Ubuntu etc. I would have brought up how Zune is a crappy imitation of an iPod etc. But no, I'm just pointing out how poorly designed Vista is.
I won't deny I think Ballmer is a lousy leader. I never once bashed Bill - he is not perfect, no, but I honestly think he did a pretty good job leading MS. Sure Windows ME came out while he was in charge but he never forced hardware vendors like Dell and HP to sell ME. He never said well Windows ME is here - let's stop supporting 98. He accepted Windows ME was a flop and moved on to better OSs quite quickly.
I do post often in Windows Vista threads because of the idiots who say things like I've been running Vista for several years on my tape dispenser that I bought five years ago - I'm not sure why you people are whining about it.
And while I have no hope for Vista SP2 making Vista worthwhile I do have very high hopes for Windows 7. I think although Ballmer refuses to admit Vista is frowned upon by the technologically savvy people he will be forced to redo Windows 7 to address the design flaws of Vista.
This is the kind of thing that all sales departments in big companies do. They create all manner of unfortunate skits, short films, and presentations that are intended to motivate/educate the sales force. Anybody who thinks this is a big deal or uncommon or "bad for the shareholders" is just unfamiliar with how sales operations work at corporations.
Cover band: $500
Digital Camcorder: $300
Vista Home Premium Computer: $700
Getting known as the worst possible video ever posted on You Tube: Priceless.....
Seriously though, who didn't know this was fake right from the get go? Its like the people that took that steam punk video seriously, wtf?
It's like one of those awkward moments where someone who isn't funny tries to be, but everyone thinks there being serious, and when they make the attempt there's only silence...
Awkward...
Kinda like this: http://www.ipodobserver.com/story/25957
Whatever--this is too high of quality (production quality--not content) to be just a "spoof." To me, sounds like some downplay spin after it got out.
It would have been funnier if they really were making a joke. Remember the MS version of the iPod packaging? Funny at their own expense, right?
Remember the Steve Ballmer monkey boy dance? He was serious. This thing had that weird Ballmeresque company Kool-Aid seriousness written all over it.
I call BS--this is damage control not a spoof.
Finally someone with some sense in this forum.
My BS detector is going off the charts at this one:
"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. Anyway, this little piece of art came to life and has caused quite a few laughs in Microsoft's hallways."
Zuh? Someone wanna tell me where the "spoof" is? Sounds like a few middle managers with too much money and time on their hands decided to add some levity to the workplace, in a really hideously fail kinda way.
At least the Zune Phone thing was funny.
ya, having worked at best buy(the commenter earlier knows what I mean) I have to say you're wrong. Companies do spoofs like this ALL THE TIME for internal use.
I think I recall saying that, the day Engaget was opening that bottle of champagne with Steve Job.
I thought that video was a spoof or something. No real ad could be that bad.
Spoof or not, I'll keep my Windows XP.
Little piece of "art"? I think the word "art" is inappropriate. LOL
The correct word would be "crap".
Thats awesome. I missed the first post yesterday. I just watched it and the "I gotta get me some" didnt tip you guys off? hahahaha! Classic.
Its good that the Engadget staff are at least honest about their, ehm, "omission" before that this was just an internal spoof video intended as nothing more than a joke for MS employees to laugh about at the cubicles. This really should have been in the initial release though, and the MS bashing is getting a little blatant.
Ah, so is Vista a spoof OS then? Yes, that's right, I went there.
I'm not sure what the "clarification" is about. Everyone knew it was a "spoof", a comedy video. The reaction (I thought) was that regardless, it was such low quality and poorly executed, that its hard to believe anyone at MS would a) produce it, as comedy or anything else, and b) take credit for it.
No one with half a brain thought it was a "serious" video. No one with half a brain believes that MS did this to "punk" the Internet, as CNet claims. It was just a crappy in-house video that got leaked. I'm sure MS produces tons of these.
Nice liberal leap Eddie. I never said "..poor people = 'suckers'..." However, you did. Shame on you. It has nothing to do with money. It has to do with being a knowledgable shopper.
well let's see. Xp is slower than 3.1, 3.1 takes up less space, 3.1 is simpler to use, 3.1 must be better!!!!!!!
Great! So that is why Windows Vista is soo expensive! They are blowing their money on crap!
I knew it was a spoof. I use tons of MS stuff. I enjoy using all of my MS stuff. The video still made me want to die!!! I wish they would put that much energy into pushing the Media Center functions. Instead this video just makes them look like even bigger geeks than they are! Their stuff is used by more than geeks....way to show it!!! Awful either way...Q
they ARE geeks. I find it odd you would expect anything else from MS or any other software company's employees. It wasn't meant for the people who use their products, it was meant for them!
Microsoft: Hey, that's an internal video! How do we take it down?
Them: Ya'll looked really stupid in that video.
Microsoft: Uh, err, it was intentional... it's not real... it's a... a... oh yes... it's a spoof video. You know something we did intentionally, but it was designed to be "stupid"... we did it because.... because, we knew that it would confuse all the Linux weenies... uh... and the rest, well, they'd believe it was real, but it's not... it's a spoof. You've all been taken in by our harmless spoof.
Them: So you want it taken down?
Microsoft: Uh, no... we wanted it online. It's a spoof.
Them: So leave it alone?
Microsoft: Yes. It's no different than when Steve throws a chair... it's just something we do to keep everyone off guard. It's a spoof video. A spoof.
Duh it was a spoof...who actually thought this thing was real?
all the marching fanboys are moving lockstep with the "spoof" meme.
what is it spoofing? no one thought it was "real". what we don't buy is that they wanted it to *deliberately* suck
I was gonna comment on it saying "That looks too lame to be real," but I decided against it...
This video was produced internally at Microsoft, and was intended to be incredibly hip, fresh and funny. When the brilliant people on the Windows Communications Team finally realized that they had created a piece of trash, they decided to spin the affair as an "internal spoof." What's shocking is how out of touch these highly paid PR professionals can be. No one is real world buys this - even if the execs in Redmond do!
I bet M$ paid an ad agency to make this "ad". As I can't imagine anyone in the right mind would make such a video because they must have spent quite a bit on equpiment and editing. Seeing as though Vista is not selling as well as they would like it to. any dirty tricks to get people to hear about Vista is good publicity.
Yeah...WE all knew it was a joke. But we weren't laughing because we didn't "get" it...it simply wasn't funny. (*crickets*)
So Microsoft now owns up to intentionally wasting time and money in producing a spoof video. Isn't Microsoft's alleged area of expertise supposed to be in world class software development? (Excuse me while I vomit.) Wouldn't these resources have been better directed to doing something that benefits their customers?
Such self-aggrandizement and narcissistic indulgences are indicative of a corporate culture that permits (and even encourages) inefficiency. Some people at Microsoft have too much free time on their hands.
In the current economy, I'd look for Microsoft layoffs to be announced in the coming weeks.
If you'll excuse me, I need to email Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway...there's nothing wrong at Microsoft that a highly publicized proxy fight can't fix.
Peace out.