Office 2010: The Movie trailer is woefully unrealistic
By Laura June 
posted Jul 9th 2009 3:17PM
posted Jul 9th 2009 3:17PM
The Office 2010: The Movie trailer (for a film that doesn't exist) makes it seem like the life of a nerd is super dangerous, filled with excitement and beautiful people. We don't want to burst anyone's bubble here, but the reality is something a bit more mundane: fourteen hour days spent in pajamas, cereal for breakfast and dinner (we don't get lunch breaks), and families who constantly struggle with the question, "do you even have a job"? And only once did we ever have to jump out of a helicopter in pursuit of the ultimate KIRF. It's awesome to dream, though, right? Video is after the break.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
second.
I call second fail, sir. I was second first!
Enough with the "first" and "second" comments. Honestly, we could care less.
Alex, I am the first to agree with you on that one.
You could, Alex, but they clearly couldn't... ;)
@alex
You COULDN'T care less....just sayin ;-)
But I agree, what in the hell is the point of being "FIRST!" or second or 99th if your post isn't informative.
Well stop it, anyway are they putting clippy back!!! YAYYYY
CLIPPY FTW!!!!
ZUNEHDRULEZ!!!!!
,
A clear sign Microsoft is not worried about Google: they still blow money on stupid things like this.
Between this, the vomit ad, and the Laptop Hunters, MS is having all kinds of fun right now
They've got PLENTY of money to blow, even if they are worried about Google.
Creating an ad like this doesn't cost that much money at all. MSFT is playing around ahead of Monday's Office 2010 Preview, which will also unleash Office in the Cloud. It's all fun and games.
I liked the ad, M$ needs to fight off the nasty ads aimed at it with some wholehearted comedy like this.
@ Rahul Krishnakumar
"Creating an ad like this doesn't cost that much money at all."
What kind of a joke is that??? You clearly have no idea what it would cost to film something like that, and all the work that was put into it, we're talking $10,000+ (at least). And just FYI, 10k is a lot of money.
I thought it was pretty funny..about on par with the collegehumor minesweeper trailer
@ C@RL :: I'm pretty sure any number of receptionists at Microsoft could get you $10K out of the petty cash drawer at their desk..
Well it is the best ad they have done yet. Not that the other ones didn't suck but this one is better.
well it would cost way more than 10k to do this. one u have to pay actors.
2 you pay crew. and heads of each dept. say the production designer is making 10-20k atleast on his own then your art director will make a few grand, then everyone on the art dept. then cgi artist, then other crew peopme such as grips, gaffers, and your PAs, also the set dresser, costume designers, other wardrobe members, then your director, cinematograher producers, and before that i the marketing team, script writters . and dont forget craft services , equipment rentals etc. . equipment alone will cost more than 10-50k+++ easily
@ C@RL:
Well, if only and only I counted pre-viz. That'd be around 50K, so, no, 10K was probably spent on donuts alone making this short film (2mins + can be qualified for a film btw).
At the very least, it's a good, enjoyable ad. That's more than I can say about half the crap ads I see.
"And just FYI, 10k is a lot of money."
Um? What?
10k wont even buy you a new car
Is this sarcasm or something?
In 2008 microsoft's operating budget was over 20 billion dollars...
@C@RL: Like all these other people have said, $10,000 or even $50,000 might be a lot of money for me and you (I'm college bound), but at Microsoft thats pocket change. They have $300 million dollar ad campaigns for Windows, and another $100 million dollar campaign for Bing. In respect to those, this is nothing.
Apple ad:
PC moves stacks of money into two piles.
"Advertising, advertising, advertising, fix Office, advertising, advertising...."
Besides, Apple would be really stupid to take on Office as this suite is quite popular on Macs as well... so, we'll see how they respond, if ever. ;)
Of course it's unrealistic. what do you expect?
How else do you make people excited about a new version of a piece of software that is heavily pirated, unexciting and who's previous versions work just as good as the latest ones?
Pirated versions have viruses, it would be like there's a virus... all over my face without make-up.
Not all pirated versions have viruses... I actually can't think of the last pirated version I've seen that does... (not that I do that kind of thing. I use OpenOffice when I need to open something up, but I've worked in support and I've come across several that do.)
I think the idea that pirated software has viruses is fud spread on the net to discourage pirating itself.
word.
I think that was the best line in the ad.
Actually, the word 'gang symbol' he throws out was the highlight of the whole thing.
Otherwise, when I started watching this, I was like: WTF?
Write letterz n shit, yo.
Weird advert, but what brilliant cinematography!!!!!
made on a Mac?
"made on a Mac?"
Might have been edited in FinalCut, but judging from the look of it and guessing the budget, it most likely got put together on a Linux based Flame/Inferno. 3D wise? Might have been Maya (Win, Linux, OS X), but might have been something completely different (Max? which is Win only), so, most likely, no. OS X is good for editing in Final Cut and maybe putting some photos together in Exposure, but for more higher-end productions, you mostly see Linux and Windows.
But of course there are exceptions, like Pixar for example (for obvious reasons though) or Luma Pictures (OS X) etc...
"made on a Mac?"
Uh, who cares? Unless it was something you theoretically could not do on a PC, I don't see the big deal. Such a tired observation...
@loocas
Not trying to start an OS debate but, Linux and Windows??? On a HIGHER END film production?!?! Bahaha. Man Loocas, you're looney.
By the way, it's Aperture. Wtf is Exposure?
@ bioadam
I think we were all waiting to see what dick would say, "Made on a Mac" first, so congrats. Dick. (And that's coming from a video editor who uses FCP.)
@ ampMOD
Exposure = http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2683679942_c9fa0bdd3b.jpg?v=0
I thought Microsoft was improving when it came to advertising when I saw their IE8 ads, but this just shot down that idea. Really, Microsoft? Focus on making Office not suck anymore instead of wasting your time with a horrible, horrible advertisement.
This isn't advertising that your going to see on your TV or on random websites you surf. This video is just a slight promotion and tease of the Office 2010 Technical Preview coming on Monday, which will also show-off Office in the Cloud.
Office sucks?
The ribbon UI on Office is just terrible. So, yes, Office sucks.
you do realize that the people who made the commercial have probably spoken 2 and a half words to the people who write the code...right?
The ribbon UI is loads better than the old way they did stuff. Office rocks.
Are you kidding me? The ribbon UI is amazing...I have found functions that I didn't even know existed.
You can bash Microsoft for a lot of things, but I think Office has always been a quality product.
Wow. I'm really surprised. I've never liked the ribbon UI and haven't met anyone who has. Haha. Everyone I've talked to prefers the older UI. But everyone has their opinion.
I like the ribbon UI. It's so much easier to find what I'm looking for.
I like the old way, it's much easier to remember where things are located.
"The ribbon UI is amazing...I have found functions that I didn't even know existed." - Nomi
The problem is, you'll never be able to find them again.
To me, professionals and some casual users don't like the now-called fluent interface; new and some casual users like it.
personaly, i go to a buisness and tech specialized high school,
and when i entered grade 9 with laptop program was when office 07 was released.
every student had the new office, while the school itself had (and still does) 03
no one student in the school found the older UI better in any way,
infact, we even agreed to teach ourselves the tech course since the teacher was only trained to teach 03
and most mainstream kids would ask to use our laptops for office 07 instead of 03.
just to let you know, and the tech program at my school as 700 kids
im sure those 700 dont make up the whole world,
but just putting my personal experience out there.
the amount of people i have talked to that like the old UI better.
would be start and end with you.
I second the ribbon comment =)
MS office is a must for office environment.
Excel is truly an amazing application!
THE FONT IS COMIC SANS!!!
Sir, it's written in Comic Sans... it must be true.
THE COMIC SANS IS A LIE!!!!!!
Actually I find their older versions work better than the new. Productivity and usefulness for those familiar with the previous ones has greatly diminished. We just finally upgraded to 2007 and I spend half my day finding simple items I used to use a million tiems per day.
there is an adaptation period, but I can assure you, once you get used to the new interface it is actually A LOT faster then having to go through endless drop down menus.
Your complaints sound like an old man who is afraid of change.
Dan, I disagree, but respectfully. I feel that it was Microsoft's intent, with the '07 ribbon, to make office features easier to find for people who aren't necessarily aware of them. But for power users like myself and Sean, There seems to be a significant difference in the logical organization of certain advanced features, making them extremely frustrating to find when you know exactly where it was before. I don't get why MS didn't include an option to use 2003 menus in 2007. That's all I want!
@dan2600, +1
Office 2007's interface is much quicker for writing out documents for presentation and meetings. All their tools have improved greatly and the Ribbon makes everything one click away.
I dislike old people who can't deal with change, although I thought everyone had switched years ago.
After some adjustment, I do find the new interface in 2007 much more usable. It was a pain to adjust though
I don't think I'm old, although in IT I guess 33 might be old. They should have allowed a customizable ribbon at least, because I'm finding I have to click to different ribbon tabs just to find the appropriate items. I'll grant usability with some fucntions has improved but others sufffered unnecessarily I think. One item I used often in word was using find and replace to parse out codes with carriage returns, some may know ^P is the carriage return in odler versions, this and a number of other old useful macros no longer work. Further, I don't know about others experiences but at least at my company I find it is incredibly slow at opening larger documents on a LAN, sometimes choking entirely. It took 2 years to convince them I needed more RAM so I could use Word and Excel at the same time without crashing the computer, but this new version seems slower than the old on my new machine that's easily 3 times the RAM and twice the CPU of the old one.
@ Sean and Trenton,
If you're Office Power users then you are probably using keyboard shortcuts for Word, many of which are unchanged.
I find that whenever I go back to older versions of Office I miss the ribbon. Even my devout Mac colleagues praise the ribbon.
Simon
I haven't really used Word 07 much at all. I use OpenOffice at home and have pretty much no need for Word at work.
Excel 07, on the other hand, I love, but it took me forever. I, who could most charitably be called a pseudoscientific theist, was thanking the good lawd on hai that somehow the computer I was working on never got upgraded past Office 03. When that finally changed, I was frustrated for a few weeks, until I learned about, and how to get the hand of, conditional formatting.
There's always a learning curve with picking up major changes in software you use regularly, and a lot of the time I think it's unecessary. It's got nothing to do with being an old man afraid of change, it's got to do with a jarring of one's muscle memory.
If, for instance, Excel 2010 decides to change the shortcut for sorting from Alt, D, S, I'll be busting some software engineers in they mouf.
hey Sean, not meaning to attack you personally...just making a joke (I get it all the time when I use terminal prompt commands instead of dragging and dropping files to move stuff because I STILL think it is faster)
This is free, and lets you do some nifty office ribbon customizations, maybe it will help you out.
http://pschmid.net/office2007/ribboncustomizer/starter.php
"I don't get why MS didn't include an option to use 2003 menus in 2007. That's all I want!"- Trenton
Word.
Sean:
Use the interactive guide, find in in 03 and it shows you in 07. It helps with the transition.
Excel guide located here:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA101491511033.aspx
Word guide is also available.
I use a Mac for school, and I can tell you that those who hate the Ribbon UI will hate the Inspector thing even more.
Yeah, I know what you mean, had the same problem initially.... But honestly guys, are we professionals or what?!!? After the first 2 days of using Office 07, I can say for sure that it is WAAAY better than any previous release:
1. Productivity is improved
2. the UI is a lot more intuitive so you don't HAVE to remember where everything is, you just instinctively find it, without wasting time.
3. From a presentational perspective you can produce truely stunning work with minimal effort
4. The only thing MS should really work on is their HTML emails.... Other than that, it's all good in my book.
"You better watch your margins"
I...thought it was pretty cool...
Me too, that was awesome! I miss my clippy :(
Engadget only laughs at Microsoft not with them.
Steve Job's crack must taste like strawberries.
Isn't there a new downloadble app for that?
So you're admitting you thought this dreck was actually good?
Maybe someday you'll a) leave your mid-level manager myopia, or b) graduate middle school.
Umm, I was actually making fun of myself, but whatever.
@Major
Um, did you not read it at all?
I'm curious why everyone thinks MS's marketing campaign is such a failure? How many other companies out there can boast about their commercials making headline news and being talked about in top blogs? Given, there's absolutely no reason to go out and actually buy their 'updated' product line, they still have a one hell of an effective marketing campaign. I for one actually enjoyed watching this short clip. Sure as hell beats comparing which Tide detergent is more effective.
because, apple ads make fun of microsoft therefor they are better.
I still like the irony between the apple VS microsoft fine print ad
and then in the apple vs Microsoft no virus ad there is fine print that says "apple recommends users to have anti-virus protection"
OK... I thought they were talking about "The Office: 2010". I was hoping to see some stop motion, Dwight jujitsu action.
LOL, I thought the same thing too. A trailer for "The Office" would have been better.
CLIIIIIIPPYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!
personally I used Merlin or Links
Merlin was the best anyway.
No, the doggy!
Am I the only one who knew him as Mr Clippit?
THE PLOT THICKENS!
Soon we'll find that clippy has a twin-brother working together with this "Hacker" just so everyone will believe that he alone is the ever annoying Office "Help tool". Ah, sibling rivalry...
maybe it's just becuase I'm a uber nerd, but I thought it was funny
"Copy and paste that!"
I have to admit, I laughed a couple of times. Pretty high quality production too, especially considering Microsoft's past spoof/satire vids.
Awesome ad! I miss Clippy, too.
I thought that video was wicked... whether you like MS Office or hate it with a passion, the video itself had me laughing my ass off!
loll, i actually smiled once or twice during this..
n1 microsoft, ill be sure to torrent it when it comes out ;)
I believe it is.
OH! I thought it was for MS Office 2010
You need to level up your nerdery. I work eight hour days cranking out C++, prefer designer labels, have proper meals at good restaurants, and never have anyone question my career choices.
Not saying I'm representative of anything; I just hate the notion that everyone with a tech-related job has the same experiences in life.
I can take or leave the commercial.
Oh, don't take it so serious. My girlfriend doesn't even know what I do. lol.
*Goes and listens to the song Code Monkey*
I like it!
I don't know about you but the trailer seams to be a pretty accurate representation of my office hours.
lol this is a very nice video. Did the guys get paid from MS to do this as a promotion or its just self interest?
2 minutes of my life I'll never get back!!!