Of all Microsoft'sadvertisingmoves, this certainly falls in more clever side of the spectrum. Redmond et al. have announced they'll be "sponsoring" a November 8th variety special on Fox, "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show." The episode'll be a mix of live-action musical performance and animated shorts with the usual celebrity cameos you've come to expect. This show will be commercial free, so long as you don't count all the Windows 7 that'll somehow be integrated -- and that's the most interesting mystery of all, how Microsoft will get its brand recognition without too many jabs from showrunner Seth McFarlane and company. If you don't recall the last time McFarlane teamed up with a big company to enliven its image, check out video from "Burger King presents Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy," a venture also done in tandem with one of the ad agencies responsible for this new deal, Crispin, Porter & Bogusky. It's just after the break.
Update: As commenter Zebb reminded us, Bill Gates pulled off a cameo in Frasier "answering caller questions" about Windows XP. We couldn't help but add it to the post just below, jump to the 2:20 mark for the relevant scene.
Windows 7 is a major release, which is characterized by the fact that it has an exponentially greater number of new features than Snow Leopard has. It's also not as buggy (read: no random data loss) thanks to a massive public betatesting process, which is something Apple never does thanks to their ego. The upgrade from XP doesn't need a Vista license to be done; if you're still using XP, odds are your apps and your box won't work with 7 anyway, and if you held off of Vista, then a clean install is the route for you. Better than ditching an entire platform the way Apple did with Snow Leopard. The UI does have dynamic updates, which you'd know if you knew anything about how DWM works. Finally, virtual desktops are a productivity drain.
The UI had tons of research go into it (literally, if you look at the weight of the cash spent), which is far better than Apple's arbitrary UI design (explains why Macs aren't intuitive). Windows 7 is one of the most intuitive and easy to understand OSes to hit the scene in a long time. That's why useless crap doesn't exist in Windows 7; all of it is useful and easy to get.
Finally, IE8 is CSS/CSS2 compliant, and HTML5 isn't out yet.
(reposted properly as a reply because I forgot to reply to the buried iKurt-whatever.)
@Bryant: I'm not arguing with anything you said, I completely agree. OSx is not intuitive. Window management in it is the worst.
I just found this out the other day. Did you know that when Apple did a public beta of the first iteration of osx, it was called Kodiak, and they charged people $30 to download the beta and test it for them and submit feedback. Apple actually charged users to test their beta software. What complete bullshit.
But then again, those that paid 30 dollars to test a version of software that Apple then de-activated on them are complete morons.
snow leopard is the only OS in that chain that is true, and it was priced accordingly. leopard was a lot more than an "update"... dashboard, front row, spaces, spotlight, time machine, etc.... thats a little more than an "update". same with tiger, et al.
hate on apple all you want... but lets at least get the facts straight.
@Microdot: But it's still the same underlying OS, they added features yes, akin to what Microsoft is doing with 7. Improving and updating the OS while adding new features. What applebots don't seem to understand is, yes, to go from xp to 7 is 400 bucks retail. But to do the same from cheetah to snow leopard, the same main underlying OS, is 675.
They also seem to forget that Microsoft releases a new version of Windows, generally, every 3 years. Though the gap between xp and vista was even longer.
Apple on the other hand was releasing a version of OSX almost every year prior to leopard. And they were doing so at 129 bucks a piece. Add the cost together of all osx releases between one version of Windows and you will find, that with the exception of Snow Leopard, OSX always cost more.
@ Jordan You forget that you can skip iterations in OS X and still only have to pay $129. XP to 7 = 4 Cheetah to Panther and or any other OS X variant is still only $129 (of course I'm not factoring the whole system to run the OS) Just sayin'.
Aside from the should they, shouldn't they argument, long time locals in Redmond's backyard might take offense to any comedy show billing itslef as 'almost live'....MS, you should know better....
@derrik "how did this go from "microsoft is ruining family guy" into "lets debate windows 7 vs snow leapord?"
Because some MS fanboy said lets start ripping on some Apple fanboy and everyone started showing how unintelligent they really are by stating "facts" that are really opinions but will help them sleep better at night because "they" think "they" made a difference in this world by posting it.
@Mark, You reported me?! Whaaaa... if you could read... I asked new questions in that post....whaaaa...
@Bryant Thanks for your reply and ANSWERS! Finally someone who's not just a Fanboy, but actually knows a little more about Win7 *usability*. Still, I'm disappointed that DWM isn't a feature in Aero. I mean, a crying Mac Mini with substandard hardware can do accelerated OpenGL effects to live video. I can painlessly play Vista's Media Center in a window, in a VMFusion, in Spaces, and its still playing 30 fps.
So I can watch the download bar progress iTunes, and 4 other desktops simultaneously. I was just taken back (I've only had OSX for about a year now). DirectX never did this in XP. In fact, it always favored one monitor over another for HD or 3D acceleration... and thats with a top of the line NVidia card -not the crappy Intel GMA chip in my mac-mini has, yet the Mini's Window manager still flys (granted not in 3D fps) -just in general as a window manager. Thats not hardware. Thats optimized software code.
Vista's new task switcher on the other hand, in Aero, that turns everything a quarter view, is NOT live, and its pretty useless (IMHO) its no better then Alt+Tab.
So you are saying that Windows7 does this with any 'ol app? Now that would be something new.
BTW, CSS2?! Are f*cking you kidding me? CSS2 came out in 1998!
I don't think its much to ask that Windows renders content made within the last 11 years natively ( I know I've gripped about a native spell checker -but thats not apart of an un-operating system... errr OS in their eyes).
If M$ was a sitcom the pundits would be accusing M$ of 'jumping the shark', how desperate have they become?
It is time for M$ drones to accept that their favourite technology monopoly is in terminal decline and btw Apple and Apple fanboys are the least of Balmer's worries.
It is interesting to note that M$ is trying to 'embrace' Engadget, only time will tell if Josh and the Engadget folks can ressist M$'s 'charm'.
Josh a few questions for Mr Balmer:
1. As Microsoft is encircled by innovative competitors on all sides, how do you stop the paranoia from setting in? 2. Is it possible to defend the desktop centric Windows/Office cash cows, when the future is mobile devices and cloud services? 2. Do you miss the good old embrace-extend-extinguish days when M$ could dictate standards and lock-out competition? 4. If the future really means open standards like html 5, does MS have the right culture and talent to compete on a more level playing field? 5. What really happened at pink/danger/sidekick? 6. Did Bill Gates see the writing on the wall and leave before the terminal decline of M$?
I love all the failed attempts at saying how much it will cost to update to Windows 7. I preordered Windows 7, like thousands of others, and will only be paying £45 for it. Come to think of it in todays climate maybe £45 is about $200.
I love how people are saying "sell out" can't company's do as they wish? What if Seth likes Windows? is it such a crime. More money for him, more Family Guy for us, win all around.
"Win-win?" Have you SEEN Family Guy lately? It's comedy cancer... the only way they could make it less funny and more annoying is to flood the show with product placement. Which, coincidentally, is exactly what they're doing now!
A Family Guy special prominently featuring Windows 7 should cause a stampede to Linux. Or at least a mad dash to the remote controls to change the channel.
Should have relized you were a linux lover from the reply you gave above this one. I hate when people choose to dislike something because its very popular but I bet half of the people hating on family guy right now loved it when it was canceled and wanted it back. Its still just as funny people just because its mainstream doesnt mean its bad.
Gates was in a family guy episode before if you all forget. Way back in season 3, episode 13. I'm not sure how this windows sponsored episode will play out, but I doubt it'll be constant pathetic attempts to push the product. I don't think mcfarlane would do that.
I wonder if this will be as awesome as the promo video MS made in '95 with a few of the cast members of Friends (the biggest show at the time) hawking all the virtues of Windows 95 while appealing to the youth market with such hip, trendy stars?
I do love Family Guy, but this just sounds unfortunate, hopefully South Park rips them good for it.
Good stuff, but there has been a very active preorder program state side as well. I got win7 for $45 to your 45 euros, same general trend, our cerancy may be weak but we pay less. Has anyone ever tried to buy a camera lens in Europe? The mark up on the canon baby 50mm was 200%, and it was a honest good price in a duty free shop too(I checked prices). They wanted $180 for a $90 lens, I looked in several EU nations and 2 non EU nations (around $140).
The current Win7 advertising campaign appeals to all 5-8 year old little girls who use a PC.
This new campaign should reach the 8-15 yo and 20-35 yo's who watch cartoons and smoke out all Sunday evening before they pass out from all that animation domination.
Redmond your campaigns are a joke, call this the launch of Win 7! This is pathetic.
Family guy is not a thick persons cartoon but thick people think it is and generally get offended by it because it often mocks in an intelligent, yet slapstick way the stupid and illogical acceptance and beliefs of many things in this world that our governments and society want us to accept. To be truthful, most people are a bit stupid and aspire to live their lives by all the rules and standards that society expects from them and by adhering to majority opinion without an opinion of their own. 1, because their too stupid to have an opinion and 2, they are not strong minded enough to dare to express it and be disliked by the other stupid people. Actually that's a bit mean; I prefer to call them sheep! There are a few on here that understand this as I have read. Family Guy is also allot about Family Guy and how it is treated by FOX T.V. Only avid fans understand this and hear the voice of Seth Mc Farlane telling us if the new series is going to be as good as the last or has the 'freaking FCC' got their way? Nice to see Conway Twitty back in the new series for a full length special wasn't it. Get it? What I will say is that if you saw the interviews that Seth did prior to the 100th episode and you’re not a sheep and you watch Family Guy (not just 5 minutes of it once when you were on the phone to a tarot reader during the ad break of Jerry Springer) you will understand why family guy is portrayed as being stupid and for morons. It’s because stupid people don't get it, as proved by Seth in the special, don't watch it and clearly are expressing an uneducated point of view of other stupid people around them. Unfortunately though as stupid people are in the majority we are losing this outstanding and deeply amusing comedy parody because their being offended (albeit they don't know why) but Fox are only interested in numbers as it is a business. And you know what, even if you are a sheep, you should lighten up. Everyone and everything on that show gets mocked and what makes it funny is there is truth in it all. If there wasn't it would be South Park which really is for planks. No religion, race or organization is singled out and picked on and I wouldn't like it if they were. Family Guy pokes a finger in all of our ribs and gives us a quick jibe, and it makes me and many others laugh our socks off and I'm sadly missing it. I have no doubt that Bill Gates is well aware that Seth is going to rib his multi-billion dollar corporation but I'm sure he is welcoming and looking forward to the comedy, he is an intelligent man that has directed a company that has changed the world and made our lives better in ways too many people take for granted. From having your wages paid into your bank account on time each month to being able to buy fresh produce without the shelves going empty or talking via video link to a family member on the other side of the world for as long as you like and for free, old Bill is behind it all somewhere with his company supplying the backbone of the infrastructure that makes our lives the way they are today. You can take the mick out of him in many ways like his operating systems blue screening during there presentation or Windows Vista hardware requirements specification release or the X-Box 360, actually the 360 really is shit and they should give up trying to cool it down now and leave the consoles to Sony! You can mock Mr. Gates but you can't put him down and if you do then you’re a fool and you should go to bed now and stay there forever. Anyway, the new series has been toned down too much to make it worth watching anymore. In fact I'm surprised it is still on as Seth said he would scrap it before that happened. I watched the first 3 episodes with real sadness and Conway singing the funeral march and never bothered again. I'm re-watching them all again and currently on series 2. Actually I was surprised the amount I had missed the first time round so maybe I'm stupid too! If I was that really would be funny and I would likely split my sides after writing this. Oh, before I go, if any dumb person replies saying they hate it but they have degrees and diplomas in this and that then save yourself the embarrassment and ask the brightest dumb person you know how much academic achievements count towards I.Q. Thanks for watching, you've been great!
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
posted October 13th 2009 10:36PM
Would you rather them to never update anything ever again?
Updates = Good.
No updates = Bad.
Just like Snow Leopard!
There's a Windows 7 Family Guy clip at http://www.win741.com/
Guess it's more than just a clip (or an episode I thought I missed)
@Steveorevo
Windows 7 is a major release, which is characterized by the fact that it has an exponentially greater number of new features than Snow Leopard has. It's also not as buggy (read: no random data loss) thanks to a massive public betatesting process, which is something Apple never does thanks to their ego. The upgrade from XP doesn't need a Vista license to be done; if you're still using XP, odds are your apps and your box won't work with 7 anyway, and if you held off of Vista, then a clean install is the route for you. Better than ditching an entire platform the way Apple did with Snow Leopard. The UI does have dynamic updates, which you'd know if you knew anything about how DWM works. Finally, virtual desktops are a productivity drain.
The UI had tons of research go into it (literally, if you look at the weight of the cash spent), which is far better than Apple's arbitrary UI design (explains why Macs aren't intuitive). Windows 7 is one of the most intuitive and easy to understand OSes to hit the scene in a long time. That's why useless crap doesn't exist in Windows 7; all of it is useful and easy to get.
Finally, IE8 is CSS/CSS2 compliant, and HTML5 isn't out yet.
(reposted properly as a reply because I forgot to reply to the buried iKurt-whatever.)
My mom doesn't allow me to watch Family guy because she thinks that Family is not suitable for a 19 yr college guy
:P
Your mother has good taste.
Painful migration for XP users means no moola for Vista Pro!
@Bryant: I'm not arguing with anything you said, I completely agree. OSx is not intuitive. Window management in it is the worst.
I just found this out the other day. Did you know that when Apple did a public beta of the first iteration of osx, it was called Kodiak, and they charged people $30 to download the beta and test it for them and submit feedback. Apple actually charged users to test their beta software. What complete bullshit.
But then again, those that paid 30 dollars to test a version of software that Apple then de-activated on them are complete morons.
always
That episode with all the Star Trek TNG actors was hilarious, a work of genius!
too bad this season seems to get worse with each episode
@Jordan
snow leopard is the only OS in that chain that is true, and it was priced accordingly. leopard was a lot more than an "update"... dashboard, front row, spaces, spotlight, time machine, etc.... thats a little more than an "update". same with tiger, et al.
hate on apple all you want... but lets at least get the facts straight.
@Microdot: But it's still the same underlying OS, they added features yes, akin to what Microsoft is doing with 7. Improving and updating the OS while adding new features. What applebots don't seem to understand is, yes, to go from xp to 7 is 400 bucks retail. But to do the same from cheetah to snow leopard, the same main underlying OS, is 675.
They also seem to forget that Microsoft releases a new version of Windows, generally, every 3 years. Though the gap between xp and vista was even longer.
Apple on the other hand was releasing a version of OSX almost every year prior to leopard. And they were doing so at 129 bucks a piece. Add the cost together of all osx releases between one version of Windows and you will find, that with the exception of Snow Leopard, OSX always cost more.
Ugh, this comment board is lamer than that time I went to a party at Steve Jobs' house.
(cuts to flashback referencing Steve Jobs' and his liver transplant)
This episode better have Apple/Windows flashbacks. That would rock.
@ Jordan
You forget that you can skip iterations in OS X and still only have to pay $129.
XP to 7 = 4
Cheetah to Panther and or any other OS X variant is still only $129
(of course I'm not factoring the whole system to run the OS)
Just sayin'.
how did this go from "microsoft is ruining family guy" into "lets debate windows 7 vs snow leapord?"
Family guy rocks!!!
There is a joke about Peters face looking like a penis and MS Sponsoring the show......
Aside from the should they, shouldn't they argument, long time locals in Redmond's backyard might take offense to any comedy show billing itslef as 'almost live'....MS, you should know better....
@derrik "how did this go from "microsoft is ruining family guy" into "lets debate windows 7 vs snow leapord?"
Because some MS fanboy said lets start ripping on some Apple fanboy and everyone started showing how unintelligent they really are by stating "facts" that are really opinions but will help them sleep better at night because "they" think "they" made a difference in this world by posting it.
Cool! My favorite TV show, and my favorite software/hardware company together! I love it!
@Mark,
You reported me?! Whaaaa... if you could read... I asked new questions in that post....whaaaa...
@Bryant
Thanks for your reply and ANSWERS! Finally someone who's not just a Fanboy, but actually knows a little more about Win7 *usability*. Still, I'm disappointed that DWM isn't a feature in Aero. I mean, a crying Mac Mini with substandard hardware can do accelerated OpenGL effects to live video. I can painlessly play Vista's Media Center in a window, in a VMFusion, in Spaces, and its still playing 30 fps.
So I can watch the download bar progress iTunes, and 4 other desktops simultaneously. I was just taken back (I've only had OSX for about a year now). DirectX never did this in XP. In fact, it always favored one monitor over another for HD or 3D acceleration... and thats with a top of the line NVidia card -not the crappy Intel GMA chip in my mac-mini has, yet the Mini's Window manager still flys (granted not in 3D fps) -just in general as a window manager. Thats not hardware. Thats optimized software code.
Vista's new task switcher on the other hand, in Aero, that turns everything a quarter view, is NOT live, and its pretty useless (IMHO) its no better then Alt+Tab.
So you are saying that Windows7 does this with any 'ol app? Now that would be something new.
BTW, CSS2?! Are f*cking you kidding me? CSS2 came out in 1998!
I don't think its much to ask that Windows renders content made within the last 11 years natively ( I know I've gripped about a native spell checker -but thats not apart of an un-operating system... errr OS in their eyes).
If M$ was a sitcom the pundits would be accusing M$ of 'jumping the shark', how desperate have they become?
It is time for M$ drones to accept that their favourite technology monopoly is in terminal decline and btw Apple and Apple fanboys are the least of Balmer's worries.
It is interesting to note that M$ is trying to 'embrace' Engadget, only time will tell if Josh and the Engadget folks can ressist M$'s 'charm'.
Josh a few questions for Mr Balmer:
1. As Microsoft is encircled by innovative competitors on all sides, how do you stop the paranoia from setting in?
2. Is it possible to defend the desktop centric Windows/Office cash cows, when the future is mobile devices and cloud services?
2. Do you miss the good old embrace-extend-extinguish days when M$ could dictate standards and lock-out competition?
4. If the future really means open standards like html 5, does MS have the right culture and talent to compete on a more level playing field?
5. What really happened at pink/danger/sidekick?
6. Did Bill Gates see the writing on the wall and leave before the terminal decline of M$?
I love all the failed attempts at saying how much it will cost to update to Windows 7. I preordered Windows 7, like thousands of others, and will only be paying £45 for it. Come to think of it in todays climate maybe £45 is about $200.
I love how people are saying "sell out" can't company's do as they wish? What if Seth likes Windows? is it such a crime. More money for him, more Family Guy for us, win all around.
"Win-win?" Have you SEEN Family Guy lately? It's comedy cancer... the only way they could make it less funny and more annoying is to flood the show with product placement. Which, coincidentally, is exactly what they're doing now!
A Family Guy special prominently featuring Windows 7 should cause a stampede to Linux. Or at least a mad dash to the remote controls to change the channel.
Should have relized you were a linux lover from the reply you gave above this one. I hate when people choose to dislike something because its very popular but I bet half of the people hating on family guy right now loved it when it was canceled and wanted it back. Its still just as funny people just because its mainstream doesnt mean its bad.
Gates was in a family guy episode before if you all forget. Way back in season 3, episode 13. I'm not sure how this windows sponsored episode will play out, but I doubt it'll be constant pathetic attempts to push the product. I don't think mcfarlane would do that.
Not getting into the tired old Win Vs Apple crap, but Family Guy sux ass.
I wonder if this will be as awesome as the promo video MS made in '95 with a few of the cast members of Friends (the biggest show at the time) hawking all the virtues of Windows 95 while appealing to the youth market with such hip, trendy stars?
I do love Family Guy, but this just sounds unfortunate, hopefully South Park rips them good for it.
I can never buy a mac....I hate grey, stripes and too much white
@Jordan
If you're going to bullshit for the sake of bullshitting at least make a valid point.
Windows OS versioning: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT
If you tallied up the cost of linear upgrades from NT 3.1 to NT 6.1 your head might explode.
P.S. Puma was a free upgrade to Cheetah
The first two posters need a distraction.
Ladies and Gentleman Mr. Conway Twitty.
and what ALL of you are forgetting is with OSX we don't have to call home to activate, register, get updates. blah blah blah.
Want a Cookie?...make another unrelated comment and get another!
@ Carbonize
Good stuff, but there has been a very active preorder program state side as well. I got win7 for $45 to your 45 euros, same general trend, our cerancy may be weak but we pay less. Has anyone ever tried to buy a camera lens in Europe? The mark up on the canon baby 50mm was 200%, and it was a honest good price in a duty free shop too(I checked prices). They wanted $180 for a $90 lens, I looked in several EU nations and 2 non EU nations (around $140).
The current Win7 advertising campaign appeals to all 5-8 year old little girls who use a PC.
This new campaign should reach the 8-15 yo and 20-35 yo's who watch cartoons and smoke out all Sunday evening before they pass out from all that animation domination.
Redmond your campaigns are a joke, call this the launch of Win 7! This is pathetic.
Don't forget the appeal to the over 65 crowd with their Windows 7 launch party packs.
Windows 7 isn't windows 7.0. It literally is windows 6.1. People said Vista was good when it came out too.
Family guy is not a thick persons cartoon but thick people think it is and generally get offended by it because it often mocks in an intelligent, yet slapstick way the stupid and illogical acceptance and beliefs of many things in this world that our governments and society want us to accept.
To be truthful, most people are a bit stupid and aspire to live their lives by all the rules and standards that society expects from them and by adhering to majority opinion without an opinion of their own. 1, because their too stupid to have an opinion and 2, they are not strong minded enough to dare to express it and be disliked by the other stupid people. Actually that's a bit mean; I prefer to call them sheep!
There are a few on here that understand this as I have read. Family Guy is also allot about Family Guy and how it is treated by FOX T.V.
Only avid fans understand this and hear the voice of Seth Mc Farlane telling us if the new series is going to be as good as the last or has the 'freaking FCC' got their way? Nice to see Conway Twitty back in the new series for a full length special wasn't it. Get it?
What I will say is that if you saw the interviews that Seth did prior to the 100th episode and you’re not a sheep and you watch Family Guy (not just 5 minutes of it once when you were on the phone to a tarot reader during the ad break of Jerry Springer) you will understand why family guy is portrayed as being stupid and for morons. It’s because stupid people don't get it, as proved by Seth in the special, don't watch it and clearly are expressing an uneducated point of view of other stupid people around them.
Unfortunately though as stupid people are in the majority we are losing this outstanding and deeply amusing comedy parody because their being offended (albeit they don't know why) but Fox are only interested in numbers as it is a business.
And you know what, even if you are a sheep, you should lighten up. Everyone and everything on that show gets mocked and what makes it funny is there is truth in it all. If there wasn't it would be South Park which really is for planks. No religion, race or organization is singled out and picked on and I wouldn't like it if they were. Family Guy pokes a finger in all of our ribs and gives us a quick jibe, and it makes me and many others laugh our socks off and I'm sadly missing it.
I have no doubt that Bill Gates is well aware that Seth is going to rib his multi-billion dollar corporation but I'm sure he is welcoming and looking forward to the comedy, he is an intelligent man that has directed a company that has changed the world and made our lives better in ways too many people take for granted. From having your wages paid into your bank account on time each month to being able to buy fresh produce without the shelves going empty or talking via video link to a family member on the other side of the world for as long as you like and for free, old Bill is behind it all somewhere with his company supplying the backbone of the infrastructure that makes our lives the way they are today. You can take the mick out of him in many ways like his operating systems blue screening during there presentation or Windows Vista hardware requirements specification release or the X-Box 360, actually the 360 really is shit and they should give up trying to cool it down now and leave the consoles to Sony! You can mock Mr. Gates but you can't put him down and if you do then you’re a fool and you should go to bed now and stay there forever.
Anyway, the new series has been toned down too much to make it worth watching anymore. In fact I'm surprised it is still on as Seth said he would scrap it before that happened. I watched the first 3 episodes with real sadness and Conway singing the funeral march and never bothered again. I'm re-watching them all again and currently on series 2. Actually I was surprised the amount I had missed the first time round so maybe I'm stupid too! If I was that really would be funny and I would likely split my sides after writing this.
Oh, before I go, if any dumb person replies saying they hate it but they have degrees and diplomas in this and that then save yourself the embarrassment and ask the brightest dumb person you know how much academic achievements count towards I.Q.
Thanks for watching, you've been great!
Shapoopi!