Windows 7 House Party – Microsoft Trying To Be Apple?

I think it’s fair to say that Microsoft haven’t always quite got what marketing should be in the past, be it their general failings in advertising in the last couple of decades or more recently the more bizarre and funny(?) Microsoft TV adverts with Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. However, once they got that out of their system, they’ve perhaps finally been getting what advertising should be with their more recent efforts such as the fairly hip “I’m A PC” advert, the quirky Internet Explorer 8 adverts and rather clever Bing search engine advert – all of which actually put across a definite message in a certain style.

Now as part of the promotional efforts for the upcoming Windows 7 launch, Microsoft have teamed up with HouseParty.com to provide Windows fans with a way of celebrating the launch of this vatly improved operating system by hosting a party and showing your friends what Windows 7 is all about. Then for your trouble you get some Microsoft schwag to help you do it, including a free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate to install ahead of the party. A friend of mine, Dom Hodgson is “seriously having a Windows 7 launch party” (I’m hoping to be in attendance myself) and he recently recorded an unboxing video of his party pack he’s received from Microsoft…

So as far as marketing goes for Microsoft this is most certainly different! In a way they are trying to get Windows users to become more like Apple users and become evangelists for their products (or like “monks of the Apple cult” as Charlie Brooker recently highlighted – a brilliant article by the way, be sure to read it!) – are Microsoft seriously trying to out-Apple the mighty Apple at their own game? Will it work? I’m not sure, but at least it’s refreshing to see Microsoft continuing to try new things to celebrate their new, improved operating system, especially after the rather flat reception that Windows Vista received!

Anyway take a look at this truly cringeworthy promotional video, you’ve just got to hope that this was intentionally made this way for viral marketing purposes and perhaps it’s worked as I’m writing about it and featuring here on Zath, perhaps the old catchphrase, “any publicity is good publicity” works in this case?

So what do you think to Microsoft’s Windows 7 house parties marketing campaign? Have you heard of them before this article? If so, then perhaps the marketing campaign is working? Do you know someone who is hosting a party? Are you going to a Windows 7 party? Or tell us what “fun activities” you think we should be enjoying at The Hodge’s Windows 7 party!

So in closing, I’ll just leave you this with a CNET Buzz Special Report which is a spoof analysis of the original “Hosting Your Windows 7 House Party” – do you agree with their findings?

Related Pages:

1. Windows 7 Goes On Sale…and…The House Party! (Videos)
2. Funny TV Commercials for Microsoft?
3. Microsoft Office 2010: The Movie Trailer
4. Microsoft Releases Windows 7 Downgrade Plans
5. Windows 7 Review – Introduction

Get Your Free Zath Subscription!

Did you like reading this article? If so, stay up to date with all our latest content by either subscribing to our RSS feed, becoming a fan of Zath on Facebook or by following Zath on Twitter.

You can also sign up to the Zath Newsletter and receive email updates by simply entering your first name and email address below then clicking the 'Submit' button - signing up is risk-free, if you don't find it useful, you can unsubscribe at any point!

We hate spam too, we'll never disclose your email address to anyone else!