Microsoft's "Scroogled" campaign: a sign of desperation?

[jsarino]

Microsoft has been taking shots at Google for about a year now, from security, search, merchandizing ("Scroogled" mugs, anyone?), and now they are going after Chromebooks with the help of the "Pawn Stars" cast. Are they acknowledging the fact then that Chromebooks are hurting Windows PC sales? The bigger issue is, are they desperate that they would stoop to this level to sway people to buy their products and services?

Don't get me wrong, manufacturers have done this tactic before (Apple's "Mac vs. PC", Samsung's "The Next Big Thing is Here", etc.), but how effective is this sort of advertising, really? Let me hear your thoughts!

 

[Golfdriver97]

Personally, I feel the American public is so accustomed to being bombarded by ads that we don't pay attention anymore.

What ad agencies really need to ask themselves is when was the last time they remembered an ad that prompted them to look at the product in question.

From a Sprint Moto X using AC forums app

 

[mrsmumbles]

I have a hard time remembering ads unless they have a musical jingle. As cheesy/corny as it seems I can remember ads all the way back from when I was a kid because they routinely used jingles back then in radio and TV ads.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Vaas]

the interesting part of this is for those who use gmail and other google services may not realize all what google is doing. However there seems to be a backlash against anything Microsoft right now, whether it is xbox one, win8 phone, win8 that its not "cool" and your not in the click if you use any of those devices.

Only time will tell if the marketing will be successful.

 

[jsarino]

the interesting part of this is for those who use gmail and other google services may not realize all what google is doing.

How is it any different from what Microsoft is doing? It's the pot calling the kettle black.

 

[Vaas]

I did not say it was different. MS does things, Google does things. The point MS is making, is showing everyone what Google is doing with there advertisement and information gathering.

I was responding to the question, not taking sides. Once again......

 

[tgp]

Marketing experts will say that there's no such thing as bad publicity, and it's true to a point. The Chromebook ad gives it a lot of exposure. The ad spends most of its 94 seconds talking about and showing the Chromebook, but Windows and Office are barely mentioned. Its accusations against Google are so ridiculous that even if someone didn't know anything about it, the credibility would be questionable at best. I wouldn't be surprised it helps Chromebook if anything.

 

[Fairclough]

Ad agencies need to take a page from Carlton Draught's ads.
Only if tech companies could do ads like these

 

[Laura Knotek]

Maybe it's just me, but I've never thought negative ads were effective. I think ads are more effective when they are catchy and show what a product does, not what is bad about a competitor's product.

I like the ad with the kid for the Nexus. That's a cool ad, and it shows what the product does.