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MS Kicks Off Massive XP Ad Campaign

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

April 18, 2005, 11:17 AM

Windows XP may be approaching its fourth birthday, but that is of little concern to Microsoft as it today kicks off one its largest and longest running marketing campaigns to promote the operating system. The 15-month advertising blitz will encourage users across the globe to "Start Something" using Windows XP.

Using a total of 51 television spots, 39 print ads and 250 online ads across the globe, Microsoft will tout the hundreds of thousands of software applications and devices designed for Windows XP. The goal, says Microsoft, is to demonstrate how Windows opens the door to a wide range of activities.

All advertisements will direct consumers to a Flash-based Windows.com, where they can find downloads and hardware from Microsoft partners across a number of interests. The campaign will showcase 13 themes spanning education, science, music, sports, family and life management, gaming, photography, cooking, travel, and more.

Microsoft also posted a teaser video at StartSomethingPC.com, which says, "It's time to start something inspired."

"Windows has evolved to integrate a wide range of applications, services and hardware in a way that has become familiar and expected as part of everyday life for millions of people around the world," said Will Poole, senior vice president of Windows Client at Microsoft. "We hope that people will be inspired to experience the endless possibilities available in the Windows ecosystem."

The marketing push comes as Microsoft endeavors to finish its next-generation Windows release known as Longhorn, which is over a year and a half away. Developers will get a preview of the new operating system at WinHEC 2005 next week, with Longhorn Beta 1 slated for a fall debut.

Apple, meanwhile, is using the long wait until Longhorn to promote its next-generation Mac OS X release known as Tiger. Tiger, or Mac OS X version 10.4, will go on sale starting April 29.

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By spiffyjeff

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 9:59 PM

Quick, get everybody upgraded to XP so when Longhorn is released, they can pay for that too, instead of switching from 9x to longhorn.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 11:41 PM

lol. I can't even imagine my 90 year-old grandmother switching from Win98 to Longhorn. She'd go crazy.

Score: 0

By UniversityofKentucky

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 9:54 PM

If you listen very carefully to the ads, you can hear them dub over Longhorn with XP. After all, it would be a shame to waste all that advertising.

Score: 0

By slentz

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 8:30 PM

I am surprised that they didn't start this campaign when SP2 was released.

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 7:43 PM

Non sequitor. I unabashedly love XP, a great upgrade from my old DOS 6.0 system!

Score: 0

By eunichman

posted Apr 19, 2005 - 3:03 AM

an upgrade from a dos 6.0 system to ANYTHING would be better :)

Score: 0

By John_Bedin

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 9:04 PM

what is the drug of preference of anyone actually purchasing Windows XP ? unless you are a dolt or work for a company that coerces you to use this pathetic O.S then wake up and smell the coffee. Why not buy Apple ? How many patches have you seen from an operating system that is essentially a Microsoft clone ? Why not do us a favour and buy the real flavour ? nothing that Microsoft has stolen from Apple approaches the quality, security within XP. I cannot wait for Longhorn. I am sure everybit will be stolen from "Tiger". That is the Microsoft method .. steal.. steal . and amass oodles of money

Is that not the American way ?
A Canadian who despises Microsoft,
John

Score: 0

By Altman

edited Apr 19, 2005 - 2:29 PM

More MS bashing. I just don't get it. Yes MS has security issues, but so does every OS out there. You may claim that Linux, or Mac has less but you really can't compare. If I was a hacker, I wouldn't waste my time with those other os's. MS own almost 90% of the computers so of course I am going to target MS. Because of this, more security holes are found. If Linux or Mac owned 90% it be the same for them. I am not bashing Mac and Linux, nor am I supporting MS. I just wish people would look at this intelligently and use whatever OS they want and shutup about it. Oh an one further note, I do believe it was Xerox that had the first GUI and Mac stole it from Xerox. Who then got their idea stole from MS. Mac is just as guilty as MS.

Score: 0

By eunichman

posted Apr 20, 2005 - 2:09 AM

Why is it that every time someone exposes Microsoft with truth, that they are called MS Bashers? Get a life and face reality, Gates got to where he is today because of theft and coersion - not because he made quality products.

Score: 0

By Altman

posted Apr 21, 2005 - 9:54 AM

And so did the Mac OS. All of the OS's feed off of each other. If MS comes out with something cool, it is only a matter of time before you see it in Mac, and Vice Versa. Linux is the same way. I would like to see you design an OS that has NONE of the things that you see in current OS's. That would be the only true way of not as you call "Stealing" ideas. Every OS is guilty of "Stealing." And once again I will say I am not against Mac, or Linux. I just see all OS's have their place. There are pros and cons of each of the OS's. I am just tired of hearing people bash on MS for being successful. I am a software engineer and we choose to develop for Windows for one simple reason, our customer base is VERY unsaavy when it comes to computers. The last thing I want to try and do is teach them Linux on top of teaching them how to use our program. I had a guy call in yesterday who thought he lost his excel file because it wasn't in the recently used list.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

edited Apr 20, 2005 - 12:19 PM

"what is the drug of preference of anyone actually purchasing Windows XP ? unless you are a dolt or work for a company that coerces you to use this pathetic O.S then wake up and smell the coffee."

If that's not bashing then I don't know what bashing is. I use MS, but I will not call you a 'dolt' if you use Firefox as a browser or Mac as an OS--that's bashing.

Score: 0

By gawd21

edited Apr 19, 2005 - 10:49 AM

Look a child got on their Mom's and Dad's computer again.

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 11:39 PM

rofl

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 6:34 PM

One would think that they would use an outfit that used Windows PC's to do their design.

http://www.osnews.com/comment.php?news_id=10340

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 6:57 PM

haha... that's hilarious. Sometimes... you just wonder what they were thinking, or rather, what they weren't.

Score: 0

By BklynKid

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 4:27 PM

Way off topic, I know.

Apple cracks me up. Basically what Apple is doing is like for Microsoft to take XP SP2, package it, give it a new name and sell it for $150.

I'm not sure why Apple users put up with it.

Score: 0

By nate

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 5:19 PM

Perhaps it's because what you're saying is not true.

10.1 to Jaguar (especially) and Jaguar to Panther were all significant upgrades to the operating system, not just service packs. Microsoft fans like to assert the fact that Apple makes people pay for service packs, but it's far from true and a bit silly. Panther added journaling support to the OS, along with a host of new features (Expose, Webkit for standardized Web integration in any app, and lots more).

Sure, it may not be a 98 -> XP change. But think of it as 2000 -> XP change - which was well worth the money for a lot of people.

Is it worth $129? That depends on who you ask. Although, if I could get the same upgrades and new features in a Windows XP "Second Edition" I would have gladly paid that amount.

Score: 0

By RobertM

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 5:25 PM

Exactly. I was about to post something like that, but the site was down when I tried. See this Slashdot comment for more: http://apple.slashdot.or...146369&cid=12261407

Score: 0

By Comit

edited Apr 18, 2005 - 2:35 PM

All new computers have winXP included anyway. A large majority of the people not using winXP are those who really don't concern themselves with PCs that much - very casual email and internet use.

Score: 0

By eunichman

posted Apr 20, 2005 - 2:11 AM

No, not ALL new computers come with xp. There are still tons of businesses that sell computers with whatever operating system you want on it, not just the MS bs

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 2:59 PM

True. There's not much more Microsoft could do to increase sales of WinXP. It seems kind of pointless.

Score: 0

By roj

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 12:31 PM

...which suits me just fine. I can't see any compelling reason to upgrade to it anyway.

Score: 0

By tannman1

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 7:10 PM

lol When has MS released anything on time or close to it?

Score: 0

By gawd21

edited Apr 18, 2005 - 12:45 PM

Why would they other than to screw people over. I mean doesn't MS consider a application dead and no longer supported after 5 years unless you pay a really high price for special programs?
http://support.microsoft...px?scid=fh;[ln];LifeWin

Score: 0

By KSzostek

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 12:18 PM

Get your facts straight!

Score: 0

By gawd21

edited Apr 18, 2005 - 12:38 PM

Sorry but it even states THE FACTS that I listed on the Microsoft's site!
http://support.microsoft...px?scid=fh;[ln];LifeWin

Score: 0

By wincement

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 2:57 PM

Yup it sure does.... why can't you read?

Product Name: Windows XP (all versions except Media Center edition 2005)

Mainstream Support Retired: 31-Dec-2006

For Media Center Edition 2005, they have support until 2009.

Score: 0

By xnavy

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 1:18 PM

And if you look at THE FACTS from the URL you posted, next to where Win XP is listed, there is a footnote that reads: "Mainstream support will end 2 years after the next version of this product is launched. Extended support will end 5 years after Mainstream support ends."

So XP will be supported for a good while yet.

Score: 0

By athome

edited Apr 18, 2005 - 1:34 PM

It only takes about three years now to fully punch holes into the security foundation and therefore the OS needs to be reprogramed.

Security is the driving force behind all new technology of today. Longhorn is build upon the next generation OS platform, which we all know. Though I don't like it, MS has not really done any different to any previous OS.

What is really stupid, is that they are marketing an old OS so late. Those customers that purchase it now will be way behind in two years. Minimal support like with 98SE, ME, and 2000.

Score: 0

By nate

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 12:10 PM

Windows 2000 is over 5 years old and is still fully supported. Patches and updates continue to be released for it. New features (including IE7) will require the latest OS, but that doesn't mean it's not supported.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Apr 20, 2005 - 12:23 PM

W2k mainstream support does end in June though.

Score: 0

By ArabianNight

edited Apr 18, 2005 - 1:33 PM

I think it means that they are trying to sell as many xp releases as they can b4 they release longhorn. Sort of like squeezing out their last penny out of xp.

Score: 0

By iamtux

posted Apr 18, 2005 - 1:49 PM

which isnt a bad idea.

Score: 0

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