Microsoft’s blind taste test

We’ve all noticed the lack of Seinfeld/Bill Gates ads on TV these days. So what do our friends at Microsoft have up their sleeves? They’ve released a new version of Windows called Mojave and have invited a select group to try it out (see video above). The only catch is, Mojave is Vista. Vista is Mojave. Finkle is Einhorn!

The campaign was an advertising ploy to challenge people’s preconceived notions (mostly negative) of Microsoft Vista. Testers were initially asked to rate Vista, then tried Mojave, and SUPRISE!, they rated Vista poorly but were blown away by Mojave. Well, you could fill pages with flaws in this procedure, but I find it interesting that Microsoft reverted to the old taste test technique. Is it more effective than Seinfeld and Gates acting like buffoons, I think so. Will it get people to stop complaining about Vista? Doubtful. People walk into workplaces across America talking about the awesomeness and innovation from Apple and Google and trashing the operational aspects of Vista. Until this balance of perception changes, there isn’t much of a hand to play. I’m afraid all Microsoft can do at this point is weather the storm of Vista negativity and move on to something else. They need to be the ones people come into work bragging about.

~ by childsdo on October 1, 2008.