You Can’t Force Excitement

You Can’t Force Excitement
23 posted on September 23, 2009
POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Marketing, Videos

I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the new Windows operating system, Windows 7, is coming out next month. I’m not a Windows user but I have heard relatively good things about this OS (don’t get me wrong, I’m not switching).

Historically, Microsoft hasn’t has the best advertising campaigns through the years. The “I’m A PC” ads were pretty lame and what the heck was that whole thing with Seinfeld? But just when you think things can’t get weirder…enter Microsoft’s Windows 7 Launch Parties.

Apparently someone at Microsoft thought it would be super cool to encourage all of their “fans” to throw launch parties celebrating the release of Windows 7. You know, because all the cools kids throw launch parties these days.

As if that’s not bad enough, they actually produced videos showing you how to throw the perfect Windows 7 house party. When I first saw this I could have sworn it was a joke.

How to Throw A Windows 7 Launch Party

Yeah, I only made it through the first minute. Wow. Pretty amazing stuff, huh?

But maybe I’m being unfair. If you’re a Windows user, will you be throwing a Windows 7 Launch Party at your house?

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 am and is filed under Blog Posts, Marketing, Videos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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  1. Visit My Website

    September 23, 2009

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    1 Nick said:

    Oooh oooh…can we have a multiplayer game of solitaire?

    I have not made the switch to MAC and am satisfied with my PC, but this is lame.

    I love how they covered all of their bases. A Golden Girl, the young “mom”, the technically savvy guy with the cool glasses, and a black man. Windows 7 is for everyone! :-)



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    September 23, 2009

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    2 y0mbo said:

    Which is more painful to watch? This video or the one of the two ladies singing?

    “I showed people some of my favorite features of Windows”. Like how the device manager hangs every time I open it. Or how my kids have to enter the admin password to load the internet filter before they can use the computer.



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    September 23, 2009

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    3 y0mbo said:

    @Nick – Apparently it’s not for Hispanics, ex-high school football stars or the handicapped, though.



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    September 23, 2009

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    4 Nick said:

    Two more things I noticed.

    #1 I love the reality of this video. Any time I have guests over, we all stand shoulder to shoulder like we are in a crammed bus while we have a conversation.

    #2 They keep referring to “Activities” – I wonder why they are not being specific? Are these “Adult Activities” that cannot be spoken of on the video? The Golden Girl said she let people “fool around” with snap. I wonder what kind of launch parties these are supposed to be?



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    September 23, 2009

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    5 Nick said:

    @y0mbo – True :-)



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    September 23, 2009

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    6 Vince said:

    that looks painful



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    September 23, 2009

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    7 Evan Courtney said:

    So I take it that your RSVP to my party is a no.



  8. Visit My Website

    September 23, 2009

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    8 Zack said:

    I’m with Evan: there’s no way I’m inviting you to my launch party now!



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    September 23, 2009

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    9 Justin Davis said:

    Brad…I agree, pretty lame. I wonder if people who are outside the church think the same thing about our “launch parties” ie: Bible studies, small groups, MOPS groups, accountability groups, pot lucks, etc.

    Sometimes, I think we try to force excitement with the Gospel with out the currency of relationship. We, like Windows, have become irrelevant to those around us. I’m not saying not to do the things listed above, but I am saying that those things should derive from natural relationships, friendship and affinity with those that are far from God. Otherwise, our gathers begin to look like a Microsoft launch party.

    Not the direction you were trying to go with this post, I’m sure, just my initial thoughts.



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    September 23, 2009

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    10 Brad Ruggles said:

    Justin – Actually, that’s totally along the lines of what I was thinking. I just like putting it out there and letting other people draw the connections. :-)

    Something to think about, huh?



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    September 23, 2009

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    11 Justin Wise said:

    Good grief, I’m embarrassed FOR them. Oof, this is so painful.



  12. Visit My Website

    September 23, 2009

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    12 Jeff Honold said:

    Wow. I’m a Windows User and this is just…well, it’s just…Wow.



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    September 23, 2009

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    13 almost an M said:

    I have a friend that is an exec at MSFT. He uses PC, Zune, all that is expected, and nothing that is not allowed. His daughters each have Macs and iPods. Maybe a launch party can help to bring families like this together.?.
    I like it.



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    September 23, 2009

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    14 Brad Ruggles said:

    Are you serious? Ha ha, that’s awesome!



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    September 23, 2009

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    15 joseph said:

    Oh Lord help us from this utter lamity. (I know, lamity is not a word but I had to try to do something with lame)

    I am a Windows user but in no way will throw a party over a piece of software..

    S T U P I D



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    September 23, 2009

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    16 joseph said:

    I was referring that the idea was stupid but the way, not signing my name as stupid :)



  17. Visit My Website

    September 23, 2009

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    17 Brad Gross said:

    An observation in general and maybe even one about your post:

    Apple users (not you directly Brad, I love ya!) certainly have no room to talk. It’s a very big club that has people putting apple logo stickers on their cars, lunchboxes, water bottles, etc. Apple fans have little to no room to talk about Win 7 launch parties as they stand in lines a mile long outside a store to buy something. I can say that as I’m an apple user also, but I don’t label my life around that, or make it some point to make sure people know I’m an Apple guy. What’s weird, and this is something I’ve observed in my own life, is the only people that are militant about Apple is Christians…to everyone else, it’s just a computer–at least in the world I live in. Kind of funny.



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    September 23, 2009

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    18 Brad Ruggles said:

    Brad – There’s no doubt that Apple users are a fanatic bunch. I think the main difference is that Apple fans build their own buzz. Nobody has to tell them to stand in line for a new product or put stickers on their car. Microsoft on the other hand feels like they’re trying to manufacture their own fan base with lame ideas like this. The title of my post is my real point – you can’t force excitement. It’s either there or it’s not.



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    September 23, 2009

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    19 Brad Gross said:

    I guess they just want to make sure that 88% market share is still in tact….Win 7 is pretty amazing though, but you’re right, they’re forcing it.



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    September 23, 2009

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    20 bill (cycleguy) said:

    I can’t even get them to throw me a birthday party. How in the world am I going to get them to throw a Windows 7 party? My answer: not on your life! Besides, it sure will seem like a pyramid thingy.



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    September 23, 2009

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    21 Karen Failor said:

    Actually, yes, I am! Don’t really know what all that entails (was hoping it would be a virtual party). But willing to earn myself a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate. Have been a beta tester/user since spring. Windows seems to be pulling itself out of the horrors of Vista-ville nicely. Let me know if you’d like to come!



  22. Visit My Website

    September 24, 2009

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    22 Bernard Shuford said:

    Lame. Lame. Lame. Daggum. Lame.



  23. Visit My Website

    September 24, 2009

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    23 alece said:

    definitely won’t be throwing a party. i’d rather put the money i would’ve spent into my mac-fund piggybank!



  24. Visit My Website

    November 15, 2009

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    24 PS said:

    I have to agree with Justin on this one lol



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