Microsoft commercial attracts mixed reviews

The ad with Seinfeld and Gates tells the story of the odd couple's day at discount emporium Shoe Circus in the mall, where Gates buys a snappy faux-leather number called "The Conquistador. It employs quick-cut editing and the kind of "humor from nothing" approach that defined Seinfeld's TV series. As they exit the store, Seinfeld asks if Microsoft is working on something to make computers "moist and chewy like cake, so we can eat 'em while we're working." Seinfeld tells Gates to adjust his underwear if the answer is yes, and the software mogul does so, much to the comic's delight.

Besides the slick and probably expensive editing designed to make Jerry Seinfeld look like the more awkward of the pair, there's not a whole lot of special effects in this clip. In fact, there's not really a whole lot of anything, including laughs, information or pimping of Vista.

Maybe I’m off base here but I think if Microsoft is trying to engage people with this ad, it has failed miserably.

Marshall Kirkpatrick: The Windows Not Walls campaign is widely believed to be the first response to Apple's high profile Mac guy/Windows guy series. While Microsoft tried to be hip in its response, it's a faux hip based on a pointlessly obscure message.

Sarah Perez: It's hard to watch Bill Gates in action and not see him as just the goofy, geeky guy that he is. And the bonus shot of his Shoe Carnival card featuring his mug shot? Hilarious! If anything, Bill came across as a loveable nerd, not a ruthless businessman of an evil corporation, as many like to paint him these days.