The next generation of WindowsMicrosoft posts teaser for Office 2010
Microsoft has posted a teaser site for Office 2010, treating the next productivity suite like a forthcoming movie.
(Credit: CNET)Much like studios do with movies that are still months from hitting the theaters, Microsoft is looking to generate some advance buzz for the next version of Office.
The company has posted a movie trailer that teases Office 2010 and last week added a "behind the scenes" video that pokes fun at recent leaks of the product onto the Internet (and the fact that some leaked versions also came with a virus).
The "actor" being interviewed on camera likens the leaked preview to him being seen without his make-up and with a virus all over his face.
Microsoft quietly launched the site in April and the company says it is getting lots of hits and sign-ups, though it isn't offering any numbers.
On the site is also a button to sign up for a technical preview of Office, which is slated to begin next month. For those who want an earlier peek, we posted a ZDNet Australia screenshot gallery that comes from the leaked version.
The final version of Office 2010 isn't due until next year. Among the major changes with Office 2010 is the fact that it will also come with a collection of browser-based Office Web Applications that let Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote run from within Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina.
And the "interview" was mildly amusing...I still think it's creative of Microsoft to create buzz for Office 2010 this way, though.
(Men In Black was standing in line, and so was The Matrix...)
:)
Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that meeting:
"Okay guys, we've just released Office 2007, to great critical and popular acclaim. I'm lovin' that ribbon thing! But now it's time to get to work on Office 2010. Any ideas?"
Silence.
"I got it! Since everyone seems to really dig the idea of trashing years of acquired knowledge to learn a new interface, how about we do it again?"
"Great thinking! Now that's what I call innovative strategery. We'll call it 'the puppy,' because everyone likes puppies, so everyone will LOVE Microsoft right? But how do we build some 'buzzing' on the internets? How do we get all those newfangled Tweetering-type people to go 'viral' and push our product into 'the social'? Any ideas?"
Silence.
"Uh, how about this? We make a really cool trailer? With kind of a 'Matrix' vibe?"
"Perfect! It'll be an even bigger hit than our 'Songsmith' video! And maybe even as cool as our 'SP1' video! Okay people, let's do this thing!"
At this point I don't see why CNet doesn't make a special box just for you to post in.
It could be labeled "Pentest insert troll here"
Why, I do believe this is the most postiive and glowing comment you have ever made on CNET on any subject. And here people were starting to think you were permanently a sour puss. :)
Times do change, it seems.
But at the end of the day, regardless of how lame you felt the ad was, you DID watch it, knowing fully well in advance that you would hate it. That, my friend, is a successful ad. You knew it was going to be bad and yet you still went out of your way to watch it. Sounds like they got to you.
how relevant (outside conservative enterprise segment) is this clunky, bloated virus-friendly, unsightly software?
even Apple, at first attempt, did a better & classier job with iWork
and your attempt of trying to make real everyday people who use Microsoft software look like "conservative" nerds is from Apple's snob playbook. So typical.
That's it.
No comments.
But -- and I have this feeling with many new products or "upgrades" -- what was wrong with previous products? I followed the Office upgrades through 2003. By that time, I realized they weren't changing much (for the average user) except the interface, which grew increasingly confusing.
Fortunately, I still had my old Office 97 CD, and installed it. Vista likes it just fine, and so do I.
People who use the product seldom complain about it. Those that don't have plenty of free time to complain.
completely agree with ya!
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by jmans1212
June 17, 2009 12:42 PM PDT
- Well office 2010 the movie. And will it come with it's own action figures?
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Reply to this comment
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(18 Comments)I saw the trailer and thought how much did this cost them? Microsoft could do better for giving a better break on costs for people that do end up upgrading.
For me advertisements never work. It is the functionality of the product that either has me wanting to work with it or not.
If they really want to get people excited they should do what they did in 2007 when office and vista were released. Hold expos in various cities where the people attending get the office 2010 product for free. This way they can show what they learned at the expo to their employers etc.