The ads are strange and seem almost more like a Seinfeld series than any sort of Microsoft ad. I keep waiting for the punchline, some point where it all becomes clear. So far, it’s a no go.
The I’m a PC Microsoft ads make much more sense and seem more to attach the Apple ads. I would expect these to be more successful… though these Seinfeld episodes did get people talking. Sadly, about the wrong thing though.
I’m a PC makes no sense. You can run linux, windows or mac OS on a PC. It’s just another way for MS to blind the consumer to their other options.
When I first started programming after being a graphic designer for so many years, I came across this site and therefore picked up Coding Complete. I now consider both to be required reading regardless of the language one is working in. I use the techniques as much as I reasonably can in Applescript and REALbasic and I firmly believe that software development has been made much accessible (and actually a whole lot of fun) for myself as a direct result of reading both. Sorry for the gratuitous gushy rave. I have little brand loyalty for anything, but I have it for this site and Code Complete.
Of course, I’m sure one of the main reasons why Bill is reading Code Complete is because it’s also published by Microsoft Press.
Even if every one of those conversations starts with what the hell
were they thinking, hey – it’s a conversation. About an ad. The
ad agencies have won.
No, they’ve only won if their ad made you buy the product they were selling. If an ad makes you say I will never buy that crap, ever and you never buy it, then they have lost, regardless how much you discuss it.
i have a few comments to make:
wow… I think that was one of the most worthless and boring posts I’ve ever read… anywhere. CodingHorror sure seems to have gone downhill in the last several months. It used to be entertaining.
I saw the both the ads. Its was a bit different, and it was nice. I like the concept of the ad. I liked the ad in which they both go and spend with the middle class family. I liked the bit bit where they use the kids put the leather giraffe and the bed time stroy reading part. I hope they both make more ads.
Nice video.Thanks for sharing.
I love Code Complete. It was McConnell’s best by far as I glance at its spine on my bookshelf. The Apple ads do a great job of sticking the pins in MSFT. They can take it and deserve the ribbing.
I just grabbed my copy of Code Complete circa 1993 and the Table Driven Design section is in Chapter 12. Sorry, but I cannot find the paragraph you are referring to. What is the printing of your book? is it a later printing? Of course, this is a great book regardless. So are Steve’s other books.
The video is nice.I enjoyed this.But failed to find anything funny in it.
Life without walls? Where do the Windows go when there are no walls? And again, doesn’t the I’m a PC ad reinforce the fact that they have a de facto monopoly on OSes? How about, I am a free OS and I don’t hurt innovation and creativity, on the contrary I encourage it.?
What’s so funny?
The irony is that Apple is better at vendor lock-in that Microsoft. Both are evil.
hehe…nice video 
really enjoyed it 
What’s so funny?
Its funny how all those people think its funny…
Hey Jeff,
It’s always humorous when I talk to people who haven’t read Code Complete about the phenomenal contents and wonderful knowledge contained within. I generally get weird looks and disbelief that a highly technical book could be that good. I drank it up when I was in college, and I attribute about 85% of how I think about software development to the annals of its pages.
I love that Gates was reading to the child from that.
I also hate the Mac vs PC comercials. 
-Rob
Wierd And entertaining, Havnt seen before
Nice clip !
It’s really funny
I didn’t get what are they tried to express with the video. That is not serious or funny.