Everyone is talking about the new Microsoft TV ad featuring Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld. paidContent.org called the ad pretty pathetic, Sam Diaz didn’t get it, nor did I. TechCrunch got word from Microsoft that the ad is triggered to “engage consumers” and “spark conversation,” which I guess it is doing.

In any event, I saw the ad on TV last night. I tried to concentrate on it, but right after, I ask my wife, “what did that mean?” I enjoyed the commercial because it was Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld in a weird situation, doing “nothing,” as Jerry is known for. But I did not get it.

Here is the ad, you tell me:

Postscript: Here is commercial number two:

TechCrunch remains confused by the commercials.

Postscript 2: Microsoft has cancelled the ads as of about 9/18. You can read up about this in more detail at Techmeme.

Postscript 3: Several hours later, new reports come in that the ads were not cancelled.

Related Topics: Microsoft: Marketing

About The Author: Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio over here. See more articles by Barry Schwartz