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Microsoft Television

I'm a PC and I'm 4-1/2 435

Posted by kdawson from the tweedledum-tweedledee dept.
theodp writes "Microsoft's new Windows ad made its debut during the Grammy Awards on Sunday. It stars a 4-year-old cutie named Kylie (Silverlight required) showing how easy it is to use Windows Live Photo Gallery to edit and share photos. And while it's impressive that little Kylie is able to transfer a snapshot of her pet fish from her camera to a PC, color-correct it, and e-mail it to her family, what's truly amazing is that the toddler was also apparently able to read, understand, and accept Windows Live's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (But minors can't legally execute contracts, can they?)"
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I'm a PC and I'm 4-1/2 More

I'm a PC and I'm 4-1/2

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  • Dear God! (Score:5, Funny)

    by nog_lorp ( 896553 ) * on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @04:56AM (#26810011)

    "I'm a PC and I'm 4 1/2"
    They're assimilating children to make them smart enough to use their products? MONSTERS!

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by thsths ( 31372 )

      > They're assimilating children to make them smart enough to use their products?

      Maybe children are smarter than you give them credit for? :-)

      Anyway, the license is not a problem - nobody (except maybe a senior lawyer in contract law) really understands the legalese.

    • They're assimilating children to make them smart enough to use their products? MONSTERS!

      Well, I look it as another case of Microsoft copying something. In this case, it's advertising. They can't even attack Apple without copying them. I'm not saying Apple is all that original, but at least their ads don't reak of "Nah, nah, I can do the same thing too to you!" It's rather pathetic that Microsoft has to lash out like this to a competitor that has less than 10% of it's marketshare. It just gives more cre

  • The plot thickens (Score:5, Interesting)

    by MichaelSmith ( 789609 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:00AM (#26810043) Homepage Journal
    I clicked the link to install Silverlight (firefox, ubuntu, i386) and got sent to Moonlight. [go-mono.com]

    • Re:The plot thickens (Score:5, Informative)

      by pr100 ( 653298 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:22AM (#26810165)

      Me too, I courageously decided to install the firefox plugin when asked. It restarted firefox... then muttered about installing some codecs, which I also permitted, it then claimed to be restarting firefox again, but apparently just closed it.

      I restarted firefox manually, tried once again to view the link, and was prompted to upgrade my version of silverlight. At this point I gave up...

      • Re:The plot thickens (Score:5, Informative)

        by Errtu76 ( 776778 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:40AM (#26810263) Journal

        I installed the Moonlight plugin, restarted FF and then it (the plugin) asked me if i wanted to download codecs. As soon as i clicked on Accept firefox crashed. This on Ubuntu 8.10 x86

      • Re:The plot thickens (Score:5, Informative)

        by aliquis ( 678370 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:55AM (#26810349)

        I downloaded Silverlight in OS X, installed without restarting browser, opened the video clip, this is what happens:

        * I've taken a picture of my fish tank.
        * First I plug this thing in *plugs in USB*
        * Then I make this photo better (or something such), you don't get to see anything worth it in the application, images gets more saturated and better levels.
        * Then I share it with my friends (pre-typed family in a to-field.)
        * I'm 4.5 years old and I'm a PC.

        That's all, the whole thing is over in 15 seconds or so, so unless you enjoy seeing an USB-cable get plugged in, the result of pressing "auto"/"fix it" and how the to fields in an e-mail look you won't be missing anything.

        I've uninstalled Silverlight now ..

        • Re:The plot thickens (Score:5, Informative)

          by Lachlan Hunt ( 1021263 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @08:11AM (#26811165) Homepage

          Last time I installed Silverlight on my Mac was to stream the Beijing Olympics from NBC, and that was only because I was stuck in a foreign country where it wasn't broadcast in English. I uninstalled it pretty soon after.

          So the bar for me to install Silverlight again is pretty high, and a crappy 30 second Microsoft ad just doesn't cut it.

          Anyway, I found a copy on YouTube, so I can continue to avoid Silverlight a little longer.
          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtilWL4mnhI [youtube.com]

          • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

            by PopeRatzo ( 965947 ) *

            Why did you uninstall it after the Olympics?

            Just curious, was it running in the background? Using too many resources while you were waiting for your latte to cool?

    • Fedora 10 64 bit, installed the addon, asks for codec install, firefox crashes. Microsoft has deployed something that doesn't work.

      Adobe can do it. Sun Java can do it. Microsoft can not [yet] do it. Keep trying. Interestingly enough, even though I have the addon installed, the main page still says I do not have the silverlight thing installed. I wonder if it is failing because I don't have mono installed? Nope. Got that installed... the 64 bit version anyway. I might get curious enough to figure ou

  • Bill tightens his fist! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Probie ( 1353495 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:07AM (#26810071) Homepage
    I'm a PC and I'm oppressed.

  • Easy to share photo's, difficult to share a movie (Score:3, Informative)

    by captainpanic ( 1173915 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:09AM (#26810091)

    Silverlight?
    In the age of Youtube, how hard can it be to share a movie? Why do I have to download a program first? Sorry, but that hasn't happened to me since Youtube was invented... oh, yeah, Youtube and google is the big competition isn't it? :D

    • Re:Easy to share photo's, difficult to share a mov (Score:4, Insightful)

      by ketilwaa ( 1095727 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:24AM (#26810189) Homepage
      You are aware that one usually needs to download a flash player to view videos on Youtube, no? This is just a competing format. The main problem with Silverlight from where I sit is that it adds to the bloat, not that I need to download it, or that it comes from Microsoft.

    • YouTube uses Flash video instead so I really don't see the problem, except flash is currently bigger. It's not weird Microsoft use their technology, just as I assume the Apple ads [apple.com] use Quicktime.

      Also YouTube video quality leaves much to wish for, and Microsoft probably rather host the video on their own servers.

      Obviously they could had used WMV though, but I guess they want more people to install Silverlight, and it works.

      I have no idea what sucks more of Silverlight vs Flash.

      Can I install gnash in OS X? Doe

  • What? (Score:2, Insightful)

    by zblack_eagle ( 971870 )

    what's truly amazing is that the toddler was also apparently able to read, understand, and accept Windows Live's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (But minors can't legally execute contracts, can they?)

    What's with this? Seriously, who the hell takes the time to read these things every time they're presented with one? What an unnecessarily snarky summary

    • "What an unnecessarily snarky summary"

      What's good about exploiting a four & a half year old child to sell product and does she realize that she just indemnified MS against getting used by her end users .. :)

    • Re:What? (Score:5, Insightful)

      by N1AK ( 864906 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:27AM (#26810203) Homepage
      I'm normally the one complaining about the manic MS bashing on /. but I think the summary makes an important point. Even MS advertising completely gloss over the need for users to agree to a set of extensive contracts to use the system, something that a small child certainly isn't able to do.

      It seems somehow wrong to me that it is just accepted that people ignore online contracts, and yet the consequences of breaking those can be severe like with Lori Drew. Although different, it is not altogether unlike using a child in an advert for loans secured on your property "look how easy it is to get that new car, even a kid can manage it".

  • Monkey see, monkey do.. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by AlterRNow ( 1215236 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:21AM (#26810147)

    .. does not mean monkey understand.

    This doesn't show it is easy to use, it merely demonstrates the ability of a 4 1/2 year old to follow a set of instructions.

    • Re:Monkey see, monkey do.. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by bluenovadesign ( 996064 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:58AM (#26810357)
      My 3 year old monkey(who obviously can't read/write) uses the computer all the time and I'm amazed at what she gets up to (ok she's not posting on slashdot, but give her time). She can switch on, start up the web browser, (her home page is the BBC kids page CBeebies) and she just looks around, finds the games to play, works out what to do and plays them. When she gets bored she goes back and chooses something else - painting a picture, watching a video etc. She only ever asks for help when she gets stuck in a dead end (like when she needs to download an add-on). I imagine the Monkey v4.5 is considerably more advanced.

      • (ok she's not posting on slashdot, but give her time).

        Why, you're subjecting her to emotional abuse right now?

        CBeebies

        Creepy name.

        I imagine the Monkey v4.5 is considerably more advanced.

        You made this whole comment just so you could say this.

      • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

        by db32 ( 862117 )
        Are you insane?! You can't connect Monkey to the net! Are you TRYING to destroy us all?! I have Monkey 2.5 and she spends most of her time in Gcompris. She liked the little hit both shift keys to roll the ball to tux game. Then she started playing the colored ducky game where it says a color and you click on the duck... Now, a month or two of really playing with it and she knows where more of the games are than I do. Just the other day we caught here playing the letter train game and getting about 80

    • ...If she is not able to code the entire Windows herself on a computer she built using nothing but soldering iron and some bubble gum wrappers.

      Cause... how can we say it is "easy to use" unless she knows EXACTLY what happens with each keystroke she makes?

  • Silverlight/Moonlight (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Trevelyan ( 535381 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:23AM (#26810173)
    I have moonlight installed (what ever version Lenny has), and in Firefox add-ons->Plugins its listed as Silverlight Plug-in (1.0.30401.0).

    However when I click play to see that advert it changes to a get Silverlight button.

    I figured since I have flash 10 64bit installed (with flash block), I may as well install moonlight since there is a 64bit Debian package. I am not impressed that MS own website did not recognise it.

    I will also need to find a flashblock equivalent.

  • I'm a PC and I'm 42 & 3/4 .. (Score:3, Funny)

    by rs232 ( 849320 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:23AM (#26810177)
    When are they going to use endorsements from TronGuy [youtube.com]

  • Another biased, hate inspired article (Score:3, Interesting)

    by johnsie ( 1158363 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:29AM (#26810207)
    No matter what MS do there is always some conspiracy theorist or Linux/Mac fanboy on the case trying to spin things in a negative way. It gets boring sometimes. Hating on MS wont do you cause any good, it will only show what a bitter personality you have. Get out there and do something postive.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by mgblst ( 80109 )

      We don't hate Microsoft because of just any old reason, we have really good and strong arguments for hating Microsoft. I would go over the many arguments, but if you don't know them now it is only because of your own ignorance, or you are a fanboy.

      We won't suddenly stop hating Microsoft because they paid some cute kid to advertise their products. We will mistrust them because they deserve out mistrust. We will come up with conspiracy theories because we know and admit to how Microsoft works (Halloween docum

    • Re:Another biased, hate inspired article (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Sir_Lewk ( 967686 ) <sirlewk AT gmail DOT com> on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @08:39AM (#26811457)

      "People think it's all about misery and desperation and death and all that shite, which is not to be ignored, but what they forget is the pleasure of it. Otherwise we wouldn't do it. After all, we're not fucking stupid. At least, we're not that fucking stupid."

      Mark Renton from Trainspotting on why we bash microsoft.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by fermion ( 181285 )
      For a lot of us, the issue is risk assessment. Because we have some skill, and because we do not use any application that requires MS Windows, there is no reason for us to expose ourselves to the risks and added costs of using MS Windows. In my career, such costs and risks have escalated. Ten years ago MS started sending the BSA troops to audit even small businesses, install spyware, and disrupt development for days. This continues with WGA which prevents users from conveniently accessing even critical

  • I always try to give him benefit of the doubt. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by nawcom ( 941663 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:29AM (#26810209) Homepage
    I guess I find article about this ad on Sunday a day or so old, though I won't blame kdawson for that. I guess maybe I feel he is just always lucky to get his name linked to unneeded topics. who knows.

    Personally I am glad that Microsoft (might) get their photo camera integration/editing down for once, as it was always third party apps and utilities given to you, which you would have to punch a screen over. I never had issues with OS X or Linux at all, and I'm speaking about the 2.4 kernel days. gPhoto was what I loved using way more than the shit Olympus or whatever other brand name would give you for software. This was of course serial db9, not today's USB. Oh well, this is my little experience with this type of software, and it's nice hearing Microsoft will take care of things from now on. (I won't lie though, if I am ever in a situation where I need to use Windows AND manage a photo camera, I'll stay with a usb card reader and Google Picasa)
  • Soooo cute ^_^, widdle girl using windows to send pics of widdle fishie Dorothy? Hmmm, her vampire like fangs at 0:26 make me a tiny bit suspicous of MS intentions...I'll stick to tux. At least they have made progress since the Gates/Seinfield ads. If Apple tries to counter this ad, they will just look like a bully. Seems like they are going to Linux route. I know it might not be spartan-warrior manly to admit it, but I'll be the first to say, tux is cute, cute builds positive and friendly image ^_^

    • Re: (Score:3, Funny)

      by actionbastard ( 1206160 )
      If Apple counters, it will be with a cuter, younger, "widdle girl" who will code an insanely great iPhone application in fifteen minutes, post it on the app store, then proceed to make enough money in an hour from sales of her app to pay for her college tuition and pay off her parent's mortgage at the same time. I'd install Silverlight to see that!

  • Oh please... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by wbren ( 682133 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @05:51AM (#26810327) Homepage

    And while it's impressive that little Kylie is able to transfer a snapshot of her pet fish from her camera to a PC, color-correct it, and e-mail it to her family, what's truly amazing is that the toddler was also apparently able to read, understand, and accept Windows Live's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. (But minors can't legally execute contracts, can they?)

    Really? Out of all the things you could have criticized Microsoft for, you chose the one thing that Microsoft has in common with every other software company (an insane EULA/TOS)?

    That would be like me saying "And while it's impressive that little Kylie is able to transfer a snapshot of her pet fish from her camera to a PC, color-correct it, and e-mail it to her family, what's truly amazing is that someone with an @aol.com email address was able to figure out how to submit a story to /."

    See what I mean? Saying something like that weakens your whole argument... Oops!

  • LEAVE MS ALONE!!!! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @06:14AM (#26810447)
    I agree with everyone here who is upset with the way Microsoft is being treated on Slashdot.

    How fucking dare anyone out there make fun of Microsoft after all it has been through.!

    They lost their battle with Vista, they had to resurrect XP. They gave birth to Windows fucking 7!

    Their new CEO turned out to be a chair thrower. All you people care about is... Linux and FOSS.

    Microsoft is A HUMAN! (ah! ooh!) What you don't realize is that Microsoft is making you all this money and all you do is write a bunch of crap about it.

    Microsoft hasn't performed on stage in years. Its Songsmith demo-song is called "gimme more" for a reason because all you people want is MORE! MORE-MORE, MORE: MORE!.

    LEAVE MS ALONE! You are lucky they even developed Songsmith for you BASTARDS! LEAVE MICROSOFT ALONE!....Please.

    Steve Jobs talked about professionalism and said if Microsoft was a professional they would've pulled it off with Vista no matter what.

    Speaking of professionalism, when is it professional to publicly bash a corporation who is going through a hard time????

    Leave Microsoft Alone Please. ! Leave Microsoft alone! right now! I mean it.!

    Anyone that has a problem with MS you deal with me, because MS is not well right now.

    LEAVE Microsoft ALONE!

    *sobs*

  • Don't they think of the children?

  • When all else fails and people don't buy into your mediocrity anymore you need either boobs or something adorably cute.
    This time they went for the ethnic little girl. If this was a gaming ad she'd have to be at least 16 years older AND the cuteness would be an optional feature.

    We've asked other 4 1/2 year olds on their opinion:
    "I'm a PC, when I grow up I want to be a Mac" Stevie, Redmond, WA

    "I'm a Mac, when I grow up I want to be Photoshop" Stevie, Cupertino, CA

    "I am Linux, I passed my SATs toda

  • I'm a PC and i come with linux installed ... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by noddyxoi ( 1001532 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @06:47AM (#26810597)
    and therefore, since i haven't payed for anything more than a Personal Computer i'm not a Windows.

  • gah! vomit. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by apodyopsis ( 1048476 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @07:11AM (#26810737)

    gah, I watched the youTube version as there was no way I was installing silverlight at work as it seems like hassle and at home there is no way I am installing Mono.

    seems like a fairly nauseatingly sickening piece of tripe aimed at parents who want their children to be computer literate.

    in my mind the true path to computer literacy lies in a challenge - not locking them into a propietary interface that does all the work. but maybe that is just me. when I began programming I found it was the challenges of what was hard that kept me going back - not the easy pickings.

  • Windows Vista Graphics Viewer sucks... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Jackie_Chan_Fan ( 730745 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @07:36AM (#26810915)

    The graphics viewer in Vista and Windows 7, is the most worthless peice of shit ever. It doesnt conform to ANY logical workflow for browsing, zooming, managing files quickly. Its just like its own ass backwards way of doing things.

    Microsoft could learn a lot from studying some of the other viewers out there.

    The graphics viewer doesnt even read a lot of formats used in production environments, nor does it respect embedded ICC color profiles. ITS WORTHLESS.

    Its a toy, just like the media player, the thumbnail viewing capability of explorer... etc.

    Why cant MS make some SERIOUS applications that actually get work done.

    Stop making apps for 4 year olds.

    I'm sure the online Live graphics thing is just as lame. Its another late to the game web service that others already provide and have an established user base and better integration on PCs, mobile devices, etc..

  • pfft, sending pictures... (Score:4, Funny)

    by boredhacker ( 1103107 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @08:02AM (#26811101)
    ...my 4.5 year old can debug a friggin' kernel.

  • 4 yr old daughter does Ubuntu (Score:3, Informative)

    by knarf ( 34928 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @08:05AM (#26811123)

    My 4 yr old daughter logs in to her own account on one of the available machines (with password), starts whatever program she wants, saves the results, opens a folder on her desktop to watch one of the available video's and now wants to tag photos in the photo management app.

    This is not your old Windows. This is Gnome on top, GNU in between and Linux underneath. This is Ubuntu. Welcome to the future.

  • Terms of Use? (Score:4, Funny)

    by airuck ( 300354 ) on Wednesday February 11, 2009 @08:19AM (#26811247)

    Do you think that a toddler would have an easier time understanding GPL or that she is likely to violate GPL or Microsoft Terms of Use?

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by slimjim8094 ( 941042 )

      You can't violate the GPL unless you are modifying and distributing. You can violate an EULA by looking sideways and sneezing.

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