Slipping and sliding: the perils of a Windows 8 stunt

By on Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Last month Microsoft unveiled the latest version of it’s flagship software, the Windows operating system.

Windows 8 is arguably a make-or-break product for the company. The huge number of tablets and mobile devices hitting the market has led an increase in the number of consumers using non-Windows operating systems (Apple’s iOS, Android), and decrease in the number of consumers buying traditional Windows desktops and laptops. Windows 8 is designed to bridge the traditional and mobile computing worlds, with two completely different user interfaces.

So being make-or-break, Microsoft is throwing a good chunk of cash into marketing the Windows 8 – which this week extended to a public stunt at the Bluewater Shopping Centre. To get across the ‘fast’ and ‘fun’ (yep, fun) elements of Windows 8, the team created a slide over the top of a long staircase. The idea is to get Bluewater customers to experience speed going down the slide (fast), which they enjoy (fun). Check out the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DPBQT4OWI_g
Sounds simple, but it hasn’t had a great reaction on YouTube. At present it’s more or less equal on likes vs dislikes, but the comments string pulls no punches. A selection includes “This showed me nothing about Windows 8, why should i update ? do i get a slide if i do ?!” and “Dont look fast or fun…”

Of course not every comment is this negative, but Microsoft might end up calling this one a draw.

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