The Windows 8 and other failed Microsoft products thread - Windows 8 "relaunches" Feb

[Amit]

Yo that's some retro shit!

[Warsaw]

I have to say the old logo was better. I hope Bill Gates is crying and will become CEO again.

He has stated, on multiple occasions, that he has no intentions of ever returning to Microsoft as CEO. And unfortunately, Ballmer will be with us in his current role until 2017 barring any horrendous change in the company's fortunes.

[jcap]

Ballmer's is stepping down from his current role as CEO after Windows 8's release in October (rumored)

However, he doesn't plan to retire until 2017.

Bill Gates did the same thing.

[Limited]

That new logo is going to cause endless amounts of headache. Like Jcap said, the old logo is iconic, you shouldnt fuck with brand imaging just so that you look as though you are doing things. The spacing is all kinds of fucked up in the new logo. Why the hell have they joined the F and the T?

Those who think this isnt a massive change, you are totally wrong. They are trying to bring 4 product lines together, but people will not see that.



Oh yeaaaah

[Warsaw]

In my experience, I don't find myself lingering over the company logo. I see "Windows 2000" or "Windows 7" and kind of gloss over the word "Microsoft." Their product branding is far, far more prevalent than their company branding. This is an attempt to give the company itself more visibility. I'm a computer person, we are all computer people, so we all know immediately that Windows = Microsoft. Go talk to your average Joe, and they won't necessarily make that connection right off the bat.

Also, that's a pretty cool logo. Digging the '80s style.

[Kornman00]

I'm a computer person, we are all computer people, so we all know immediately that Windows = Microsoft. Go talk to your average Joe, and they won't necessarily make that connection right off the bat.

What.

[Warsaw]

They say "I use a Mac," "I use an Apple computer," or "I use Windows." Nobody ever says "I use a Microsoft system" or "I use Microsoft Windows." The only time I see the term "Microsoft" used frequently is when people refer to the Office suite. They often say "Microsoft Office" and "Microsoft Word."

So yes. In my experience, the "Windows" branding has much higher visibility than the company name itself. People know Microsoft makes Windows, but that's not how they think about it.

[Kornman00]

They say "I use a Mac," "I use an Apple computer," or "I use Windows." Nobody ever says "I use a Microsoft system" or "I use Microsoft Windows." The only time I see the term "Microsoft" used frequently is when people refer to the Office suite. They often say "Microsoft Office" and "Microsoft Word."

So yes. In my experience, the "Windows" branding has much higher visibility than the company name itself. People know Microsoft makes Windows, but that's not how they think about it.

Apple, for the longest time, developed both the OS and the machines that they ran on. MS developed Windows then left the PC market to do whatever. No one says they "use an Apple system" either, because it just doesn't roll off the tongue. You don't need to add specifics to Windows because there are no other products like Windows (ie, OS) named Windows. On the other hand, there are multiple products that use "Office" so it does require the distinction. Again, for the longest time you could only use MacOS on an Apple-made computer.

None of your help support the claim that average joes don't make the connection that Windows is of Microsoft. Nor does it help the follow up claim that they "know" MS makes it, but that's not how they think about it.

[Warsaw]

None of the people I know outside of my tech-savvy circle think about Microsoft unless they pause for a second after mentioning a Microsoft product. They see that their computer runs Windows, or that they own an Xbox, and that's the end of it. They don't go "I love Microsoft's stuff!" They break it down by product. "I like Windows" or "I prefer the Xbox" are what come out. In contrast, the Apple users I know typically lump it all under "Apple stuff" or, more simply, "Apple."

Apple making its own hardware is what makes it easy for them to get their brand out there, especially when there is a giant icon representing the company on the back of every single item they sell. Microsoft has to try a little harder. Unfortunately for them, the company logo on their products is tiny and out of the way, but the product logo itself is prominently displayed.

• On the side of your console it says "XBOX 360" in huge type in three different spots, but "Microsoft" is only written with tiny font in the disclaimer sticker at the back.
• Windows says "Windows XP" in huge type with a small "Microsoft" above it, or "Starting Windows" with "(C) Microsoft Corporation" in smaller fond underneath.
• The Zune displays the company name in incredibly small font at the back as part of a copyright/trademark notice.
• The Office suite displays it in similar fashion to the older Windows logo.

My point? Their company brand visibility is low, while their product brand visibility is high. It's a byproduct of how the company is structured, which you can go read up on in your spare time if you want.

The only icon that the less tech-oriented people I know seem to immediately relate back to Microsoft is the Windows flag. To relate back to the thread and my original statement, I think that this logo redesign, which now includes that flag (tiles?), is part of Microsoft's effort to actually try to increase the company's mindshare by building an image for itself, especially with the younger generations, because they really don't have one beyond being "the guys that make Windows." Since they are trying to become major players in other spaces, they can't afford to keep going with such a narrow typecast.

[Kornman00]

Did you...just change your avatar <>? Your posts are no longer branded as BMW ~~! And your logo's size out performs that of your username's so now I'll associate your posts as Corvette posts!

I'M ON TO YOU!