My Latest for Thought Catalog: Microsoft’s New Commercial Tugs At The Heartstrings Of 90s Kids

Occasionally, I write things unrelated to travel.

Microsoft’s new commercial was pretty inspiring to me actually, despite their pandering to a generation that knows better than to purchase Microsoft products.  I think I was impressed with their overall treatment of the 90s nostalgic theme – they present it in a way that is relevant (ie using known-brand products instead of stupid makeshift things that don’t infringe on copyrights) and also lyrically beautiful.  But the last line is what really gets me:

“You grew up.  So did we.”

Do I think Microsoft’s revitalized their brand and products? I have no idea. And honestly, I probably won’t be finding out anytime soon. But with all due respect, you have to understand that without Microsoft, the internet wouldn’t nearly be what it is today.

“AND I DO. I DO REMEMBER WHEN WE MADE FUN OF THE KIDS WHO HAD APPLE COMPUTERS BECAUSE THEY WERE SO… strange. I remember those kid-friendly, Ecto-Cooler-clutches on the playground, discussing who had the swankiest PC desktop with an Intel Pentium II processor, and how many hours of free AOL service we’d accumulated in the mail (yeah, I was a computer nerd back in the day). I remember turning on the one computer we owned in the house, seeing the little multi-colored Microsoft flag emblem wave across the screen, hearing that distinctive little jingle telling me the system was up and running, and inserting a floppy disk into the tower to play that famous, pixelated version of Oregon Trail”.

Read it here:

Microsoft’s New Commercial Tugs At The Heartstrings Of 90s Kids