With Microsoft's release of Windows 7, Apple seems to have ramped up its “I'm-a-Mac” commercials with new storylines. You know, the uptight, fuddy-duddy PC guy trying to promise that the latest release of Windows won't have the same issues as Vista, XP, 2000, etc., etc.
Imagine if this commercial were elevated to the enterprise level. The cool, laid-back Mac dude would likely be the “Cloud” guy in this case, and the uptight PC guy—bedeviled by bugs and problems—would be the equivalent of the “Enterprise software” guy.
Such a commercial would probably go something like this:
Cloud dude: Hello, I'm a Cloud.
Enterprise suit: And hello, I'm Enterprise Software. (Struggling with three huge suitcases)
Cloud dude: Enterprise, what do you have in those bags? They look heavy.
Enterprise suit: These? Oh this is all the baggage I bring along with me to customer sites. You know, up-front licensing costs, upgrades, service packs, installation kits, extra hardware, extra disks; you know, all the stuff that I need to set up at a customer site.
Cloud dude: You need a hand with that? You know, I don't really need any of that when I go to customers—I travel pretty light. (Extends both free hands to offer assistance)
Enterprise suit: No, no, I'll be fine. I'll just ... (Starts walking, falls over, flat on the floor, baggage landing on top of him, rumpling his suit.) Besides, my customers always know to keep a spare room open for all of my luggage when I arrive.
Cloud dude: (Shrugs and smiles.)
Okay, we all know cloud computing has plenty of its own issues and risks, but as far as perceptions go, it definitely has the “cool” factor these days. So this is one way the Mad Men could sell it.
Joe McKendrick is an author, consultant, blogger and frequent INN contributor specializing in information technology.
Readers are encouraged to respond to Joe using the “Add Your Comments” box below. He can also be reached at joe@mckendrickresearch.com.
The opinions of bloggers on
