Microsoft Tour Targets Families at Play
Microsoft Corp. brings window-shopping to soccer moms with a 30-city tour touting Windows’ new Media PC.
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| Microsoft drives home Media PC sampling |
The WoW: The Windows on Wheels Experience shows how the Media PC simultaneously controls all household media components, from TVs (up to five) and stereos to videogame systems. Windows bowed its Media PC in mid-October.
The tour travels to 30 markets through Feb. 4, stopping at sporting and cultural events, business districts, even kids’ soccer practice fields. “We’re finding people in their lifestyle and taking it to them,” said Gary Kleinman, VP-general manager for Los Angeles-based Buzztone Marketing, which handles the tour. Retail stops include CompUSA, Best Buy and Microcenter stores.
The 44-foot Plexiglas vehicle contains a living room, kitchen and home office; visitors tour each room to try out Media PC and other Windows-controlled gadgets, including MP3 players, smart phones and PC tablets. The Media PC’s remote control lets users multitask on several media components.
“We’re so used to have a PC at work. Now you can put it in your living room and use it like other media equipment,” Kleinman said.
Visitors can enter weekly sweepstakes to win a catered party to watch Monday Night Football, The OC or other popular shows in the trailer (which has a satellite TV feed and Internet feed). Tour staff also will take pictures of visitors to post online.
Microsoft unveiled Media PC two weeks ago; general advertising and retail displays support its launch. The tour is Buzztone’s first work for Redmond, WA-based Microsoft’s Windows group; it has handled marketing for Microsoft’s academic group.
