Mark Arminio
The Late Movies: Windows 7 Parties (And Other Awful Infomercials)
by Mark Arminio - September 24, 2009 - 10:00 PM

bloghead_latemovies

The latest OS offering from Microsoft is Windows 7 and the company has been running a mad media blitz, with a slew of commercials showing its ease of use.  However, I came across a gem the other day—a YouTube infomercial showing how you (yes, YOU) could host a Windows 7 party in your very own home!  It’s like a Tupperware party for the Millennial Generation!

Therefore, for tonight’s Late Movies, here’s that plus a few more examples of awkward and awesome infomercials.

“In a lot of ways, you’re just throwing a party with Windows 7 as the honored guest.” It’s hard to stomach the thought of being trapped at a party with this group, but I imagine there would be a lot of Nickelback played.

Hairagami, the art of folding hair! I think I remember these commercials airing during Small Wonder.

I Love My Flowbee! When you’re afraid going to Supercuts is too expensive and time consuming.

The Magic Bullet: Perfect for a hangover-curing smoothie.

The Snuggie: For when a blanket is just too cumbersome.

And we’ll end with the late, great Billy Mays with an infomercial for Orange Glo. Enjoy!

twitterbanner.jpg

« Previous Post   -   Next Post »
Click here to get a Risk-Free issue of mental_floss magazine
Comments (11)

  1. Notice how the screen of the laptop keeps flipping up and down?

    Big free plug for the VAIO, too.

    posted by Uncle Gweilo on 9-24-2009 at 10:22 pm

  2. can you still buy the flowbee?

    posted by Austen on 9-25-2009 at 1:36 am

  3. So… what kind of party did the Magic BUllet crowd have the night before? Did they just crash on the floor in a drunken stupor? And why are they so nice to Little Miss Perky while nursing a hangover? Wouldn’t it be more like “Shut up shut up SHUT UP!!!!!” while holding one’s head?

    posted by LizBlizz on 9-25-2009 at 9:12 am

  4. The Windows 7 one freaks me out. They are trying SO HARD to compensate for Vista’s bad reputation, but I can’t imagine many people actually having those parties. What would the invitation say? “Come join us while we all crowd around a laptop and read help pages! RSVP”

    posted by Kelsey on 9-25-2009 at 9:36 am

  5. A Windows 7 party? Sounds like a nightmare, but then again I’m a Mac person.

    Goofy commercial, but I do have to say that the Magic Bullet rocks, especially for milkshakes and baby food!

    posted by Kate on 9-25-2009 at 11:24 am

  6. @Kate – I agree, weird commercial, but I love my Magic Bullet! I make smoothies for breakfast almost every morning for my 5 yr old daughter and I. She gets a kick out of holding it down to make it go.

    posted by Jaime on 9-25-2009 at 1:05 pm

  7. everyone always hates on the Snuggie! i bought the leopard one last weekend and i love it! it’s light enough for summer evenings and warm enough for winters here in chicago! and the sleeves do come in handy. I used to walk around the house with a heavy comforter now i just pick up and go w/my lightweight snuggie. Hah, now I sound like an infomercial :)

    posted by Kai on 9-25-2009 at 1:27 pm

  8. I’m sure it wasn’t a “free plug” Uncle G

    posted by Matthew on 9-25-2009 at 1:31 pm

  9. “Just be sure to install Windows 7 a few days before the party and contact customer support if you have any problems”

    Yeah, I think I’ll stick with my Mac and not have to worry about that. Mac users could fearlessly do an install during the party – if we were lame enough to have a party for a software release.

    reCapcha: inane Martha

    posted by PartiallyDeflected on 9-25-2009 at 5:51 pm

  10. I don’t about lame but when a new iPhone comes out people get excited and wait in lines to be the first person to get it. When Windows 95 came out people got excited. The interface was greatly improved. A new version of Office came out to work on it. Everybody upgraded to Windows 95 switched to Office 95. Microsoft made lots of money. They have been trying to duplicate that success ever since. With XP they came out with an Office XP. With Vista they changed the user interface. People don’t get excited about a new Windows and if you make them relearn something they use everyday without it being a big improvement they get annoyed.

    posted by Steve M. on 9-25-2009 at 7:56 pm

  11. I really enjoyed the fact that the Windows one included grandma in the fun. I’d love to watch her playing GTA.

    posted by Randy on 9-27-2009 at 7:19 pm

Comment

commenting policy