Microsoft to use Jerry Seinfeld, Bill Gates, and $300 million to battle Vista woes

P1-AM655A_MICRO_20080820221216 The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Microsoft is launching a $300 million ad campaign starting September 4th. The ads will star none other than Jerry Seinfeld, who’s reported to be receiving about $10 million. Not bad, eh?

The campaign is being developed to combat the negative image that many consumers have about Windows Vista and also to finally push back against Apple’s popular Mac vs. PC campaign.

So who will star opposite of Seinfeld in the Microsoft commercials? Bill Gates himself! While that could be seen as a bold and potentially dangerous move, the ad campaign will be the brainchild of agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the company behind Burger King ads (The King), Coke Zero (Coke wants to sue Coke Zero for taste infringement), and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

The campaign will play off the slogan “Windows, Not Walls” and push the idea of “breaking down barriers that prevent people and ideas from connecting.” That doesn’t sound all that funny, but here’s to hoping from some hilarity on September 4th.