Comments

Brandioch Conner July 26, 2007 11:46 AM

Okay, improvements …

#1. Replace the hair band with a girl rock band.

#2. Lose the ballad.

#3. The “I” “T” part reminded me too much of “YMCA” by The Village People.

#4. Smoke?

#5. Finally, make sure there is no film in the camera when filming.

Flynn July 26, 2007 12:13 PM

It helps if you remember that Christopher Guest is co-creator of Spinal Tap.

But is this an ad for TPC?

guvn'r July 26, 2007 12:37 PM

technically inaccurate, but good theatre.

there was a line in the lyrics, something like “been here since the beginning and I know hardware based security is new” which is simply b.s.

Over thirty years ago (1975) DEC introduced the PDP-11/70 with hardware support for separation of instruction and data memory addressing and read-only or read-write memory protection on a per-page basis. The first DEC LSI-11 microcomputer didn’t have such features, but by 1979 the Falcon (F-11, LSI-11/23) microprocessor did. http://research.microsoft.com/~gbell/Digital/timeline/1975.htm

I’m sure DEC was not the only manufacturer implementing those features, it’s just the one of which I have first-hand memories from those days.

Hardware based security was there then, even though software implementations lagged in using it, and even if Intel is still ignorant of it now.

Cochese Tonto July 26, 2007 1:23 PM

In 3 minutes time, the guy in the blue shirt goes unchallenged…
– sitting at 4 different people’s desk, accessing their computers
– pushing a mail cart full of company binders toward the elevators
– shoulder surfing a woman’s files
– introducing an open flame into a cube farm

Is Intel the company I want advising me on security? 🙂

HotCrossedBuns July 26, 2007 2:01 PM

“I can’t believe the actors kept a straight face.”

I have a distinct feeling that they likely didn’t even understand what this was all about.

Brent July 26, 2007 2:42 PM

Unbelievable.

That was actually worse than Seagate’s “Get Perpendicular” campaign…and that one was a cartoon with disco!

Anonymous July 26, 2007 2:50 PM

@guvn’r: “technically inaccurate, but good theatre.”

True. Unfortunately, facts aren’t as pursuasive as delivery.

Anonymous July 26, 2007 2:59 PM

Stefan:

“Kitsch.” It’s like “schadenfreude” – we don’t have our own word for it, so we stole yours.

Apostrophe July 26, 2007 3:24 PM

Unbelievably boring. I killed it before it was done, and I’m pretty much their target audience — 38 year old security technologist who enjoyed Spinal Tap and Office Space.

mud and flame July 26, 2007 6:22 PM

It was smart of the staff to play along after turning on FogShield to contain the intruders in the office.

Hullu July 27, 2007 5:07 AM

“38 year old security technologist who enjoyed Spinal Tap and Office Space.”

Hey, I’m not quite 38 yet but I couldn’t help but to love Office Space!

bluebyte July 27, 2007 7:36 AM

Well, for starters, I wouldn’t want to give my precious data to a company that allows rock bands in the office. Call me old-fashioned, but it spoils the reputation.

Software and hardware together for a new age… that’s a really forward-lloking video spot – for 1948.

And, last but not least, do they really want to advertise for reliable hardware with smoke? 🙂

Jay Levitt July 27, 2007 6:52 PM

I think some people aren’t quite getting the joke.

The video makes fun of itself. The lyrics are supposed to be awkward. The dance moves are supposed to be cliche.

Christopher Guest, of course, has directed many subtle mockumentaries. But don’t discount Dan Finnerty, the ballad singer – together with The Dan Band (http://www.thedanband.com), he has toured the nation with his earnest, heartfelt, profanity-ridden “I Am Woman” show…

dmc July 27, 2007 8:04 PM

Are we absolutely sure this isn’t some sort of a strange parody or social satire?

This can’t seriously be an advertisement.

Brent July 28, 2007 12:18 AM

Uh, yeah, TPC sucks. It’s the end of the PC. Hard to be very excited about it, and that song didn’t really help.

another_jake July 28, 2007 12:36 AM

A little piece of me just died. It’s not Intel that’s jumped the shark, it’s Christopher Guest.

Also, this was a really clever concept…in comparison to what Microsoft would have come up with.

Paco July 28, 2007 10:28 AM

Not getting the joke is right. Duh, it;s mocking itself, and doing a right fine job of it too. I couldn’t even believe Inel did this number at first. Welcome to the age of post irony, boyos. You’ve got the attention of me and mine at the office. Come round for a pint after the wars any old time! Hiring Guest was the old master stroke. And Brent, sure enough you’re an asshole.

Ken Salsbury July 28, 2007 9:09 PM

That was the single greatest piece of branded entertainment ever targeted at the IT Community. It’s smart. It’s hilarious. It’s about time. Bravo, Intel!

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