So, you've probably seen the "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" ads that portray Microsoft (MSFT: sentiment, chart, options) as a neurotic, middle-aged businessman and Apple (AAPL: sentiment, chart, options) as a snarky hipster. Personally, I find the MSFT character more endearing, although I've been told before I'm a simpleton. Regardless, Ballmer & Co. decided it was time to fight back against the nerdy, stodgy image of the Windows parent that's on display in Apple's advertising... by hiring Jerry Seinfeld.

I won't argue that Jerry is a cultural icon; on any given day, I can find at least 3 reasons to cite an old Seinfeld episode (ask my colleague Andrea Kramer about the time her Georges collided -- or, better yet, ask my colleague Nick Perry). But Apple displayed its superior marketing savvy when it chose Justin Long for the "I'm a Mac" spot. He's young, he was in the movie Dodgeball, and he recently dated Drew Barrymore. In other words, he's cool. On the other hand, Jerry Seinfeld appears in reruns and in Bee Movie. Way less cool.

According to reports in The Wall Street Journal, Microsoft also considered Will Ferrell and Chris Rock for the role of Windows spokesman. So... was Seth Rogen unavailable? Is Tina Fey not interested? What about Steve Carell, or anybody else who's ever been on The Daily Show? That's a "C" for effort, Microsoft. (Although, on the plus side, I don't think James Belushi was even in the running to be the new face of Windows.)