Mac Store Ping!
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Posted on 02/14/2009 9:38:57 PM PST by Swordmaker
It’s enough to make you rub your eyes, blink and squint to make sure you’re not hallucinating.
But it’s true. Microsoft plans to open its own chain of retail stores. On Thursday the Redmond company announced it had hired former Wal-Mart executive David Porter to make it happen.
Microsoft seems to think it can duplicate Apple’s retail success, using a chain of stores to improve the “Microsoft retail purchase experience” and to combat the stereotypes – artfully reinforced by Apple’s “I’m a Mac” TV ads – that owning a Windows PC is fraught with difficulties.
I hardly know where to begin, so let’s start with the first thing many people will think when they hear of a Microsoft Store: “Oh, just like Apple.”
Contrary to the goal of improving public perceptions, the announcement of a Microsoft-branded chain of stores screams “copycat” – historically one of the worst knocks against it. Not the best way to start rehabilitating your image, guys.
(Excerpt) Read more at weblogs.baltimoresun.com ...
Microsoft have an image problem because they sell expensive stuff that are crap. Until they realize this, they’ll never improve. For starters sell windows 7 in one package and not in multiple packages
working for apple’s marketing department is easy when the product can sell itself
Microsoft could get a pretty good deal on the vacant Circuity City buildings slated for public auction.
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Will they play the Gates-Seinfeld commercials 24-7 in their stores?
I would not be surprised... and you'll have to pay in Microsoft Points instead of dollars...
You get stopped at the door until they can verify you’re a genuine human being.
In Salem, NH, they would be better advised to move into the still-vacant CompUSA store. It's right across a parking lot from Best Buy, which is still alive and drawing consumer electronics buyers. CC is by itself.
Another option would be Rockingham Mall. The former Jordan Marsh / Filene's space is still empty. A bit huge for MS, but it's right around the corner from their nemesis.
I also noticed that the aborted Bill and Jerry commercials reinforced the worst of the MS stereotypes. The shoes in the shoe stores didn't really fit, and you had to mess around with them. The picture of Gates was his mug shot from when he was arrested. They stiffed the guy who delivered food, which reinforced the image of MS dirty dealing. This move reinforces another, that they copy everything Apple does. There's really no reason for an MS store, other than that Apple has stores and they're profitable.
MS jumped the shark with Vista. That's when I personally decided to go Mac.
Apple has a certain flair and passion for style that runs throughout their product line. It's what makes them a cut above. It's something around which to build a retail presence. They know how to be the premium brand. It's something MS lacks totally. Microsoft's niche is to be the low cost producer in the big box store and online. Apple calls themselves the "computer for the rest of us", but, actually, it's the other way around! And who the hell wants to be the rest of us?
The picture of Gates was his mug shot from when he was arrested.
Brand-wise, that's actually kind of cool. But Gates is retired. It's now up to Ballmer to marshal the drones for battle, at least those of them who have not departed for greener pastures (Google? Investing the proceeds of their options?).
MS has never excelled in any area where they couldn't corner the market and squash the competition. One of the reasons they have such a terrible time getting traction in any market now is that most industries are aware of their tactics and fight them tooth and nail.
My college reflexively buys MS products, although we didn't do Vista. Office 2007 is awful. I personally left for Apple after ME, and only deal with MS at work, and only because I have to.
....Plus Apple Macs LAST LONGER then PC’s. I know, I have a Power Mac PC Duel Processors 450 since 2000, using the slightly older OS X Tiger, which almost bit the dust last year, but because of a brand new hardrive, and more recent with a brand new replacement mouse and keyboard, it has been rejuvinated. When my financial situation improves, meaning working again, I will look at a newer Mac, maybe even wireless. :)
It looks like Microsoft is still stuck on it’s 90’s Borg-like thinking of assimilating its competition.
Sounds like people are afraid of the competeition MS will bring. Fact is, MS has hundeds of products so why not their own stores? I thought they should have over 20 years ago. Apple has far fewer products and they have stores. Typical liberal mindset, “I get to do it but you shouldn’t be allowed to.”
People complain MS is a “monopoly” and “closed source”, yet, those same people fully support Apple and its extremely closed source products. At least with MS I can pick my hardware.
There is just a huge difference in having a good idea and making it work.
Hiring a guy from Walmart makes me think that they are going to try to compete with Walmart & Best Buy & Gamestop which makes me think this is not going to work.
But if they use it to market Windows 7, and provide tech support on par with Apple, and minimize the risk and aggravation of migration from earlier OS rather than simply have ill-trained staff try and sell X-Boxes and shrink-wrapped Office, it will be a very good thing for them.
But whose hardware are they going to use (Apple is a hardware company)? Plus selling their other non OS products, that are already sold in retail stores, is going to piss off their channel partners (Best Buy, etc.).
Wait! Wait! ...I teh Intergoogle was supposed to make brick-and-mortar stores obsolete!
We have an old PowerPC 7200 that still works as a print server for an equally old Epson Stylus 3000. Both are over 10 years old and don’t see much use. But they work, communicate with our network, and run print jobs from all the snazzy graphics packages when needed.
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