Apple Store or Microsoft Store? Are the Copy Machines are working overtime?
Posted on 10/16/2009 7:35:34 PM PDT by Swordmaker
With the October 22nd release of Windows 7 just around the corner, Microsoft is also putting the final touches on its first two retail stores which are scheduled to open in Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California in just a few weeks.
Microsoft first announced its plans to open up its own branded retail stores back in February. Microsoft explained that it was getting into the retail business as a means to connect more directly with customers, exert better control over the Microsoft brand, and to “transform the PC and Microsoft buying experience.”
Since that time, and as specific details of Microsoft’s retails plans continue to leak out, it’s become abundantly clear that Microsoft doesn’t really have a concrete strategy other than to copy everything that Apple’s already done.
(Excerpt) Read more at edibleapple.com ...
Apple Store or Microsoft Store? Are the Copy Machines are working overtime?
Apple sure connects in its stores.
Nervous frustrated PC customer meets pieced and tattooed hippie lib salesman, sale follows.
The arrogance of MS saying they want to ‘’connect’’ with us is like a rapist returning w/flowers!
It has always amazed me how a company with all the money in the world, the most brilliant minds in the computer industry can’t get it right. Perhaps they are so big that the left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing.
A massive downsizing of Microsoft, a “getting back to basics” concept might give us a Window OS worth the effort.
I’ll be buying a PC laptop soon and will be installing Windows 7.Won’t consider buying a Mac even for a second.
If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.
Win7 is best OS Microsoft ever put together.
I still prefer OS X hands down :)
We are too, for Christmas.
You apple users really get dramatic sometimes. Why not just say it was like the Nazis invading Poland or a Manson family massacre while your at it.
That would reek of desperation. heh
Wait til big users start switching to Google Apps for $50 a person vs. $500 for Office if you want to see Microsoft desperation.
Is the user interface past the point where it makes you just want to drive an ice pick through your forehead? (like XP)
It sounded like a nutty idea, a “me-too” plan with no other underlying reason for it — Microsoft makes no hardware, and their software comes preinstalled on the bulk of CPUs being shipped. They have a retail presence in places like office supply store chains that its competitors don’t. Unless they’ve got some nebulous plan to reposition Windulls as a premium product, the only thing that makes sense is the usual poison the town well strategy, iow, undermine the Apple stores by poaching employees.
Oh well, at least they’re copying something good. Not sure how successful they’ll be with these retail outlets, but I wouldn’t be too quick to define this new venture as “desperation.” They still have the vast majority of the market. Yes, they had a setback with Vista, but Windows 7 is a very good product (it’s what Vista should have been).
I’m on the retail version of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 now, and am VERY happy with it. Not that the Mac OS isn’t great, too — it is — but Windows 7 is a solid product that should end up being quite successful.
What’s the issue? Is the apple store not any good? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Will they do it well...probably not, but if they do it will only be good for consumers.
This MS retail store concept of theirs is mystifying to me.
Apple retail stores sell computer systems, iPhones, ipods, hardware accessories and software, etc. and provides service for all the mentioned products.
Microsoft hopes to sell exactly what? To demonstrate their software whose computers are they going to use? Their hoped for walk-in customer might ask to see and use a hands on demo of MS software, but the performance hinges on the non MS hardware.
Questions, questions, questions...will the MS ‘guru’ advise the would be customer that the software requires 20 gb ram and various other non MS pieces of hardware to see the MS product “perform”.
I guess the MS guru will sell the software and provide a shopping list of the necessary hardware for ‘optimum performance’.
And what happens when the customer comes back lugging his off brand laptop that won’t boot, runs like a one legged pig on valium.
MS-Guru says, “Dude, that’s a hardware problem. You need to talk to their rep.”
Nothing good can come of this for MS.
My money says that none of the stores last 90 days before word of mouth and the PC blogs laugh them out of town.
Google's online tentacles dwarf Microsoft's. Go for it.
I am glad to hear that! It is time PC users got a reliable operating system. Do they have the trojans and viruses thing figured out over there at Microsoft yet?
microsoft is the GM of the computer world...
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