Microsoft to Open Stores, Hires Retail Hand

wsjtech ^ | 2-13-2009 | Nick Wingfield

[grey_whiskers]

That was *painful*.

Cheers!

[CharacterCounts]

It appears that both Apple and Microsoft found it is cheaper and easier to pay damages afterward, rather than develop their own stuff.

[SunkenCiv]

“Hires Retail Hand” — that *screamed* for a pic of the Addams Family’s “Thing”. :’)

[SunkenCiv]

I got my first iMac at CompUSA, and bought it in spite of the sales people.

That was my experience with CompUSA also, even tthough the local store did have the Mac ghetto. The "kid" (this past year I noticed he is getting some gray) who repped for Apple at the CompuUSA now works at Best Buy (28th and Beltline), in their version of the Apple ghetto. At least BB puts the Apple area right at the front corner of their computer hardware area. :')

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Star Traveler!

[big'ol_freeper]

This is a doomed endeavor. Can you imagine the sound of frustrated and pissed off folks lined up at the "Excuse Bar", voices raised, because the MS "geniuses" can't fix their hardware/software problems? "I'm sorry sir, the problem is with your hardware, not the MS software".

This will be emanating through the store at the very same time they are trying to sell products in the rest of the store.

Monty Python couldn't have created a more comical script.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"I wonder if there’ll be a Zune section. The Zune sections at the local stores have to be the loneliest places on Earth."

HOUSE OF

Meet our classy, cutting-edge clientele...

[Richard Kimball]

Just curious. I've been hearing good buzz about Windows 7. Do you think that Vista was lipstick on a pig that was put out because the next actual version of Windows was behind schedule?

Vista was late as an XP replacement, and this is early as a Vista replacement. I figured out, to my sorrow, that ME was simply lipstick on 95 while they developed the actual next operating system, XP.

[webschooner]

Windoze Mobile is a dying platform for smartphones.

On the other hand, a lot of additional devices with the new Android open-source (Linux based) OS, which debuted in 2008, are coming out in 2009 (but somehow I don’t think they will selling any of those in M-soft stores)

[Fresh Wind]

I think that the anti-trust people would have a lot to say to Microsoft if they did that...

So, how is that any different from what Apple does? As I understand it, Apple REFUSES to license its OS to run on any other platform than its own.

[Richard Kimball]

Those photos indicate an incredible ripoff of Apple. The color scheme and the silhouette logo that's lit from behind are pure Apple. The Microsoft touches are the generic bi-racial people in goofy poses in the posters at the top. In the second photo in the foreground, it looks like there's a kiddie car with a monitor attached to the front. That's also pure Microsoft, as is the pea soup green display case in that photo.

If this is the actual store that's going on line, I'd suggest they rip Apple off a little bit more. First, Apple Stores have relatively little area dedicated to stacks of boxes for people to pick up. Probably 80+ percent of their store space is for people to play with the products. Second, all the Apple products work, and they have actual working software on them AND internet access. You can goof with a photo in Photoshop and save it or whatever. It's my understanding that part of the shut down for an Apple Store is to reboot and restore the systems each night, so that if someone went in and deleted all the photos used by Photoshop or whatever, it will come back up properly the next morning.

One of the things I've noticed about practically all stores that sell Winboxes is that they don't have internet access and they don't have standard software on them. Frequently, they also have drivers screwed up, etc. If MS wants to make this ripoff of Apple work (nothing wrong with ripping off a good idea) they need to emphasize working systems that people can actually do stuff on as the centerpiece of the store.

The sales philosophy of the Apple Store is "play with this, if you've got questions ask, if you want it, here you go." MS philosophy has been quite different. "Buy this. Oh, you want the better graphics? Buy this." There's a transition going on, and MS hasn't caught up to what's happening. They might, but I don't think Balmer is the guy that will get them there.

[Fresh Wind]

Those photos indicate an incredible ripoff of Apple. The color scheme and the silhouette logo that's lit from behind are pure Apple.

FYI, retailers have been selling goods using rear-lighted logo signs for close to a century. And there's nothing unique to Microsoft about using goofy posters. The color scheme seems pretty generic to me.

A ripoff of Apple? Hardly.

[RJS1950]

Let me guess, we should all hate the idea because it’s from Microsoft, right?

Sounds familiar, like the Walmart haters. Free enterprise, contribute to the economy and all that, except if I personally hate the company. If it employs americans go for it.

[Richard Kimball]

FYI, retailers have been selling goods using rear-lighted logo signs for close to a century. And there's nothing unique to Microsoft about using goofy posters. The color scheme seems pretty generic to me.

A ripoff of Apple? Hardly.

Wow. Hard to argue with that.

[Swordmaker]

Okay, you lost me on that one.

That must be the "retail hand" Microsoft has hired...

[Richard Kimball]

Yeah, he got me. I usually make the connections, but that one flew right by.

[Richard Kimball]

Apple doesn't control market share like MS does. However, they do get sued on a regular basis.

If Apple controlled 85% of the platform market, they'd probably be in anti-trust trouble for the Apple Stores.

That being said, Anti-Trust laws are very inconsistent in application.

[Swordmaker]

So, how is that any different from what Apple does? As I understand it, Apple REFUSES to license its OS to run on any other platform than its own.

Apple has not been convicted for being a monopoly using anti-competitive practices against competitors.

Apple has the RIGHT to define how its copyrighted and patented intellectual property is used. That's protected in the Constitution.

[edcoil]

I think more typical software development cycles vs marketing and the need for something new.

[Fresh Wind]

That being said, Anti-Trust laws are very inconsistent in application.

No argument there!