Microsoft Opens First New Retail Store in Scottsdale, Arizona

[MacRumors]

Corresponding with today's launch of Windows 7, Microsoft opened the first of its new retail stores today in Scottsdale, Arizona. Reports that Microsoft has drawn heavily on Apple's retail store concepts appear to be accurate, with the store featuring wood floors and tables, a relatively sparse layout designed to accommodate large crowds, and an "Answer Bar" to provide support for Windows users.

A video of the grand opening reveals additional similarities to Apple's model, with Microsoft retail employees wearing t-shirts in various bold colors lining up and cheering as customers enter the store for the first time.



Article Link: Microsoft Opens First New Retail Store in Scottsdale, Arizona

 

[iOrlando]

wow...i know 4 people in that video. they are total fanboys... i smell plants!

 

[chuckles:)]

Loud Noises!!!!!

 

[TranceNW]

Its well and good having a store, as nice as it may be.

The problem is the aesthetics of the products on the counters.

 

[knemonic]

Wouldn't it be great if someone was on their iPhone while the Microsoft people were trying to high five them?

 

[tmt345]

it looks kinda like... ahhh i won't go there

 

[gilesrulz]

I wonder if they ever get embarrassed ripping off other peoples ideas.

 

[Diseal3]

I acually think that looks nice. I see minor resemblance to the apple store but it acually has a different feel to it.

 

[kolax]

Why is everyone clapping so crazily?

The store does look nice, I have to admit. But it is just so identical to the Apple Store it is pathetic really. Even the laptops they have chosen have similar appearance to the MacBook Pro's!

 

[Jetson]

Monkey see, monkey do

 

[Perrumpo]

it looks kinda like... ahhh i won't go there

Quite right.

 

[TsMkLg068426]

Is it me or does it almost look like a Mac Store? lmao

 

[Me1000]

It's like MSFT said "hey, this is what Apple does. Replace the Apple logos with Windows logos" -- I guess we should be used to that by now.

 

[sliceofman]

Just cant come up with their own good ideas can they, what a waste of space what are they going to sell? software?

 

[mr_matalino]

Wow, except for the inferior products on their shelves, I would could have sworn this would have been an Apple store!! Copy to the n'th degree.

 

[bestb3284]

I wonder if this may help the consumers in bringing down prices of Apple products in the future. If Apple holds to their guns, I wonder if Microsoft will raise their prices!

It is smart of Microsoft to copy a great business model, too bad it's Apple's.

 

[swajames]

What a wonderfully original concept! I can't understand why no-one's ever thought of doing something like this before. Such innovative store layout and design. And as for the concept of the Answer Bar - well that's just a stroke of genius.

 

[Bubba Satori]

I wonder if they ever get embarrassed ripping off other peoples ideas.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I can tell it's made you very happy today.

 

[dwd3885]

lol. You guys are such fanboys bashing the store.

 

[rowr]

Yawn.

 

[typhoon]

Come on when are they going to change their name to ''Pear" - nice store!

 

[leomac08]

they wear fruity shirts........... hahahaha

 

[Bubba Satori]

What a wonderfully original concept!

Yeah, like putting FM tuners on MP3 players.

 

[jellomizer]

I love the cheap ripoff effect that Microsoft maintains. It is like they copied the apple store, changed the colors to something less attractive. And just kinda have it a big empty of a box of a store, not really getting that Apple store while there is a lot of room it is broken into non-square sections.

 

[idiosyncratic i]

And as for the concept of the Answer Bar - well that's just a stroke of genius.

Brilliant!