Microsoft Opens First New Retail Store in Scottsdale, Arizona

[CFreymarc]

Apple Store done tacky

Steve Jobs said it best years ago in an documentary, "Microsoft is successful but they have no sense of style." The every primary color the staff is wearing goes right against any modern style plan. That was maybe in style in the early 60's before the psychedelic trend took up.

Also, the video projection screens on the walls is not the best. It is just a matter of time before someone snaps a pic of these big wall monitors projecting the Blue Screen of Death and it goes viral.

Love to see a softball game between the local Microsoft and local Apple store employees.

Just a matter of time before the Apple Mac / PC commercials harp on the lack of style of the Microsoft stores.

 

[Cydonia]

Why can't I watch the video on my iPhone?

 

[SarahPalin]

Looks like hundreds of BSODs on the right wall.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

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

Really now?

 

[darthraige]

1. Crappy videographer.

2. Way to copy Apple, losers.

 

[bucksaddle]

... and there lies the problem with Microsoft - at 0.46 in the video 3 stiffs in a suit. Just doesn't appeal at all.

 

[larrylaffer]

Did they really need to hire yet another executive type just to replicate the store and replace all instances of "Genius" with "Answer"?

MSFT, next time you want to try a new Apple-esque business venture, let me know and I'll do it for $50.

 

[esquared]

Fun

This is sooo going to fail, and we get to watch it happen in real time! Thank you Microsoft.

 

[Fafafoooey]

What a...

JOKE! The employees are cheering, "WOOHOO, we have crappy products and we are so glad that people are still willing to use them!"

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

$50 we'll see a youtube video of the video-walls with BSOD within a week.

 

[Winni]

Nice concept. Apple does the marketing, the press gives Apple all the hype, and when people want to go to an Apple Store -- they run straight into the arms of the competition and will immediately wonder why they should spend those extra bucks on Apple products when Windows 7 also looks good enough, but the hardware for it will be so much cheaper.

Apple should really begin selling OS X to PC OEMs.

 

[hexor]

Ballmer

Me thinks Ballmer has lost all common sense and is opening these stores because he has a personal vendetta against Apple

 

[notjustjay]

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

For fun, let's all go into the store absent-mindedly, and then ask them where are the new iMacs and iPods. When they tell you they have none, yell loudly, "What! What kind of Apple Store is this?!" and storm off.

 

[Mattie Num Nums]

JOKE! The employees are cheering, "WOOHOO, we have crappy products and we are so glad that people are still willing to use them!"

Yeah because MS SQL and Exchange and crap. Microsoft is more than Windows and Zunes people.

 

[palmerc2]

hmm, sort of looked like the Fashion Square mall in the heart of Scottsdale.

Good location, must be expensive. I just don't see what all the clapping is about....

"And here we are showing our newest Windows 7 on this laptop made by HP, you can also view the desktop over there with the same operating system running on a Toshiba.....and no, you cannot purchase these computers here"

lame

 

[newfoundglory]

I seem to remember the initial concept for a Microsoft store was going to be that the customer couldnt actually buy! The the store was designed as a way of asking questions and having a play. The reason being that they didnt want customers to feel pressured into buying anything. Now, is that actually the case? A retail store where you cant actually buy anything?

 

[FXT 1]

Such a desperate attempt.

 

[MacsRgr8]

LMAO!!!

Microsoft is getting more pathetic with the minute.

Apple "old style" used to bash Windows and Intel (which sucked).

Nowadays Apple and its users have become more mature and understand each other's strong points.

However, these days Ballmer is all about bashing Apple, and also copying it.
Unbelievable.

 

[tMac85]

Honestly that store looks pretty awesome. But really, why try to beeeee your competition? come up with something new people. be different.

 

[neiltc13]

Sounds like they've got some nice ideas in their stores, like this one...

Microsoft does on-demand software printing at retail

Microsoft is really making a serious push into retail, as evidenced by what I've seen today at the opening of their first retail store. One of the biggest issues with software sales at retail is the real estate that it takes up on the sales floor. You can't possibly have every product available for the consumer to buy. Or can you?

At Microsoft Stores, customers will be able to purchase anything in the Microsoft catalog of PC software, even if the retail box is not carried in the store. Using a kiosk with a touchscreen display that resembles a stripped down, user-friendly version of the Microsoft online store, customers will be able to add products to a cart. Once finished, you save your cart with a name and approach any of the store's representatives with a handheld computer.

After paying with cash or credit card, the disc, cover and manual are printed in the back of the store. The entire process takes about four minutes and the final result looks just as good as if you'd purchased the retail box.

This is the kind of thing I've been waiting to see for years (in fact, about five years ago, I proposed a similar solution to the executives at a major retailer I worked for to better manage CD and DVD sales). Having a one-stop shop for everything Microsoft has to offer without having to worry about shipping times from an online store or praying that the big box retailer down the street will have what you want in stock is a huge advantage for the new chain. Well done, Microsoft.

http://www.destructoid.com/ms-does-on-demand-software-printing-at-retail-152772.phtml

Are you guys going to keep bashing them for trying to make money (Apple's stores are only there to make money as well) or are you going to think about what they've got on offer and visit if you live close?

 

[RunOverProducti]

They hired Apples interior designer?LOLOL Pathetic!

 

[roland.g]

Epic Fail

 

[Mac 13]

Copy Apple all the way

They were not joking about copying Apple huh? Look at the tables they look the same. The laptop set up as well.

Now this one is ironic, windows use the word "Programs" in their OS. We Mac users know that waaaaaay before the App store OS X has use the word "Applications" instead od programs. Now that the word Apps & applications is so popular thanks to the iPhone, even MS is using it.


"App" is the new "Program"

 

[rotorblade69]

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

If I was a retailer and MS opened one of these next to me I would be embarrassed to say the least. Looks like one big Cluster FU@* full of retards!!!!!

 

[macAttack09]

I hope they open one near me,

Then i can go in with my macbook pro and ask them about their software on my mac for bootcamp.