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Microsoft Planning 75 New Retail Stores to Take on Apple
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This seems like a throwing darts blindfolded scheme. If you go back to the reason why Apple Stores came into being it was because no major stores would showcase Apple products. It was all Windows all the time.
M$ can put a store next to every existing Apple Store. It may soothe Balmer's ego but it's not going to help Microsoft or Windows products one iota because people aren't interested in them. The Apple Store grew because Apple came out with products people wanted, like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
So A Microsoft store is going to accomplish what goal without product? It seems to me M$ is once again merely following Apple instead of being original. It worked for them once (Windows) because Apple was behind the curve back then. It's different now. No one wants a Win Phone or a Win Pad because they are just weak copies. These store seem destined to end up as a hangout for slacker gamers playing the demo XBoxes, which isn't going to help M$'s image one bit.
Good luck.
M$ can put a store next to every existing Apple Store. It may soothe Balmer's ego but it's not going to help Microsoft or Windows products one iota because people aren't interested in them. The Apple Store grew because Apple came out with products people wanted, like the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.
So A Microsoft store is going to accomplish what goal without product? It seems to me M$ is once again merely following Apple instead of being original. It worked for them once (Windows) because Apple was behind the curve back then. It's different now. No one wants a Win Phone or a Win Pad because they are just weak copies. These store seem destined to end up as a hangout for slacker gamers playing the demo XBoxes, which isn't going to help M$'s image one bit.
Good luck.
Yeah... every Android phone would lead you there automatically. You'd probably also get 100 store banner ads a day!
Yawn... Seen it before...
Microsoft isn't going to innovate the retail experience or challenge Apple Store's one bit.. As for finding a place for buying PC's, and getting some local nerdy gamer with tattoos and a nose ring to tell you why video card "x" is better than video card "y"... I just gotta say, its been done before...many times.
I'm sure there's still several I've forgotten to list...
Microsoft isn't going to innovate the retail experience or challenge Apple Store's one bit.. As for finding a place for buying PC's, and getting some local nerdy gamer with tattoos and a nose ring to tell you why video card "x" is better than video card "y"... I just gotta say, its been done before...many times.
- Egghead Software (became EB Games)
- EB Games (still around but HUGE losses I believe)
- Computer City (gone)
- Software Plus (gone)
- CompUSA (almost 100% gone, sadly still a handful around in TX)
- Circuit City (gone)
- Best Buy (fairing "okay" but not great)
- Venture (gone)
- Gateway Stores (are they still around??)
- Dell Stores (retreated with huge losses)
- Walmart (doing okay, but sell little & its crap models)
- Kmart (not sure if they still sell pcs)
- Target (scaling back pc sales)
- Ultimate Electronics (Defunct, gone bye bye)
- Radio Shack (rebranding but holding on)
- Play & Trade (barely holding on)
- Gamestop (barely holding on)
- Toys R Us (chapt 11 or 7, 'again').
- Fry's Electronics (barely holding on)
- MicroCenter (almost gone)
- NewEgg (may not have had retail)
- Tiger Direct (had retail, now just direct)
- Staples (are they still around??)
- Office Max (failing)
- Office Depot (failing)
- PC House (long, long time ago, gone)
- HP Stores (online only)
- Alienware (now a Dell company)
- Compaq Stores (now an HP Company)
- Sony Stores (retreated as well)
I'm sure there's still several I've forgotten to list...
I think Steve Jobs should run around with a live chicken on his head. I wonder how long it would be before the CEO's of every other technology company would be doing the same thing?
Just what I was thinking! So no plans at present for Missoula, Boise, Spokane, or even Salt Lake City. But Casper....
Microsoft needs to stop thinking that they are in competition with Apple, because they are not. They are not in the same league. Apple is all about the future, and Microsoft is all about the past. I genuinely believe the world will be a better place if Microsoft just shuts itself down and return the money to investors, so they can invest the cash in some better companies that may have a chance to compete with Apple. More competition is always good, but sadly Microsoft is not providing any.
Just imagine all the junk that will be brought to the "Answer Desk." I sure as hell wouldn't want to be an MS Store support employee. There's gonna be a lot of unsatisfied customers.
Not a smart move for MS. Laughable even.
Not a smart move for MS. Laughable even.
Uyyyy. The brass are idiots. ...because there is no way that in all the people at MS, there aren't plenty of people that realize MS should be looking at its own strengths to prop their brand up with, & not make themselves look like a bunch of unoriginal-idea-havin, johnny-come-latelys, tagging along on the defensive.
The store idea would work if MS actually had some high-demand consumer products to show off, but what would anyone go to a MS store to look at? Windows? It comes on nearly every computer in the world for 20 years... who needs to go to a special store just to see Windows running on an odd mishmash of hardware by a bunch of different MFGs? MS makes a lot of great things, and even some really neat things, but they're generally not things mall-shoppers are going to get excited about going out of their way to see demo'd.
The store idea would work if MS actually had some high-demand consumer products to show off, but what would anyone go to a MS store to look at? Windows? It comes on nearly every computer in the world for 20 years... who needs to go to a special store just to see Windows running on an odd mishmash of hardware by a bunch of different MFGs? MS makes a lot of great things, and even some really neat things, but they're generally not things mall-shoppers are going to get excited about going out of their way to see demo'd.
WHAT? If you're talking about the MS Store on campus, that was an employee only store!
MS just opened their first store a couple years ago. It's pretty public knowledge.
Quote: "Microsoft actually was once ahead of Apple on the retail front, opening its first retail store in 1999 at the Metreon shopping center in San Francisco."
I think it'll work out rather disapointingly. Microsoft has been waiting until someone does something that works and rather than improving on it, they slightly diminish the experience and offer absolutely nothing new or breathtaking.
How is Windows Phone doing?
How is Windows 7 for tablets doing?
How did their tablet experiment go?
How is Microsoft Money doing?
How are the current Microsoft stores doing?
How is Zune?
How's the Kin doing?
How is Microsoft Live's social networking going?
They should stick with enterprise software, letting OEMs bundle their OS on the cheap, and the XBOX. The only thing Microsoft has done in recent years is come up with new ways to fail.
How is Windows Phone doing?
How is Windows 7 for tablets doing?
How did their tablet experiment go?
How is Microsoft Money doing?
How are the current Microsoft stores doing?
How is Zune?
How's the Kin doing?
How is Microsoft Live's social networking going?
They should stick with enterprise software, letting OEMs bundle their OS on the cheap, and the XBOX. The only thing Microsoft has done in recent years is come up with new ways to fail.
?
What the heck will they sell? Left over Zune's and Kin's? We can already get Xbox's and games online and at many stores, so what's the point? Kind of goofy.
Here's Microsoft:
A buddy of mine, a long time game professional, was recruited from EA to work at Xbox. The boss of the dept left, and the new guy was from the Mac Office dept. He had a lot of seniority, so he was allowed to move to a new dept, and he felt like trying gaming, being sick of Excel, etc. Needless to say, it was a train wreck. My pal had to tutor him often, and wound up leaving a while after that out of sheer boredom.
What the heck will they sell? Left over Zune's and Kin's? We can already get Xbox's and games online and at many stores, so what's the point? Kind of goofy.
Here's Microsoft:
A buddy of mine, a long time game professional, was recruited from EA to work at Xbox. The boss of the dept left, and the new guy was from the Mac Office dept. He had a lot of seniority, so he was allowed to move to a new dept, and he felt like trying gaming, being sick of Excel, etc. Needless to say, it was a train wreck. My pal had to tutor him often, and wound up leaving a while after that out of sheer boredom.
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I happen to really like W7 and the Office Suite...that said, why do I need a Microsoft Store to buy what every Walmart, BestTry, and Costco sells already? Will they service all windows machines for free, per each manufacturers warranty? No.
So, uhhhhh...What's the point?
So, uhhhhh...What's the point?
theres so much microsoft bashing going on its ridiculous lol, its funny to see how apple people think their supperior in every way shape and form. Who complains that grocery stores copy each other? or target copies walmart or vice versa.. its a store model that works, why wouldnt microsoft copy it.. with that said, its funny to find everyone missing the obvious.
microsoft makes XBOX. I've personally went to the microsoft store in Scottsdale and can say about 50-60% of the store is devoted to the Xbox. with about 3 huge lcds in the back for kinect display, they have lcds all over the walls playing different games you can test. You can bring in your xbox and get it worked on directly at the store and not have to ship it in and wait 4 weeks to get it finally back. I mean seriously guys.. your missing the obvious! microsoft designs the OS, and most their money doesnt come from us consumers buying the OS, it comes from the companys like Dell and HP contracting with them to put the OS into the systems. So a practical store where people can take their computers to get it fixed is a win/win. And i doubt microsoft is making much profit from these stores, considering they are selling mostly their sub-contractors products. aka Dell, HP and stuch. The only products of their own is the xbox, and maybe the phone?? but i dont know if they design the phone of HTC.
anyways. just thought i'd point out that I think the main reason for the store is to support the xbox, and also sell some computers in the mean time. I actually consider the store more like a game stop when i walk in, NOT like a bestbuy.
microsoft makes XBOX. I've personally went to the microsoft store in Scottsdale and can say about 50-60% of the store is devoted to the Xbox. with about 3 huge lcds in the back for kinect display, they have lcds all over the walls playing different games you can test. You can bring in your xbox and get it worked on directly at the store and not have to ship it in and wait 4 weeks to get it finally back. I mean seriously guys.. your missing the obvious! microsoft designs the OS, and most their money doesnt come from us consumers buying the OS, it comes from the companys like Dell and HP contracting with them to put the OS into the systems. So a practical store where people can take their computers to get it fixed is a win/win. And i doubt microsoft is making much profit from these stores, considering they are selling mostly their sub-contractors products. aka Dell, HP and stuch. The only products of their own is the xbox, and maybe the phone?? but i dont know if they design the phone of HTC.
anyways. just thought i'd point out that I think the main reason for the store is to support the xbox, and also sell some computers in the mean time. I actually consider the store more like a game stop when i walk in, NOT like a bestbuy.
I went to the MS Store in Mall of America when they sent out coupons for $50 off a $200 purchase and I wanted a Kinect. I got there early on the first day the coupon was valid, thinking there would be a line. I was wrong, lol. About 3 other people in the store. I picked up the Kinect and a game and brought it to the cashier. Noticed the scary guard in an SS-like uniform standing with his hands behind his back watching everyone (so NOT like Apple). The cashier had no idea how to use my coupon so the manager had to step in. They only had huge bags left so I walked out with a Kinect in a huge computer-sized bag and immediately walked across the hall to the Apple Store. I felt much better once I got there!
I see what they are doing, trying to be cool like Apple but why? Honestly, they don't even have a similar business. Apple sells hardware, MS sells software and collects license fees for their enterprise products. Why would you need a store for it.. sigh. Not to mention the future of software distribution is through the cloud.