Microsoft Recruits Former Apple Retail Store Exec for Retail Initiative

[machead33]

Sleeping with the enemy

That's all I have to say:
Sleeping with the enemy

There should be some loyalty and understanding of what Microsoft stands for among people who work/worked for Apple.

Poor poor choice.

When they open the new Microcrap stores, I intend to walk in there and ask them how to do certain things (that only mac can do i.e. expose, make easy animated DVDs, etc.) and laugh at their stupidity.

Machead33

 

[chaosconan]

Some people were born to lead while others were born to follow

or should i say

Some companies were born to lead (apple) while others were born to follow (microsoft).

 

[DELLsFan]

Prime retail space costs tens of thousands per month in rent. Microsoft just wants to showcase its products?

Ooh...let's go play with Excel macros!

You can do that.

I'll be playing with the Surface products. By the time the M$ retail (showcase) store hits a mall near you, the prices ought to be a bit lower than $10k, what do you think?

 

[bhop123]

It is about perception

Microsoft's interest in a retail store is not to make money. They have more money than they know what to do with. This is a marketing strategy that is aimed to influence people's belief's about M$.

M$ wants to capitalize on the changing tide of how computer/software companies are perceived. Apple has done that - soundly with good products (hardware and software) that perform the way the they say they will. M$'s strategy has been a pc in every house and office for a long time, now they need to change the way people think about them. Less 'Office' and 'Vista' and 'industry' and more 'way of life'. This is what Apple has done so successfully. Obviously, even in tough economic times, people are still spending money to satisfy their entertainment and life needs. And Apple has profited handsomely from this. Is it no surprise that M$ wants a piece of that action?

I'm afraid this is all about perception. You can bet XBox will be a central theme to their stores, as will W7, and anything else that makes people think M$ is innovative - even though many of us don't agree.

 

[cyrusgriffin]

Goodness, what will they think-*rip off Apple* of next?

Goodness... What are they going to be showing off? Windows 7's newest feature, "Places??" Besides Windows 7 isn't really windows 7... But I can guarantee you, weighing in at about 20Gb, and with about 6 different versions (right?) to choose from, not many people will be upgrading... from XP. Of all the stout PC people I know... I'd say about 98% of them dislike Vista. So basically, these stores are just part of their "We don't suck" campaign. Maybe if they spent some of their money on actually developing Windows, they could make an easy to use, efficient OS that's not total bloatware.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

The problem is going to be Apple Stores sell things and earn a profit. These stores...?

 

[Eidorian]

Because original and insightful commentary is hard to find on most message boards, no matter the subject.

Everyday is repost day.

It's not that surprising that you'd recruit someone with experience.

 

[qbricc]

Show and Tell

I think that the role the apple stores play could benefit MS, I found out about using airport express to wirelessly stream music from visiting an Apple store. If MS use it to show people what PCs are capable of then it could be a useful tool to increase the sale of new media tech.

If they can get as many kids in as an Apple store then the money will be well spent.

If not then it will be another epic fail.

 

[AidenShaw]

When they open the new Microsoft stores, I intend to walk in there and ask them how to do certain things (that only mac can do i.e. expose, make easy animated DVDs, etc.) and laugh at their stupidity.

And what will you do when the Microsoft staffer shows you how to make a Blu-ray Disc movie?

 

[TheSlush]

I don't get it at all.... So what will a MS store do? They have no hardware to feature. Will it be nothing more than a place for tweens to gather to check email ? Will they offer classes for MS Word and (yawn) Excel?... Why?

I don't get it. What does Microsoft hope to accomplish? What will they sell in these stores, Zunes and Windows 7?

So, what are they going to sell at the store?

1.) They'll have a table of laptops to further promote their hardware partners' products. (Yes, it's obvious Microsoft has little faith in their partners' abilities to promote themselves. Thus that $300 million ad campaign to do it for them.)

2.) They'll have a big video wall showing this video of futuristic digital interfaces that their Office Labs came up with to prove "Yes we are too innovative! Look! We can make up cool stuff and animate it in Adobe After Effects!"

 

[uberamd]

Microsoft's interest in a retail store is not to make money. They have more money than they know what to do with.

Ah, that must be why they laid off 5,000 people earlier this year.

 

[sal]

rather than providing a place to "showcase" how about providing some support like the genius bar to support people with the numerous vista problems/issues.

That would make a lot more sense.

 

[globalhemp]

Drive 10 miles? How about 150 miles!

People will not drive 10 miles to an Apple Store?

I live in Peoria, IL which has a metropolitan population of 300,000 and another 100,000 people are located 35 miles away in Bloomington-Normal. Yet, there is no Apple Store.

Peoria is home to Bradley University, Normal has Illinois State University, and Bloomington has Illinois Wesleyan University. Lots of college students.

Peoria also has many Mac users in design companies such as Dynamic Graphics and MultiAd. If Apple gets more into engineering workstations, Peoria has the world headquarters for Caterpillar.
The closest Apple Store is located in the suburbs of Chicago and St Louis. That's over 150 miles is either direction.

 

[hegor]

Thats quite a daunting task to make the Microsoft product portfolio look cool and hip. I'm sure its a well paying job though!

I've said previously, this retail initiative is ill conceived.

So Microsoft will irritate mall stores that already carry their product (Gamestop).

They will sell stuff that you can find anywhere. I can get Windows, Office, Microsoft accessories at any office superstore, Fry's, Best Buy, a million hole in the wall PC shops. Apple stuff wasn't easily attainable before the Apple Store.

If the point is to gain mindshare and make their products look cool, they should start with actually making their products cool.

The only thing MS has in its favor is an abundance of available space in malls right now, they may even get great terms on leases. But will these stores be successful. Well they might be profitable, but they won't take a bite out of Apple, and MS will take sales from their own retail partners.

 

[Goona]

Microsoft's copycat culture is becoming blatantly apparent to even those outside the Mac community. The more they align themselves with Apple, the worse they look.

iPod - Zune
iPod touch - Zune HD
iTunes- Zune Desktop
I'm a Mac- I'm a PC, Laptop Hunters
Apple Store - Microsoft Store
iPhone - Zunephone?

 

[LagunaSol]

If the point is to gain mindshare and make their products look cool, they should start with actually making their products cool.

Too much work.

 

[Goona]

ahhh, here we go. the first person to defend MS by accusing us of suggesting that APPLE invented the world. no one here has claimed APPLE invented retail stores, phones, MP3 players, etc.

try again. the point to all of this is MS has a history of not being original, and immolating the competition in pretty distinctive ways. can the fact that they hired THE former APPLE retail guru to lead this charge be any more painfully obvious?!

The only reason they doing it is because Apple did it, that's why they tyig to put them close to Apple stored, they are scared of Apple in Redmond.

 

[rwilliams]

That's all I have to say:

When they open the new Microcrap stores, I intend to walk in there and ask them how to do certain things (that only mac can do i.e. expose, make easy animated DVDs, etc.) and laugh at their stupidity.

Machead33

Good lord, what are you, 15??

 

[charlituna]

I wonder if Apple will have issues with this.

I disagree. I think that they will not fear any sense of competition. if anything, having a Microsoft Center (I refuse to call it a store since they aren't allegedly selling anything) will just reinforce faith when someone comes to buy Apple. because they looked at both choices fully.

that APPLE hadn't invented retail

No Apple didn't invent retail but they did reinvent it. they created a store that was focused on the singular brand. With machines you can really try out because they have software and even files on them. Not just cute little movies that tell you what you can do. they have in house service staff that do repairs or when they can't, they see it to that your machine goes to a certified repair center so you don't have to hunt for one. they have classes and trainers to show you what you can do. they have staff that don't just ask what your budget is and toss the most expensive machine at you., they ask questions and listen (well the best of their staff does, there are always some bad eggs). they try to help you walk out with everything you need from software to printers to cables and even books to go with your machine.

No one will buy anything from a Mac store in skid row. Most of the people there can't afford any of it.

hyperbolic. we all know that Apple wouldn't put a store in such places. so the comment is moot

While I don't know what happened to the people in the commercials after they were done shooting, but they still bought PCs.

actually they didn't. they were paid with the computer. and possibly one they couldn't return.

and you can bet that those ads were scripted at least as much as every reality tv show is.

And what will you do when the Microsoft staffer shows you how to make a Blu-ray Disc movie?

applaud and then go home and go back to doing with toast and my external drive.

folks gripe like Apple blocked blu-ray from working with their machines all cause it's not build in. Okay so I can't play the discs I make. I'm making them for a fraking 50 inch tv and not like 20 inch computer anyway. so what do I care that I have to walk across my living room to test the disk. am I really expected to be that lazy that it's an issue.
Apple has their own spin and licensing blu-ray isn't cheap. many Windows/PC folks need to add blu-ray to give their machines something to make them attractive. Apple doesn't feel that way. not enough to spend the money they would have to and raise prices again.
but there are ways to create blu-rays with your Mac from other sources and they work just fine. I would hazard most of the tiny portion of Mac buyers out there that really must have blu-ray have already invested in such sources

 

[djellison]

When they open the new Microcrap stores, I intend to walk in there and ask them how to do certain things (that only mac can do i.e. expose, make easy animated DVDs, etc.) and laugh at their stupidity.

Machead33

1 - 'Microcrap'. Really? How old are you, 5? Grow up.

2 - Are you then going to walk into the Apple store and ask them if you can use 3DS Max on OSX

3 - Then, I'd suggest asking if you can play BR on a stunning 24inch iMac.

4 - Then I'd finish with asking about plugging a MBP into a nice HDTV using HDMI

Then I assume you will laugh at THEIR Stupidity, right?

I mean - fair's fair.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

Dear Microsoft,

Stop stealing bites from Apples, get your own damn Apple!

First Palm hiring an old iPod executive for their Pre, now Micosoft hiring a retail executive for their retail stores? Stop taking bites from Apple!

^above poster^
You can plug in a MBP to an HDTV. mDP -> DVI -> HDMI. And Boot Camp for the other stuff you mentioned (what's BR? I'm not a gamer..) At least Macs have the capability. PCs running whatever version of Windows + whatever anti-virus software will still be plagued with viruses.

 

[jzuena]

That is a fair point. Maybe you are right, and maybe that is why the stores will fail, but I think many people do feel that the computer is a commodity. The enthusiasts will not be swayed by any of this. The Microsoft stores will not get anyone to switch from this forum nor teach anything to a PC enthusiast. But it may keep a housewife from switching to a Mac.

But is that really cost effective? If the Apple store converts someone, it is for a $1000+ computer (unless you just buy an iPod) and they realize that revenue immediately as you buy something. Microsoft will be saving a $200 Windows license (if you buy retail) or even less for the OEM license in a new Dell/HP/etc, and they don't realize anything until you upgrade at a later time.

Maybe Microsoft will shock everyone and make all their display computers Macs and show how great their software runs on them. At least then they know they will be getting retail licenses every time!

 

[jzuena]

well they were, and their time is up now.
they pioneered and the idea of a personal computer. which is why computers are a common household item nowadays.
they brought the computer to us, and now their job is done, and Apple's (which didnt do as well as Microsoft decades ago) time is here now to revolutionize personal computing again by changing how we see and use our computers. (much more media and everyday use friendly)

Not to sound like a fanboy, but Apple pioneered the idea of a personal computer in 1977 with the Apple ][. Before that most computers (including the original Apple) were kits that hobbyists had to build themselves. The Apple ][ could be un-boxed and turned on with no soldering needed. It gained some traction in businesses in order to run spreadsheet applications and word processors without being tied into the mainframe. Then in 1980 IBM saw what was going on and introduced their own smaller-than-a-mainframe computer which was actually called the IBM Personal Computer for which they paid Microsoft to write the operating system (PC-DOS). The reason computers are common household items is because Compaq was able to make a successful clone of the IBM PC and survive court challenges. This brought the cost for systems running Microsoft's DOS software down and allowed Microsoft to market it directly to clone makers (as MS-DOS) rather than just bundling it with IBM PCs. This began the chain of events that got us to where we are today.

 

[GoodWatch]

Not to sound like a fanboy, but Apple pioneered the idea of a personal computer in 1977 with the Apple ][.

That would be the Commodore PET.

 

[Sehnsucht]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

Why would Microsoft even need retail stores?

It's an honest question. Apple's retail stores are their biggest way of bringing their otherwise-niche product to potential customers.

Microsoft has no "potential" customers. The entire human race is basically their customer base already. Microsoft and its products are literally everywhere! The average human is touched by Steve Ballmer in one way or another every day. Most people already use Windows, and are familiar with it to the point where anything without a Start menu is alien.

It's like McDonalds' billboards. Really no need for them, because it's a given that there's going to be a McDonalds in that town anyway.

Again I ask...Why does Microsoft feel the need to "get the word out"? They don't need to!