Microsoft Targeting Apple Stores With New Retail Store Concept

[AidenShaw]

However now I see we're going down the path of "I can buy this consumer PC for cheaper", so I guess it doesn't really matter.

If I need and want a quad-core consumer PC, the Mac Pro is overspec'd (and therefore not competitively priced).

It does make the price delta for Win7 Professional a noise item...which was my point in the beginning. Looking at the price of the software box rather than the total system price is misleading - it hides the part of the OSX tax that is in the hardware.

And yes, I think there should be a $1200 i7 desktop that doesn't exist from Apple.

I'd say $999 for starting price, with $1200 after a few upgrades.

 

[polaris20]

If I need and want a quad-core consumer PC, the Mac Pro is overspec'd (and therefore not competitively priced).

It does make the price delta for Win7 Professional a noise item...which was my point in the beginning. Looking at the price of the software box rather than the total system price is misleading - it hides the part of the OSX tax that is in the hardware.




I'd say $999 for starting price, with $1200 after a few upgrades.

If you need a consumer quad core PC, one doesn't exist in the Apple line, and probably never will. The MP is indeed well overpriced for that functionality. They'll point you to the iMac, which is a 24" laptop.

Windows 7 pricing is fine; I think they should have kept with 2 versions (Home and Pro) like XP mainly was, but that's just me.

MS is a software company. Apple is a hardware company. You can't expect the OS prices to be the same. This is besides the point that you can order a stick a RAM and a Pro Win OS for $140 from Newegg.com, full OEM license.

I don't see why the average consumer would buy the full boxed version, unless you really wanted to transfer that license (which you cannot do with the OEM without violating the EULA).

 

[Eidorian]

Seems reasonable enough polaris20. It's hard to find that around here sometimes.

 

[AidenShaw]

Paying additional money to "unlock" software features isn't unusual - look no further than Quicktime Pro. Was it "deceptive" for Apple to ship the pro functionality in the application, but only enable it when you pay the upgrade?

Boy, the "crippleware" shouters went into hiding once it was shown that Apple does the same "horrible" deed that Microsoft stands accused of....

 

[polaris20]

Boy, the "crippleware" shouters went into hiding once it was shown that Apple does the same "horrible" deed that Microsoft stands accused of....

It's ridiculous to whine about it regardless of which side of the fence you're on, because tons of companies do it, not just MS and Apple.

 

[rijiMacDij]

Nah, no way!

And employees in beige t-shirts...

Nah, no way! The Employee Dress Code requires that all employees must be suitably attired at all times. Any employee found to be missing his collar and tie will be dismissed immediatly!

 

[rijiMacDij]

Erm, I hate to bring it to you, but most people on this planet see these campers as complete dorks. Sorry, but I think you needed that reality check.

That's probably because most of the people on the planet are not very clever.

 

[DMann]

Boy, the "crippleware" shouters went into hiding once it was shown that Apple does the same "horrible" deed that Microsoft stands accused of....

Oh really?

That's crap, stop spreading lies.

Microsoft kills Windows 7 Starter's 3-app limit

Drops the restriction to dodge 'crippleware' label for SKU targeting netbooks

Gregg Keizer 01 June, 2009 08:16

Microsoft today dropped a limitation from Windows 7 Starter, the edition expected to ship on most netbooks, that would have blocked users from running more than three applications at the same time.

http://www.computerworld.com.au/arti...t?fp=16&fpid=1

So you actually believe that MS would have even considered killing the 3-app restriction had it not been for droves and droves of shouting and complaining? Their intent is undeniable, and blatantly characteristic of a company scheming to induce upgrades - for a very expensive operating system, no less.

 

[Eidorian]

So you actually believe that MS would have even considered killing the 3-app restriction had it not been for droves and droves of shouting and complaining? Their intent is undeniable, and blatantly characteristic of a company scheming to induce upgrades - for a very expensive operating system, no less.

Microsoft sells software for profit you know...

 

[DMann]

Microsoft sells software for profit you know...

As they make their largest and most significant profit from their OEM bundles.

 

[cohibadad]

Microsoft sells software for profit you know...

If you mean to imply that Microsoft is a monopoly and has engaged in anti-competitive and illegal activities to leverage and maintain it's monopoly position through OEM deals to distribute their software thus maximizing their profit I agree.

If you mean to imply that Microsoft despite their monopoly position competes fairly in the OS business and is just selling software for profit in the spirit of the free market I disagree.

 

[BongoBanger]

If you mean to imply that Microsoft is a monopoly and has engaged in anti-competitive and illegal activities to leverage and maintain it's monopoly position through OEM deals to distribute their software thus maximizing their profit I agree.

You might want to consider that statement since it hasn't been true for over a decade. Of course, if you can prove otherwise feel free.

 

[SeenJeen]

Good for them. Now people can demo their crappy products, and then go to the Apple store next door, so they can get a good quality product!

Or, people can check out Apple's products, realize that they're over-priced, and then go to the Microsoft store next door, so they can get a cheaper product.

 

[pika2000]

Maybe MS is doing something we don't know.
1. There have been rumors that MS is going to roll out their own PC. One can argue endlessly on this, but having a retail store is probably useful to jumpstart a new hardware product.
2. Microsoft making their own Windows Mobile phone. The ZuneHD is probably a good early indication.

Things that I should be able to do/get going into a Microsoft retail store:
1. Get a free CD/DVD containing the latest service pack/update rollup of their software.
2. Get a quick replacement for an Xbox 360RROD.
3. Get a Windows Mobile device OS upgrade.
If neither of these are doable, then I fail to see the point of a Microsoft retail store.

 

[Eidorian]

As they make their largest and most significant profit from their OEM bundles.

Sounds a lot like Apple...

Though Apple is getting their chunk off of OEM hardware sales more so than software.

 

[AidenShaw]

So you actually believe that MS would have even considered killing the 3-app restriction had it not been for droves and droves of shouting and complaining? Their intent is undeniable, and blatantly characteristic of a company scheming to induce upgrades - for a very expensive operating system, no less.

Your post is not relevant to the fact that I was correcting misinformation in an earlier post.

Microsoft never shipped and does not plan to ship Windows 7 with a 3 app limit. Why they changed the plan is irrelevant, except if one is looking to get in a bit of Microsoft bashing.

I'm amused that most of the time people here are defending Apple's higher prices as being "worth it" - yet when Microsoft charges the usual for a full OS release, and Apple discounts its 10.6 "service pack" all the chants are "Apple is cheaper". LOL.

 

[DMann]

Your post is not relevant to the fact that I was correcting misinformation in an earlier post.

Microsoft never shipped and does not plan to ship Windows 7 with a 3 app limit. Why they changed the plan is irrelevant, except if one is looking to get in a bit of Microsoft bashing.

It is, however, relevant to the fact that Microsoft's intention, up until June 1st, was indeed, to ship W7 with a 3 app limit. If inducing upgrades from consumers were not a primary goal, MS would never have had maintained this element of their scheme into the pipeline to begin with, and your post inadvertently confirms this. Furthermore, for someone with such a notorious reputation for Apple bashing, it is almost amusing to hear you mention Microsoft bashing, especially after the adolescent gloating, self-aggrandizing remarks you've made previously:

Boy, the "crippleware" shouters went into hiding once it was shown that Apple does the same "horrible" deed that Microsoft stands accused of....

You might want to consider that statement since it hasn't been true for over a decade. Of course, if you can prove otherwise feel free.

Do you mean re-consider? Although it may be true that Microsoft's monopolistic, anti-competitive and illegal activities to maintain it's monopolistic position may have subsided since the 1990s, the repercussions and results of their contentious OEM distributions continue to resonate and linger to date - perhaps this is what was impleid here.

 

[AidenShaw]

It is, however, relevant to the fact that Microsoft's intention, up until June 1st, was indeed, to ship W7 with a 3 app limit. If inducing upgrades from consumers were not a primary goal, MS would never have had maintained this element of their scheme into the pipeline to begin with, and your post inadvertently confirms this. Furthermore, for someone with such a notorious reputation for Apple bashing, it is almost amusing to hear you mention Microsoft bashing, especially after the adolescent gloating, self-aggrandizing remarks you've made previously:

meh.

Do you mean re-consider? Although it may be true that Microsoft's monopolistic, anti-competitive and illegal activities to maintain it's monopolistic position may have subsided since the 1990s, the repercussions and results of their contentious OEM distributions continue to resonate and linger to date - perhaps this is what was impleid here.

I'll bookmark this for the time when Apple's monopolistic and anti-competitive activities with Ipod/Itunes are deemed to be illegal.

 

[pdjudd]

I'll bookmark this for the time when Apple's monopolistic and anti-competitive activities with Ipod/Itunes are deemed to be illegal.

I'm thinking that the chances of that happening are the same as Microsoft having their Zune and Dune application program be considered monopolistic and anti-competitive. I won;t hold my breath and thats even with knowing that Microsoft has been legally called a monopolist and a public trust company.


I've said it before and I'll say it again, nothing wrong with being popular and wanting to control your property. I mean, even if I am the most popular person in the block doesn't mean that I can't control who visits me. Heck, retailers can kick a person out for whatever reason they want.

 

[cohibadad]

You might want to consider that statement since it hasn't been true for over a decade. Of course, if you can prove otherwise feel free.

You might want to try google. Took a couple seconds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Microsoft_competition_case

 

[AidenShaw]

You might want to try google. Took a couple seconds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Microsoft_competition_case

That really isn't a new complaint - in some ways it's still a continuation of the original.

The funny thing, though, is that Microsoft's "crime of monopolistic anti-competitiveness" is to include a web browser with their OS !!

That just seems silly to me. Taken to extremes, hardly anything (movie software, image editing software, media players...) could be included with the OS. Maybe they should rip out the network stack and storage virtualization as well.

 

[cohibadad]

That really isn't a new complaint - in some ways it's still a continuation of the original.

The funny thing, though, is that Microsoft's "crime of monopolistic anti-competitiveness" is to include a web browser with their OS !!

That just seems silly to me. Taken to extremes, hardly anything (movie software, image editing software, media players...) could be included with the OS. Maybe they should rip out the network stack and storage virtualization as well.

This particular case was regarding Windows Media Player but it's not simply a matter of bundling. "Citing ongoing abuse by Microsoft, the EU reached a preliminary decision in the case in 2003 and ordered the company to offer both a version of Windows without Windows Media Player and the information necessary for competing networking software to interact fully with Windows desktops and servers." In many ways it is a continuation of the Netscape situation. Microsoft lost that trial then continued the same practice of abusing their monopoly position.

 

[BongoBanger]

You might want to try google. Took a couple seconds. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Microsoft_competition_case

Well done. 1993 is over a decade ago. The preliminary judgment was 2003 but you might want to pay attention to when the action was raised.

Plus, even if we take your silly terms that was still five years ago.

Was there anything else?

 

[RTee]

Or, people can check out Apple's products, realize that they're over-priced, and then go to the Microsoft store next door, so they can get a cheaper product.

Then regret it for however long they keep the thing, Apple will get them next time around!

Mac's aren't overpriced, the cheaper product is simply that, cheap. If you can't afford a Mac then fair enough that is too bad but personally I think you get what you pay for.

 

[AidenShaw]

Microsoft lost that trial then continued the same practice of abusing their monopoly position.

If simply including a web browser with an OS is "abuse of monopoly", then the situation is absurd.