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Microsoft Targeting Apple Stores With New Retail Store Concept

cocamouthwash said:
Except Limewire isn't a real store, the songs are usually a low bit-rate, often times the artists are mislabeled or the album or they don't even have one...and if that's not enough you'll end up downloading an obscene audio file at least 1/3 of the times you download something. iTMS is the best digital media and app store.
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oh yea. limewire sounds like junk. most of the time, i can tell if a song has been limewire'd;)

but for that reason and for ethical ones, i have stopped.

as for artist names, i searched smoke on the water once and it said "Jimi Hendrix-Smoke on the Water".:confused:
 
BRLawyer said:
You didn't have to write so much; it's option 4 alright.
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I'm in the same boat as well.

The majority of the "boutique" users in the Windows world are assembling the machines themselves with Core i7s and HD 4890/GTX295s already.

Regardless of the price of the machine if you're using Windows, Microsoft doesn't make any more money on expensive hardware.
 
Seems like a waste to me. I can't remember the last time I hopped in the car and drove to the mall to buy software or hardware. Just buy it online, cheaper. This sounds like a money loser.

As far as mindshare goes, I really don't see how this is going to help. It's a reality that once you reach a maximum saturation point, there is no where to go but down. If MS has not reached that point yet, it is awfully close.
 
i can't imagine anything more exiting than a store showcasing microsoft products . . . wow, i can't wait . . . i wonder how long the overnight camped out line will be.
 
Just a few musings...

The Apple Store in Seattle's University Village is between the Ram restaurant and J. Crew (I think that's the store). Hard to see MS buying out J. Crew, so maybe the Ram? "Would you like a copy of Windows 7 to go with those sweet potato fries"?

Or maybe they'd do this... a sale poster in the MS store window. "Just bought a Mac? Get your three-button mice here!"

Or in their window, abutting the the big MacBook Air poster - "The Dell Adamo: It really is as cool as the MacBook Air! Trust us!"

Really, all jokes aside - I don't get it. Microsoft has the X-Box, but what else are they going to sell? Mice and keyboards? It just doesn't seem like a good fit for a company that mostly produces software (and OS/Productivity software to boot - not very sexy). Maybe they'll partner with Nintendo and offer the Wii?
 
An MS store will be hard to distinguish from other stores, I think. The Apple store always has a different and nifty look. I doubt MS can top the 5th Ave store or find a spot in close proximity.

At my area's mall, there isn't room for any new stores and the same is true for many other locations.

Maybe these stores will become the new setting for the Laptop Hunters ads. You just know they'll put an iSomething in there.

The MS store will be a huge failure, I can feel it.
 
Business Model

Microsoft still doesn't understand it's business model. It is still using Microsoft Version 1.0 from back in the late 80s' and it is obsolete. They keep trying to rip off other companies models, like Google and Apple.

From my MBA studies, I think they would get a lot of mileage from spinning off numerous divisions. Xbox and Zune would make up the consumer devices, and it should be profitable. The Applications division should be separated from the Core OS, with the Server products also being their own.

They keep trying to lock consumers into the MS way, but they lack the talent to do it and make bad business decisions forcing it. I expect to see MS split up (implode) in the next couple years when the OS numbers drop to 60-70% market share.

Finally, when they do split up, the individual pieces will accelerate their demise. I see MS gone the way of the dinosaur by 2016. Too bad we have to wait that long.

Just my humble opinion.
 
Microsoft placing their stores next to Apple's seems to be a gigantic waste of time. Sure, Apple's done their research, as someone has pointed out already. That research doesn't apply universally to all technology companies, however, since Apple is seen as a premium brand as well as having the "cool factor" that pulls people into their stores. When's the last time you heard someone say, "Oooh, a Dell store! I just gotta go in there!" Seriously, Microsoft doesn't get it still.

hegor said:
This is just more seeing what sticks type of doing business. I would be disappointed if I was a MS shareholder.
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Yep. The funny thing is, if what you're throwing is crap, even what sticks is still crap.

jW
 
happydude said:
i can't imagine anything more exiting than a store showcasing microsoft products . . . wow, i can't wait . . . i wonder how long the overnight camped out line will be.
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Erm, I hate to bring it to you, but most people on this planet see these campers as complete dorks. :rolleyes: Sorry, but I think you needed that reality check.
 
Here is another thought. Perhaps Microsoft is partnering with a PC maker to sell MS branded PCs? Isn't that the biggest problem with a PC that has issues - you often get caught in the "its hardware vs its software" cycle. That is one of the positives of a Mac - if you have a problem, you call Apple and software/hardware is treated as one system.

I'd be annoyed if I was a PC maker that wasn't the manufacturer though....
 
I believe this image says it best:

200804151634.jpg
 
Nem Wan said:
Microsoft can't lead by reacting.
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Especially with such turtle-like reflexes.

That's all MS does, react. Here's a list:

1. Windows
2. PowerPoint (it was for the Mac, MS bought the company)
3. Zune
4. MS Store
5. Jump Lists
6. Windows Aero
7. New taskbar

If I missed any, fell free to add.
 
Wow - really?

You really want to compare OSX to W7, iPod to Zune and iMac to Dell? Really? Side by side?

You think that will drive up sales?

For who?
 
It isn't that cut and dry to be honest. Microsoft can easily put out 3 to 4 surface tables with a few PC makers' representatives (e.g. Sony Dell...) on the side for customer service in relation to hardware issues. A few Xbox showcasing the Natal projects would be cool.

It may turn out to be a smart move by MS. However, I do agree that exposure isn't MS's biggest problem - there just isn't a point in flogging a dead horse (windows that doesn't work).
 
snberk103 said:
Here is another thought. Perhaps Microsoft is partnering with a PC maker to sell MS branded PCs? Isn't that the biggest problem with a PC that has issues - you often get caught in the "its hardware vs its software" cycle. That is one of the positives of a Mac - if you have a problem, you call Apple and software/hardware is treated as one system.

I'd be annoyed if I was a PC maker that wasn't the manufacturer though....
Click to expand...
The Microsoft branded computer idea has been tossed around over the past few years. I do believe they do so in Southeast Asia though.

Stateside or in the UK/EU seems doubtful.
 
Erwin-Br said:
Erm, I hate to bring it to you, but most people on this planet see these campers as complete dorks.
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Dorks or not, that's store traffic.

I was in the Apple Store yesterday. Middle of the afternoon, middle of the workweek. The place was packed. As usual.

Of course, the wide opens spaces and relaxing sound of cricket song in a Microsoft store might be a nice diversion from the Apple Store mob. ;)
 
I'm ecstatic. I hope it's right next door to a popular Apple store. This will add a lot of competition for Apple, and will lower Mac prices considerably over time.
 
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!;):D:apple:
 
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