You're comparing a new system to an old one. That's like saying I prefer Leopard over Windoze 2000.
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Microsoft Targeting Apple Stores With New Retail Store Concept
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So disrespectful to monkeys...
Anyway, I just heard that Ballmer is trying to induce Pancreatic cancer by eating old boxes full of Windows 3.11 floppy disks...
Good luck to them, they'll need it....
To be fair to them, they've offered VERY fair pricing on pre-orders for Windows 7, though it will quickly get unfair again when the offer ends. And 7 is actually pretty good (as Windows goes) - not on the level of OS X of course
But for a company that has a reputation for doing poor copies (a few years later) of everything that Apple does, that people have been starting to ridicule, this doesn't seem wise. It doesn't strike me as the best image to be actively projecting.
To be fair to them, they've offered VERY fair pricing on pre-orders for Windows 7, though it will quickly get unfair again when the offer ends. And 7 is actually pretty good (as Windows goes) - not on the level of OS X of course
But for a company that has a reputation for doing poor copies (a few years later) of everything that Apple does, that people have been starting to ridicule, this doesn't seem wise. It doesn't strike me as the best image to be actively projecting.
I definitely agree. With 300 comments and quotes and all, I don't read anything useful. Sometimes there are useful topics to learn from but trash comments on this forum just suck all the good ones. There should be rating.
That is why Appleinsider comments are still better as they are still fewer and usually reasonable ones. I have learnt a lot of stocks related things from people there. Lately their comment volume is also increasing but still okay. MR is just getting ****** to read any good comments.
Please bring digg style comment rating (or better).
But to end users and developers, what does market share matter to them? How does that impact them aside from stockholders and investors?
The news is just too tempting not to have some fun with. Here are some yet-to-be-officially-revealed details about the Microsoft stores.
1) Instead of Apple's sheer walls of glass, Microsoft's stores will have brushed steel walls dotted with holes -- reminiscent of Windows security.
2) The store will have six different entrances: Starter, Basic, Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. While all six doors will lead into the same store, the Ultimate door requires a fee of $100 for no apparent reason.
3) Instead of a "Genius Bar" (as Apple provides) Microsoft will offer an Excuse Bar. It will be staffed by Microsofties trained in the art of evading questions, directing you to complicated and obscure fixes, and explaining it's a problem with the hardware -- not a software bug.
4) The Windows Genuine Advantage team will run storefront security, assuming everybody is a thief until they can prove otherwise.
5) Store hours are undetermined. At any given time the store mysteriously shuts down instantaneously for no apparent reason. (No word yet on what happens to customers inside).
6) Stores will be named Microsoft Live Retail Store with PC Services for Digital Lifestyle Enthusiasts.
7) Fashioned after Microsoft's User Account Control (UAC) in Vista, sales personnel will ask you whether you're positive you want to purchase something at least twice.
8) Xbox 360 section of the store will be organized in a ring -- which will inexplicably go red occasionally.
9) DreamWorks will design a scary in-store theme park ride called "blue screen of death."
10) Store emergency exits will be unlocked at all times so people can get in anytime they want even if the front doors are locked.
*Pcworld.com
1) Instead of Apple's sheer walls of glass, Microsoft's stores will have brushed steel walls dotted with holes -- reminiscent of Windows security.
2) The store will have six different entrances: Starter, Basic, Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. While all six doors will lead into the same store, the Ultimate door requires a fee of $100 for no apparent reason.
3) Instead of a "Genius Bar" (as Apple provides) Microsoft will offer an Excuse Bar. It will be staffed by Microsofties trained in the art of evading questions, directing you to complicated and obscure fixes, and explaining it's a problem with the hardware -- not a software bug.
4) The Windows Genuine Advantage team will run storefront security, assuming everybody is a thief until they can prove otherwise.
5) Store hours are undetermined. At any given time the store mysteriously shuts down instantaneously for no apparent reason. (No word yet on what happens to customers inside).
6) Stores will be named Microsoft Live Retail Store with PC Services for Digital Lifestyle Enthusiasts.
7) Fashioned after Microsoft's User Account Control (UAC) in Vista, sales personnel will ask you whether you're positive you want to purchase something at least twice.
8) Xbox 360 section of the store will be organized in a ring -- which will inexplicably go red occasionally.
9) DreamWorks will design a scary in-store theme park ride called "blue screen of death."
10) Store emergency exits will be unlocked at all times so people can get in anytime they want even if the front doors are locked.
*Pcworld.com
End users: a larger market share means the availability of more compatible software, hardware, service, retailers etc. The list goes on.
Developers: larger and more stable market to sell their products to.
I'm sorry... I didn't realize we had travelled through time and this was 1999.
Have you tried Vista or Windows 7? Because if you had I don't think you would be using such antiquated arguments. I'd rather have patches downloading regularly fixing flaws in a speedy manner than Apples slap handed way of leaving holes open for extended periods of time. Java update ring a bell? Also, in terms of time spent utilizing bandwidth on updates Windows wins hands down, since just to update iTunes on my Mac required 80mb, and the java update was 150mb+ vs a fraction of those sizes for updates to Vista. On another point registry problems, dll issues and frequently crashing apps are something which haven't been an issue since the days of XP to be totally frank.
Windows 7 is a solid release whether or not you wish to recognize it as so. I want competition to force prices down and innovation up.
Welcome to the Microsoft store.
+ Windows 7 Home Premium
+ Office 2007
That will be $700 thanks. *guffaw*
I really hate brainless Microsoft bashing.
Windows Vista HP - $119
+Office 2007 - $290 ($89 for Student Edition)
---------
$208-409
VS
Leopard - $109
+Office 2008 - $279 ($109 for Student Edition)
---------
$218-388
Those are the prices taken from Amazon. If you go to the Apple store though, you'll pay $20 more for Leopard, $120 more for Office and $20 more for the Student Edition. It's fine to dislike Microsoft's products, but your (and many other) attack on their pricing is ridiculous given that you would pay about the same amount for the same stuff on the Mac side (and way more if you buy it at their stores).
And before anyone corrects me, iWork is not an analogue to Office as there are far fewer components and none of the apps (excluding Keynote) offer anywhere near the depth of their Office equivalents.
ahem.. but downloading service pack 2 for my mom's vista install takes almost 2 hrs because of MS slow servers. Snow Leopard Update on the other hand (750MB) 15 minutes. At least Apple fixes holes properly. You can't say a windows system without antivirus software is safe to use.
Having both suites on my mac, I definitely prefer iWork Pages and Keynote are fantastic. Don't see any depth differences except with excel.
I wouldn't agree with that statement. The day 10.5.7 was released I couldn't get it to download at all due to Apples servers being overloaded whilst I've always received atleast 10Mb/ps from Microsofts Windows Update. And I've also had instances of Software Updates failing in the client and having to download the much larger combo updates from Apples main website.
And that's if any updates are released at all as CCUK correctly said it took Apple months to fix that JAVA flaw which would have been corrected by MS in one of their frequent security patches. What is worse 1 small patch every Tuesday or 1 large patch every 3 months. I'd rather be protected as soon as possible.
If you were having that much trouble start the update again and hit some other mirrors or just go get the direct download.
If Microsoft really does set up shop next to Apple, I think MS will sell more 360s but sell fewer computers. In the long run, it might actually help Apple when customers walk into the MS store and see a pretty BSOD, then take a tour to the walls of Anti-virus software, Internet security suites, and lots and lots peripherals for those heavily corded PCs.
It will happen exactly the contrary. All people going to buy a MS product will of course change mind and enter Apple stores.
I can't wait to bring my DELL and bitch on their "Moron" bar. I mean that must be what it will be called right? Apple has the "Genius" bar, Microsoft will have a "Moron" bar.
ROFLOL
I welcome this retail store competition from Microsoft! The malls need more places to go and take a nap!
Mark
Mark
Wow. It took 5 or 6 pages of posts for someone to have a clue.
Most people use Windows at work. They think MS means Office. They don't know you can do some pretty cool consumer things with Microsoft software. I personally prefer doing these types of things on a Mac, but there are a whole host of people who already own a xbox and a PC and have no idea they can work together to bring content from the PC to the TV.
These stores are going to be about education and customer retention. They are trying to break the mindset that Windows is for work and Apple is for home. And I think they may have a good shot at it.
They will have demo systems setup and workshops about how you can have a digital life with Windows as well.
And, as always, competition is good for us as consumers.