Microsoft's retail stores

There's been talk of MSFT opening their own retail stores to combat apple's. A recent article on appleinsider.com ( link) describes it.

Then came this PC World article I thought I'd share, it's amusing.

 

I don't see this lasting long.

 

haha!!a microsoft store only for windows and few microsoft softwares and very few microsoft hardware. good luck microsoft.

 

I'm guessing they'll be selling games by Microsoft Studios, games for XBOX, Zune stuff, etc. in addition to your usual Microsoft software. It would be nice if they'll also have a corporate area, where people can get info on Microsoft Enterprise level software.

Would be even better if they have special corporate discount schemes

 

I heard about this just last night. It's interesting to say the least, but I don't think it will last either. Will they hire people to stand out front dancing around with signs to get people into their stores? Who knows.

 

Redmond, start your copiers!

 

Ive heard about this some time ago from Engadget loool and yeah it is funny

 

LOL, simmer down fan boyz... This will be huge and will give apple huge competition. There will be 10 times more hardware and software that any apple store. If you all have not been paying attention, MS is really starting to kick but and has plans for some killer stuff.

 

Speaking of fanboys.....

 

Why was this posted here? This is not going to end pretty.

 

You don't say!

 

So they are going to take all there products that are already in stores, and put them in there own store. So they sell better. Sounds like that will work I hope they build one in Toronto so I can see how much they copy Apple.

Oh by the way, there first Microsoft store failed.

 

Well it is apple-related. Anyhow, personally I hope MSFT does well with their store(s). I think they can especially if they allocate a good section to small business. I guess there's no getting around that their stores, if they actually do materialize, will no doubt be compared to the apple store, if only because the apple store concept has been so successful and MSFT Stores' success will be measured against it, whether it's fair or not.

The PC World article is just poking a little fun at the idea and there's no harm in that, is there?

 

Due to the fact that Best Buy and Frys is about the only two major electronic stores, MS will most likely do very well. With a lot of the big stores now gone it has opened a hole in retail and MS will be able to fill a big gap. The good thing is that they will also sell lots of hardware from all sorts of manufactures running there software and will offer a great selection.

There first store may not have worked out but success is built on failure.

 

Oh by the way this WILL add NO competition to Apple, since Apple sells Apple products and Microsoft will sell Microsoft products. All there doing is putting a bunch of there products in one space, the people that want Apple products will still buy them. Unless they have some brainwashing thing to get people to buy MS stuff and not Apple. Really they will just be making more money, Since they can charge $40 for something and get all of that $40 instead of bestbuy selling something for $40 and part of that $40 going to bestbuy.

 

i wonder what microsoft would display in their store...

but in the end consumer wins anyway. trying to perfect, retail store experience, can only mean good things can it?

 

What's the point in a Microsoft store? It will sell exactly the same hardware and software currently avaliable in other stores.

In fact, their shelves will be identical to Best Buy, PC World etc...

Microsoft Software? Check
Desktop's from a range of manufacturers? Check
Laptop's from a range of manufacturers? Check
Zune's? Check
Windows Mobile crap? Check
PC Health Clinic? Check

Different from PC World HOW?

FAIL.

 

As I said before, it will give them a chance to make more money. But really, it's probably going to be a bust just like the first time.

 

LOL @ weak Apple fanboys. Always so insecure about their marginal marketshare vs. Windows.

 

I don't see how Microsoft is copying Apple if they're opening a store. To me it sounds like, Steve Jobs drinks water when he's thirsty, so does Steve Ballmer. Ballmer is copying Jobs by drinking water when thirsty.

 

i dont get what this post is referring to. no one in this thread has demonstrated insecurity about apple's market share.

*looks at name*

oh yeah, the resident troll. figures.

 

You forgot Xbox.

But anyway... all of Apple's major products are available at Best Buy too. So what?

iPods? Check
iPhone? Check
Mac laptops? Check
Mac desktops? Check
Apple TV? Check
...

Mac Pro workstation... ok maybe they don't have that one at Best Buy... I'm sure that's what's keeping the Apple stores crowded.

 

Yeah,right!

App store,Apple store...

 

Yes but Apple store has a lot more stuff for the Mac. And they have the support. Try and get some one at bestbuy to tell you about the Mac, your chances of getting some one good is slim to none. Apple store also has all there products out and usable, Try testing the iPhone or ipods at bestbuy they usually are never working and stuck to a big plastic box and and a annoying cord and are beat up. At the Apple store there is a bunch of them out and the staff can actually help you with questions.

 

I still don't get what are they going to sell in their stores...

 

Exactly! It's a matter of the presentation, the customer service, the sales staff, and the extent to which you can try out the products. Not much to do with whether Best Buy carries the same products or not.

Looking at PCs and PC peripherals at Best Buy has been similarly terrible, although I have to say the Best Buy stores I've seen have improved a ton in the past couple months in their presentation by taking the laptops out of their security straitjackets. And for the first time I saw one that was actually connected to the internet. (I still don't dare to try to talk to the sales staff though.)

I'm not predicting that the Microsoft stores will be successul, by the way -- I happen to think the odds are against them -- but I'm just saying that the fact that Best Buy sells most of the same products doesn't necessarily mean they're doomed... Apple proved that.

 

Also, only the Apple Stores carry the coveted Product Red line of iPods (and maybe iPhones in the future). Not that this is the reason that is drawing in the crowds, but still I thought I would throw it out there.

 

I hope its successful and creates a little competition for Apple. Steve Jobs once said that Apple fans are so fanatically loyal that they don't challenge Apple to improve or create new products.

 

This is like Palestine in Israel, what idea to post this in the apple section LOL!

Well i guess Microsoft is going to promote the zune haha and the monopoly they run...

 

I bought a Microsoft Mouse/Keyboard wireless set a few days ago and love it on the Mac. Microsoft does a good job with certain products.

They'd have to sell an awful lot of accessories and Zunes to make it worthwhile to keep a store open. Apple Stores have some crazy high sales per square foot number which Microsoft will never meet without selling computers - and even then, they won't come close.

 

so basically stores to sell zune and accessories?maybe they can try selling notebooks,but one of biggest points of apple store is genius bar,but I doubt that M$ can provide support for all manufacturers...

 

I agree. That's a big draw. I was there last week and the whole genius bar process was amazingly slick, kinda like a futuristic medical clinic. I was pretty impressed.

 

The whole reason for the Apple Store was because there wasn't very many stores out that sold Apple products. Having Microsoft stores open will basically be mimicking about 100% of stores out now. All in all I don't see the reason.