Microsoft stores to open near Apple's; Steve Jobs at Coldplay gig

[AppleInsider]

In a not-so-subtle move, Microsoft says its retail stores will deliberately open near those run by Apple. Also, Steve Jobs has shown a rare public display of his love of music by attending a Coldplay concert, and the first Apple store in Canada's capital city is due to open this Saturday.

Microsoft retail locations to shadow Apple's

While Microsoft declared its intentions to enter the retail game and counter Apple's public image months ago, its chief operating officer Kevin Turner on Wednesday revealed just how important Apple is to its strategy: when they open in the fall, the new shops will be situated near Apple stores, not independently. A Microsoft representative eventually confirmed that at least some stores will be "in proximity" to Apple's.

Turner also emphasized that the company's stores will be as much a learning experience as centers of commerce and that it would 'share with partners' what it finds from its experience. The gesture would potentially assuage fears from PC manufacturers that also sell at retail elsewhere.

He wouldn't enter into a discussion of what the stores themselves would resemble other than to say they wouldn't copy Apple. They will instead "innovate for the long term," one attendee heard Turner mention. One clue as to Microsoft's direction might be found in the company's Retail Experience Center near its Redmond headquarters. The 20,000 square foot location has been characterized as a testbed for what the software giant would like to see for Windows PCs, Xbox 360s and Zune media players displayed at retail. Among its touches would be intelligent shopping carts that receive live data to guide customers.

Microsoft's Retail Experience Center in Redmond, a possible clue as to its eventual store design.

Mary Jo Foley of ZDNet, however, hears from her sources that the stores will be "showcases" more than they will be traditional stores. The strategy is controversial; companies like Dell and Gateway have both tried opening stores that wouldn't allow customers to carry home physical goods and were ultimately forced to shift their focus towards third-party retail.

Jobs attends Coldplay concert

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs may have been back at work two weeks ago, but his schedule has afforded him some time to relax, one roadie for Coldplay discovered for himself Tuesday night.

At a show in the Shoreline Amphitheater near San Francisco, the unnamed crew member spotted Jobs talking to TV host and celebrity news blogger Dave Holmes outside of the band's dressing room. What was discussed wasn't mentioned, but Jobs' identifiable presence was unusual; in spite of his self-professed love of music, few publicly single him out as having appeared at a given event. The roadie himself admitted that he couldn't bring himself to talk to Jobs directly.

"I suddenly [felt] like a star-struck teenager," the band help said. "In order to get the gall up to speak to the guy, I [downed] a double espresso. The mixture of caffeine buzz and feeling like a cheesy little fanboy [meant] that all I [could] manage to say to him is 'Thank you so much.' I [realised] that [I was] quite simply making a tit of myself and so [excused] myself as fast as I appeared."

Ottawa Apple store to open Saturday

Apple's drive into Canada will expand significantly when Apple Store Rideau opens its doors at 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning.

Located in the Rideau Centre in the downtown of the country's capital, the store will be Apple's tenth in Canada and the first for the province of Ontario outside of the Greater Toronto Area, where four stores already exist.

Confirmation of plans for the store first appeared in February, when job listings identified the Mac maker's plans. Construction began in earnest as of April.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[DCJ001]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

In a not-so-subtle move, Microsoft says its retail stores will deliberately open near those run by Apple.

Shirley, you must be kidding.

This ought to drive customers to the Apple Stores and really boost sales.

I can call you Shirley. Right?

[brucep]

Originally Posted by appleinsider

i
microsoft retail locations to shadow apple's

.

good life

[mdriftmeyer]

A Microsoft representative eventually confirmed that at least some stores will be "in proximity" to Apple's.

Great news! This only makes it simpler for people to walk within proximity to compare and laugh their asses off on how different the systems work and figure out how come the kids all want Macs and the parents are stuck using Windows to keep current with work.

Please, don't forget to include 3 or 4 vendor PCs to demo Windows 7 when Snow Leopard comes out and people can test them both.

[Robin Huber]

I just love it when Microsoft has to play the reactive role. It makes it so clear who's the innovator and who isn't. Can't wait for those proximal stores--nothing like the nerd trying to hang out with the cool kids. I expect M/S to downplay expectations--like the "showcase" point made in the article--to avoid the humiliatingly low sales in these stores compared to Apple.

[Dlux]

Let's not forget about Microsoft's first foray into retail - at the Metreon in San Francisco. I believe the banner out front said something like "Retails For Sure", but the next week I stopped by the store was boarded up.

[ericblr]

("He wouldn't enter into a discussion of what the stores themselves would resemble other than to say they wouldn't copy Apple. ")


Oh no, that picture doesnt look like an apple store at all!

*rolls eyes*

[majortom1981]

Originally Posted by ericblr

("He wouldn't enter into a discussion of what the stores themselves would resemble other than to say they wouldn't copy Apple. ")


Oh no, that picture doesnt look like an apple store at all!

*rolls eyes*

Doesnt look like an apple store to me. My local apple store is 2 counters on each side with another counter in the middle of the back and shelves all around the outside. Looks nothing like that picture.

[bloggerblog]

I'd love to see customers taking their computers to a Microsoft Genius Bar and infecting the store's system with spyware and viruses. Their IT would probably resolve to rebooting from a Linux CD.

Microsoft opening a store next to Apple's is a cancerous move for Microsoft. Microsoft's only credible weapon is XBox which doesn't run Windows.

[quinney]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

He wouldn't enter into a discussion of what the stores themselves would resemble other than to say they wouldn't copy Apple. They will instead "innovate for the long term," one attendee heard Turner mention.

That sounds like corporate rhetoric for "short term, we don't have a clue".

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

One clue as to Microsoft's direction might be found in the company's Retail Experience Center near its Redmond headquarters. The 20,000 square foot location has been characterized as a testbed for what the software giant would like to see for Windows PCs, Xbox 360s and Zune media players displayed at retail. Among its touches would be intelligent shopping carts that receive live data to guide customers.

Someone needs to write an iPod touch app for that.

[MacTripper]

Jobs attends Coldplay concert

Oh sh*t, now he will be depressed...

[NasserAE]

This will only result in the same scene I saw in NorthPark Center Mall in Dallas. Apple store was full with shoppers while Dell store employees on the upper level were playing Solitaire.

[mathwiz777]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs may have been back at work two weeks ago, but his schedule has afforded him some time to relax, one roadie for Coldplay discovered for himself Tuesday night.

Having gone to this concert, it was on Monday night, not Tuesday night. Whoops.

[zenwaves]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

Among its touches would be intelligent shopping carts that receive live data to guide customers.

Shopping carts? Sounds classy.

[anantksundaram]

What exactly would they sell at a Microsoft store? MS Office, Zune, and xbox? Oh, and a mouse? How could they possible make money doing this?

[anantksundaram]

And, wasn't this Burger King's strategy vis-a-vis McDonalds? I don't think that panned out too well for BK.....

[John.B]

Ooooh, I bet these new Microsoft stores are going to just be packed with people who want to shop at a store where they don't really sell anything...

It seems like Steve Ballmer is willing to go to great lengths to "get even" with Apple using his shareholders' money.

Maybe they'll at least play the Monkey Boy and Developers! Developers! Developers! videos on a big screen?

[Mr. H]

Originally Posted by anantksundaram

What exactly would they sell at a Microsoft store? MS Office, Zune, and xbox? Oh, and a mouse? How could they possible make money doing this?

One guesses that they would be selling PCs, third-party software, and probably flat-panel TVs and monitors too.

In a weird sort of a way, you have to hand it to Microsoft for being bold enough to just brazenly copy Apple the way they do. Given the amazing success of Apple's business model, it's odd that more people don't copy them.

Anyway, we've now got Windows 7 (OS X with a Microsoft twist), coming to a Microsoft Store (Apple Store with a Microsoft twist) near you! Now that Apple is more than fighting fit, I'm looking forward to Microsoft offering better competition than they have over the last few years (Windows 7 looks like it might actually be good ) - we all stand to benefit from that.

[solipsism]

Sometimes it’s almost like MS is being run Richard Pryor in Brewster’s Millions.

[macnyc]

Originally Posted by majortom1981

Doesnt look like an apple store to me. My local apple store is 2 counters on each side with another counter in the middle of the back and shelves all around the outside. Looks nothing like that picture.

It looks like Microsoft's version of an Apple store. In other words they took the colors and materials of a clean, simply organized Apple store and made a big complicated mess of it all.

[Trajectory]

Will Microsoft be selling HP and Dell computers in this store? What will make this store any different from Best Buy or any other store that sells all kinds of computers?

This will fail.

[alolkoy]

What a bunch of Johnny come latelys. Can these douchbags come up with an original idea?

[MacTel]

Originally Posted by Trajectory

Will Microsoft be selling HP and Dell computers in this store? What will make this store any different from Best Buy or any other store that sells all kinds of computers?

This will fail.

They'll have gurus instead of geniuses and sell Clippy dolls. Their mobile POS devices will run WinMo which by then Apple's will not.

[mrnewit]

I wholeheartedly applaud our great expeditionary force of Apple employees traveling to the Great White North. From there they can reconnoiter the strategic back-bacon supplies, round up reserve comedians and find the secret of Don Cherry's tailor. With these assets in our possession nothing will stop us in the 21st century! Not war, pestilence or the ever-present torment that is Dr. Phil.

Great things await, citizen! Vigilance!

[JupiterOne]

Do folks really pay retail for Windows?

[QuiteTheSlacker]

Microsoft has indeed gone philosophical...straight from the playbook of The Art of War : Keep your friends close. But keep your enemies closer! Good grief

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by MacTripper

Oh sh*t, now he will be depressed...

Really! ColdPlay take themselves so seriously. Over produced crap

Check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knNSPLI9PH4

Best

[Robin Huber]

Originally Posted by ericblr

("He wouldn't enter into a discussion of what the stores themselves would resemble other than to say they wouldn't copy Apple. ")


Oh no, that picture doesnt look like an apple store at all!

*rolls eyes*

Kinda like how the new Zune doesn't copy Apple.

[GQB]

Originally Posted by Dlux

Let's not forget about Microsoft's first foray into retail - at the Metreon in San Francisco. I believe the banner out front said something like "Retails For Sure", but the next week I stopped by the store was boarded up.

I remember going in there a couple of times, and both time ended up asking myself 'why am I here again'?
Absolutely the most boring and mind deadening retail experience on record.
But now, of course, they have those great Zunes to show off. Are Xboxes still loss leaders for them or have they finally turned a profit?

[Quadra 610]

Looks like a Best Buy with wood accents.

Nothing to see here, folks.

[iPeon]

Originally Posted by ericblr

("He wouldn't enter into a discussion of what the stores themselves would resemble other than to say they wouldn't copy Apple. ")


Oh no, that picture doesnt look like an apple store at all!

*rolls eyes*

There's one huge difference for sure... MS's Retail Experience Center is empty. Apple stores on the other hand are busy with satisfied customers.

[alansky]

But wait... Where's the Microsoft BigAss Table?

[lkrupp]

I didn't think Microsoft could be any more pathetic than they already are...but I was wrong. They copied the Mac OS; they copied the iPod; they're copying the iPhone as we speak; and now they're copying the Apple Stores. By the way, all of their "copies" are pathetic and I expect the stores to be horrendous specters.

[lkrupp]

As for Jobs I think recent events have had a major impact on his life view and his priority lists. Just guessing of course.

[ikjeft1b]

I just don't get it. Microsoft outlines yet another expensive, ridiculous "plan" and their shareholders do nothing. If a company I owned stock in announced something so obviously destined to fail, I'd be at their front door tomorrow morning with a burning torch and a pitchfork.

[Smiles77]

I love how they have the "I'm a PC" sign on the left wall. What better way to win customers than to bring remembrance to one of the most effective ad campaigns on history. Made by your opponent!
Ha!

Microsoft never ceases to amaze me with their denseness and audacity.

[hypoluxa]

I give the MS's store venture a yr before it backfires.

[Jack Mac]

Okay, so I have been overwhelmed by Microsoft's past but recent innovations ie: Vista, Zune, I look forward to their strategy to " "innovate for the long term". I guess that means more second rate copies of Apple's first rate products.

What's that loud-mouthed innovator's name running Microsoft? Isn't he the same guy that innovated their way out of the EU monopoly suit Zune-style?

G-d bless Microsoft!

[Dorotea]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

In a not-so-subtle move, Microsoft says its retail stores will deliberately open near those run by Apple.

<Snide> Well I suppose MS wants to ensure that they get some traffic - if only out of curiosity </snide>

Sorry I couldn't resist.

[Claude427]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Sometimes it’s almost like MS is being run Richard Pryor in Brewster’s Millions.

LOL...except, Brewster was executing a plan that assured he would make more money at the end of the overt lunacy. No such assurances here; just lunacy.