Exclusive photos, video from Microsoft Store grand opening

[AppleInsider]

Microsoft debuted its first retail store in Scottsdale, Ariz., Thursday to coincide with the launch of Windows 7, and AppleInsider has exclusive photos, video and details from the grand opening event.

Reader Charles A. Keller Sr. provided photos and video from the launch event at a packed store inside the Scottsdale Fashion Center. Inside the new location, the walls are lined with continuous screens that rotate through images. The store also includes a multi-touch Microsoft Surface table.

In the back of the store is the "Guru Bar," Microsoft's answer to the Genius Bars at Apple stores. The station where Windows Gurus are located has the word "Answers" on its left and right side.

At least one former Mac Specialist is said to work at the Arizona location. Keller, a former Apple Retail employee, said he knows others who were approached by Microsoft and offered similar wages to what Apple pays.

In September, reports suggested that Microsoft was offering raises to key Apple Store managers in an attempt to lure them away. Those who jumped ship were allegedly asked to attempt to recruit the most seasoned Apple employees they had presided over in their previous job.



Inside the store at Thursday's opening was said to be an "impressive line" of people. Many patrons who made purchases walked out with smaller bags, likely to have copies of Windows 7. At least one customer was seen purchasing an HP TouchSmart PC, one of the third-party hardware options available.



In attendance was Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner, who has been with the company since 2005. Turner himself made comments in recent months that his company intends to get aggressive with Apple in the retail space, going as far as to say that Microsoft plans to open stores right next door to Apple.

Microsoft COO Kevin Turner at Thursday's event.

Turner also made headlines this summer when he bragged about a phone call he received from Apple's legal department over a Laptop Hunters advertisement. Apple reportedly called the Redmond, Wash., software giant over an outdated "Laptop Hunters" ad that showed a MacBook Pro with higher pricing. Microsoft later quietly changed the ad.

Thursday's grand opening is just the first Microsoft store, and Apple's rival to the north intends to open more in the coming months. Among them is a brick and mortar destination located near an existing Apple Store in The Shops in Mission Viejo, Calif. Apple recently closed that location for renovations.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Booga]

Microsoft innovation at work.

[red_skittles]

I'm confused. At the top of the page I read that this site is called AppleInsider yet the title of this article is "Exclusive photos, video from Microsoft Store grand opening." Something isn't adding up.

[aplnub]

That guy on the bench is pissed!!

http://images.appleinsider.com/ms-coo-091022.jpg

[SpamSandwich]

Should be good. Let's see how this shakes out.

[MsNly]

Originally Posted by red_skittles

I'm confused. At the top of the page I read that this site is called AppleInsider yet the title of this article is "Exclusive photos, video from Microsoft Store grand opening." Something isn't adding up.

They have to have some humour don't they?

[msantti]

The store thing is so 2001.

I guess the fantasy is finally fulfilled for Windows fan. They now have a place to call their own.

The Guru bars should do good business.

[JSmith]

Opening on the day W7 comes out at least ensures they get a good initial crowd for publicity purposes. What will actually be more interesting is what it's like in the months to come.

[RoboNerd]

Originally Posted by aplnub

That guy on the bench is pissed!!

http://images.appleinsider.com/ms-coo-091022.jpg

He must have been talking to a PC Genius and learned how it's his own fault that his computer doesn't work.

[FormerARSgm]

Congrats Cheryl. You rock. If nothing else, I'm sure the team is excited, motivated, and happy to have a great leader.

[red_skittles]

Originally Posted by MsNly

They have to have some humour don't they?

Yeah. I'm surprised they didn't have an article about Windows 7 being amazon's highest grossing preorder of all time. You know, just for the humor of it.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by FormerARSgm

Congrats Cheryl. You rock. If nothing else, I'm sure the team is excited, motivated, and happy to have a great leader.

Did Cheryl Crow perform?

[extremeskater]

Originally Posted by msantti

The store thing is so 2001.

I guess the fantasy is finally fulfilled for Windows fan. They now have a place to call their own.

The Guru bars should do good business.

If the store thing is so 2001, why does Apple continue to open stores? The genius bar is pretty busy most of the time when I walk into the Apple store, so the myth that it "just works" is just that a myth.

[Quadra 610]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Hk0...layer_embedded

BLATANT copying of Apple. It's just pathetic now.

[extremeskater]

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Hk0...layer_embedded

BLATANT copying of Apple. It's just pathetic now.

I know. Opening a store, how dare they.

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by extremeskater

If the store thing is so 2001, why does Apple continue to open stores? The genius bar is pretty busy most of the time when I walk into the Apple store, so the myth that it "just works" is just that a myth.

So Apple's #1 rating in customer satisfaction, year after year, just happened by sheer accident. And consumers handing Apple record quarter after record quarter in Mac sales don't actually exist.



There's a reason MS lost the Premium market and is constantly embarrassed by Apple in nearly every area in which it competes. And that's no accident.

[msantti]

Originally Posted by extremeskater

If the store thing is so 2001, why does Apple continue to open stores? The genius bar is pretty busy most of the time when I walk into the Apple store, so the myth that it "just works" is just that a myth.

Were they suppose to open close to 300 stores in a year?

Oh yeah, I know the Genius bars stay fairly busy. Just poking a bit of fun. I have gone there with a iPod problem once and with an aunt with a Macbook battery problem. I like the online reservation thing.


Just have to see how this store does once the holidays are over.

Alot of media did not give Apple a chance of success with their stores.

In reality, its the stores that have really driven record sales for Apple.

The stores also did well because Apples retail support network was not that great.

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9Hk0...layer_embedded

BLATANT copying of Apple. It's just pathetic now.

Even the poster on the wall is complete copy of Apple's iPhone apps poster you find in Apple Stores

[Psych_guy]

Originally Posted by extremeskater

If the store thing is so 2001, why does Apple continue to open stores? The genius bar is pretty busy most of the time when I walk into the Apple store, so the myth that it "just works" is just that a myth.

The idea is 2001. The point made is that MS is about 8 years behind and copying Apple still.

Think of it as the start to the Kentucky Derby. Apple left the gate when the gun went off. MS had to wait and see if it was a good idea to race and then took off 8 years later.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by NasserAE

Even the poster on the wall is complete copy of Apple's iPhone apps poster you find in Apple Stores

Oh right- I forgot no retail store has ever posted large pictures of their products on their walls before. Does Apple own a copyright on that? GAP anyone?

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by NasserAE

Even the poster on the wall is complete copy of Apple's iPhone apps poster you find in Apple Stores

Where the hell is all of MS' R&D money going? Chairs? Coffee runs?

Even the tables in the vid look the same. Just with PCs on them.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Psych_guy

The idea is 2001. The point made is that MS is about 8 years behind and copying Apple still.

Think of it as the start to the Kentucky Derby. Apple left the gate when the gun went off. MS had to wait and see if it was a good idea to race and then took off 8 years later.

Would you rather they have shirtless guys greeting you at the door like Abercrombie 2009?

[caljomac]

This would be really good...if I wasn't a mac owner... And proud!!!

[Ireland]

I don't think it was fair the way they took down that Apple logo.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by extremeskater

I know. Opening a store, how dare they.

And posting pictures of their actual products on their walls? SACRILEGE!!!

[doyourownthing]

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

Where the hell is all of MS' R&D money going? Chairs? Coffee runs?

up ballmer's nose, probably...

[freeny]

Originally Posted by Psych_guy

The idea is 2001. The point made is that MS is about 8 years behind and copying Apple still.

Think of it as the start to the Kentucky Derby. Apple left the gate when the gun went off. MS had to wait and see if it was a good idea to race and then took off 8 years later.

exactly

[xtss33]

I take exception to describing the M/S Guru Bar as an answer to Apple's Genius Bar. That implies a reaction with notable improvements when, in fact, it is a copy. So the bar, indeed the entire store, is not "an answer" to the Apple retail experience unless we are talking about the sort of answers that a trained Parrot gives.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by doyourownthing

up ballmer's nose, probably...

[extremeskater]

Originally Posted by teckstud

And posting picture of their actual products on their walls? SACRILEGE!!!

I know they should all be hung ins SJ living room

[msantti]

Originally Posted by extremeskater

I know. Opening a store, how dare they.

But Ballmer has said that Windows 7 is now available in over 45,000 stores.

You see Windows PC's everywhere. Walmart, Target, Office Depot, the dollar store, etc.

Not sure if this will give the impact MS wants.

It was a much more critical endeavor for Apple.

[Quadra 610]

The nice thing is, MS can't get away with it without being called out on it.

The average consumer is going to notice the fraud going on. Hell, MS' tradition of ripping off Apple is already firmly planted in the public consciousness.

MS has some serious image issues already, and this latest laughable attempt to ape Apple certainly won't help.

It's like Mitt Romney trying to be "street:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDwwAaVmnf4

Doesn't get much more sad and awkward than that.

[extremeskater]

Originally Posted by Psych_guy

The idea is 2001. The point made is that MS is about 8 years behind and copying Apple still.

Think of it as the start to the Kentucky Derby. Apple left the gate when the gun went off. MS had to wait and see if it was a good idea to race and then took off 8 years later.

MS doesn't have to copy Apple. Remember MS is the one that owns 90% of the market. Just because a company decides to take an new direction doesn't mean they are always copying Apple, or scared of Apple. Apple isn't all that scary.

[msantti]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Oh right- I forgot no retail store has ever posted large pictures of their products on their walls before. Does Apple own a copyright on that? GAP anyone?

Apples retail guy was with GAP if I recall.

[extremeskater]

Originally Posted by msantti

But Ballmer has said that Windows 7 is now available in over 45,000 stores.

You see Windows PC's everywhere. Walmart, Target, Office Depot, the dollar store, etc.

Not sure if this will give the impact MS wants.

It was a much more critical endeavor for Apple.

I don't really see it as being a big bang for the buck either but what gets annoying is everytime MS does something people spout off they are scared of Apple or copying Apple which is a joke.

Apple spends just as much money trying to combat MS. So maybe they are the ones that are scared. God forbid anyone say that. Lets remember who has 90% of the OS market.

[iPedro]

So is this a Microsoft Store or a Windows Store?



The logo suggests this is a Windows store, unless Microsoft changed their logo.

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

Where the hell is all of MS' R&D money going? Chairs? Coffee runs?

Even the tables in the vid look the same. Just with PCs on them.

Which make the place looks depressing

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Quadra 610

The nice thing is, MS can't get away with it without being called out on it.

The average consumer is going to notice the fraud going on. Hell, MS' tradition of ripping off Apple is already firmly planted in the public consciousness.

MS has some serious image issues already, and this latest laughable attempt to ape Apple certainly won't help.

You actually believe the average consumer as visited an Apple store and will make that connection? What motivational seminar did you enroll in 'cause I need to get there FAST!

[lkrupp]

Hey, I'm pretty sure I see Techstud standing there in the crowd. I wonder how he likes his new home away from home. Anything is better than Apple's crap, right?

[thompr]

Originally Posted by extremeskater

If the store thing is so 2001, why does Apple continue to open stores? The genius bar is pretty busy most of the time when I walk into the Apple store, so the myth that it "just works" is just that a myth.

Your bash is misplaced.

The slogan "it just works" refers to normal operating conditions, something which NEVER happens on a PC, even when it is in perfect working order.

Yet every product, including Apple's, is going to have a certain failure rate. Even at a low percentage, if your sample space is large enough, it amounts to a lot of people needing help.

Thompson