Apple prepares for first Microsoft store by updating its own - Page 2

I was going from fuzzy memory, the date is 1977 for the act in question. Quoting from Wikipedia:

The Community Reinvestment Act (or CRA, Pub.L. 95-128, title VIII, 91 Stat. 1147, 12 U.S.C. § 2901 et seq.) is a United States federal law designed to encourage commercial banks and savings associations to meet the needs of borrowers in all segments of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.[1][2][3] Congress passed the Act in 1977 ...

i can't wait to walk into a microsoft store and ask about their Macs...

http://www.theonion.com/content/news...figure_out_how

"Every location is full of bizarre adapters, random chargers, and old boom boxes, and some sales guy is constantly hovering over you. It's like walking into your grandpa's basement. You always expect to see something cool, but it never delivers." - The Onion

Could this be Microsoft's retail strategy?

Fail for Microsoft, they don't have a focused-enough brand to justify a dedicated store!

The crash was not just the housing market, its also the "let the government bail me out" mindset. I know a few people who just stopped paying there mortgage not because they couldn't but because they were upside down and just wanted to move on.


Ya, it was slow, that why this country is going to be in at least 12 TRILLION $$$$$ in debt in the next few years. There is no one thing that caused this economic downturn, there is a huge list. That both political parties are responsible for. Strike that, there is one thing to blame, the american people for not paying attention. You probly saw that study that 75% of high schoolers don't know who the 1st president was? Ask people off the street who members of congress are that hold important positions, I know most won't know.

I don't smoke but its an individuals right to be able to in a free county where it is legal.
But did you hear, they made Cloves and any flavored Cigarettes illegal?
Its about what those in power want not what the people want.

http://yousearchengine.com/news/show...l7i5dgjkntp861

gives you a another prespective, why USA had massive slump last year

This article states as the reasons for the financial problems in US which after near collapse of US banking system in Sept to Oct 08 affected the World economy too, the following:
"There were central bankers who kept interest rates too low...."

Hello!!!
Interest rates are EVEN LOWER NOW than they were before, during the so called time that "...central bankers who kept interest rates too low....", so this CANNOT be the reason for near collapse of US economy.

And the other reason often stated by US Media for the near collapse of US economy is that there was a "Housing bubble in US .." or that "Banks were easy in giving loans to people that could not afford it..."

Hello!!!
Avg house prices in US at their peak in 2006 were below a pathetic $200 per Sqft, again once you did not get that in their peak avg House prices in US were barely $200/Sqft, that is less than what avg House prices are in Canada and Western Europe today! In fact you have to go to 3rd World countries like Turkey, Bulgaria, to get avg House prices below $200/Sqft and quality of houses in US are incredibly high. And about the reason: "Banks were easy in giving loans to people that could not afford it...", House ownership percentage is Higher in Canada than it is in US, it was in 2006 and even more so today.

So the reasons for the near collapse of US economy in todays Global economy are what our right-wing Media never alludes to as the reasons which in summary are:

1-Our Taxes (money) wasted on one unnecessary War after another, i.e., Iraq war having wasted $2Trillion of our money so far and we are still in this
War 7 years after starting it and EVEN THOUGH Obama/Dems ran under the promise of ending this War they are continuing with it just as Bush/Cheney/Reps and they
even kept the same Sec of Defense as Bush/Cheney/Reps to boot!

2- Our Taxes (money) not invested in our People & Cities as Europeans do with Universal Health care and many other Social services as a result of which
a simple health care need can drive an American family into financial ruin or even bankruptcy while the same would cost a European family ZERO.
After all consider that last year 2 Million Americans filed for bankruptcy due to health care costs while ZERO Europeans filed for bankruptcy due to health care costs last year, because they have Universal Health car. I mean think about it if a simple health care need can cost an American family $20,000 in deductibles and co-pays, assuming they have health insurance, how in the Hek are they going to pay their pathetic $2,000 per month Mortgages.

3- Our Taxes (money) wasted on a Gargantuan Military. Considering that for example we have more than 300,000 troops all over European bases,
pumping like 50Bill Euros per year into European economies, and here is Europe much richer than US as evident by Euro being more valuable than US Dollar,
or European Auto makers doing great while US Auto makers are going bankrupt, etc. AND Europe has NO enemy TODAY that it would need 300,000 troops from
USA to defend from.

Now the question is how it is that USA is such a miserable place that it cannot address the above problems/issues!
The answer is that US Media is 99% right-wing, which means it reports the news for the benefit of Rich & Big Military and not the American middle class.


Disclaimer: This is not views of SOULIISOUL, but excerpt from an article published :-)

Do the folks in Redmond have a single original thought?

In addition to copying Apple's retail store idea, they couldn't even come up with a real estate consultant on their own...so they hired George Blankenship...Apple's retail store consultant!

And now reports that Microsoft is trying to hire away Apple store employees (for their own stores) by promising big raises.

Do you remember "Microsoft Bob"?

When I first heard that Microsoft is planning to lure away Apple store employees by offering them a lot more money, I got slightly angry. Then I stopped to think. This might be a good time for Apple, now flush with vast reserves of cash and an increasingly profitable future, to look at how it handles its employees at every level. From management practices (some of which may be causing a rebellion at one store) to pay rates (which I understand aren't too great in the stores).

I'd like to see Apple clean up its management act (where it needs it) at every level to make sure that employees are treated fairly and with respect everywhere. And particularly in the stores, raise the pay to the point where employees feel true loyalty to the company. Sure, Microsoft can always spend vast amounts and pull some people away. But Apple can build stronger loyalty in its work force that will be visible to the public.

I have heard that conditions on the tech side of Apple are very intense in terms of hours worked and stress. They have obtained amazing amounts and quality of work out of their hardware and software designers. Maybe now is a good time to start bringing in enough new people to spread the burden and let everyone work more normal hours. Hey, with the state of the economy, there's lots of talent available. This could be an important aspect of building the company's ability to succeed in the long run. Burning people out is not efficient. They can use a deeper talent pool to maintain and accelerate their innovation and quality of products.

And finally, the hardware manufacturing in China. That's a big problem for every company manufacturing goods there - labor conditions, both pay and physical, are absolutely terrible. Of course, the whole point is low cost above all else. Apple can step up and demand better conditions from its suppliers - Apple is the 800 lb. gorilla right now and could get meaningful results if it really wanted to. Of course, not nearly enough - it's only one company out of thousands driven by the profit motive. That's where we US citizens and customers for the many (nearly all?) of the products in our homes that are manufactured in China, Vietnam, etc. can step up to the plate. I confess to woeful ignorance on the practical steps that can be taken. We can support fair international trade rules that penalize countries that permit extreme exploitation of their citizens. Support for increased Chinese democracy is appropriate. After all, the Chinese being the ones who suffer are best positioned to change their own government and working conditions. As for pressure exerted by our own government - that would be nice, but we're not in a very strong position to tell the Chinese government what to do, our being literally in debt to them for so much.

One good outcome of this recession may be to force China to develop its internal markets to replace the external ones that have gone away. That means citizens with enough to spend to stimulate production. That means higher wages. Sure hope that happens.

Many valid points regarding the W$ debacle are in the last couple of posts ... I was merely pointing out the "minorities" canard was inaccurate. The rest I don't really have an argument with. There's plenty of ammunition to shoot and plenty of appropriate targets without expending it on those that are not to blame.

Do you remember that "Jingle Creation Program" and its commercial that was painful to watch?

[QUOTE=JSmith;1487596]Many valid points regarding the W$ debacle are in the last couple of posts ... I was merely pointing out the "minorities" canard was inaccurate.
Sorry, can't resist:
If it walks like a minority Canard, if it quacks like a minority Canard, then it's probably made in China!

i cannot wait to see pictures of those stores specially of the birthday parties they allegedly will host

I just HAVE to comment about MS once again putting its foot in its mouth!

If anyone remembers the Amiga computer (or owned an early model with teething problems of a new OS), the term "GURU" has a special meaning.

You see, whenever the system would crash (as in BSOD for MS), the screen would flash a code number to help debug the problem.

The title of this screen was "GURU MEDITATION MESSAGE". No kidding.

The full message took two lines, and a sample can be viewed HERE.

I've just GOT to have T-shirts made up with this front and back to ware at the MS store opening!
It will look really cool.

At least MS is finally embracing truth in advertising!

Why do you CONTRADICT your own headling?

BTW, it's not Radio Shack any longer, it's The Shack! (ok, the exclamation mark was mine but I think it should have one) and they are way cooler than MS, they have their own cycling team with Lance.

It doesn't matter what its like, the mac community in the Apple store shows it's strengths.

microsoft bob?

tiresome, isn't it?

Guru Bar? Seems too much of a rip-off. How about something more likely? Wailing Wall sounds right.

So... the store will be full of "Gurus" helping people with their Service Pack updates and virus maintenance?

My Apple store in Tampa literally just opened this last Friday (Sept. 18, 2009) after a three week renovation. It is slightly larger, totally gorgeous, and has a far superior layout when compared to the one it replaced. I figured it was due to the Microsoft store development, but I'd say this particular Apple store was about due for a tune up anyways. The aluminum and glass facade, as well as the spacious, uncluttered, and airy interior are much welcomed and highly refreshing.

There are far too many assumptions for me to address in this post, but rest assured Apple will continue to win in the retail space even though it might seem (for a fleeting moment at some point) like Microsoft is valiantly giving them a run for their money. I predict confused and angry customers filling these Microsoft stores, and blame directed toward Microsoft for every product under the sun that contains a mutant strain of Windows.

Actually Bob was just a bad ripoff of Magic Cap which was really quite original and neat.

Besides, using rooms as computing metaphors is probably not original to either product, and is only slightly different from the "desktop" metaphor in the first place.

If I didn't have an Apple machine, I'd probably be camped out in front of the Microsoft store three to five days a week. I'd likely know each staff member by name, date of birth, and personal address from requiring his/her services so often.

"Hey Sean, do you have that ___ virus again?" Speaking of which, I'm in a classroom now full of Dell Precision desktops, and five are out of order at the same time! At least one has a serious virus. Don't even get me started!

[QUOTE=aduzik;1487580]It's probably just a minor update like Apple has been known to do from time to time. But I also wouldn't be surprised if they held off on doing certain renovations until Microsoft had committed to its retail layout./QUOTE]

Kind of a Snow Leopard reno. Lots of changes, but hardly any you would notice.

i don't think you would get to know them...they'll get tired of working for such a bullshit company...and quit...

Bring in your Mac and tell them you cannot get Windows 7 off it, and it's driving you nuts being on there. Then say: "oh.... sorry I thought this was the genius bar! Excuse me." And walk out.

Then how about too much liquidity, which was fed policy.

My apple store in tampa closed the last week of august for renovations. I thought I'd read--here, maybe?--that apple was renovating maybe a hundred of its stores, had quite an upgrading campaign underway.

Can't think of anyone in business that will need a big customer service operation then MS. Not sure how they'll have room for anything else.

How about the invisible hand is a fairy tale and markets behave irrationally.

No, more like this scenario...

MS Store Guru employee- " I'm sorry sir, I was a Mac Genius lured away from by job at the Apple store by MS corporate greed by offering me "mo money"! I have experience with Macs not Windows, so please go to Apple store, buy a Mac and bring that back with questions you may have and I can help you... who's next?"

In the meantime, bring that dead POS PC and being that I am a MS Guru, we'll see if some religious chants can't solve your problem...

They're both on the second floor, and on the same side of the mall. The distance between them is less than half the mall's length.

Below is a link to pictures I took of both locations within just a few minutes of each other:

http://thesmallwave.posterous.com/lo...tore-is-packed

Hell, if they didn't have straw men they wouldn't have any men at all.

The whole right wing resentment machine is predicated on believing a lot of made up stuff. And there's zero chance of convincing one of Beck's bots that they're mistaken, because any counter information is just dismissed as leftist propaganda. You know, like science and academia and people with college degrees and Europe.

They got into the bubble and closed the door behind them. They can see you're saying something, but they don't really care.

Anywho, you just know that the Microsoft stores are going to be happening places, because Microsoft is the company that makes videos like this to help people host "Windows 7 release parties."

I'm sure the MS stores will be full of laughing, fun loving middle class people who..... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...........

Also, here's a much better version of the video above.

and the paid people who will hang around in the store to make it look crowded

'whole right wing resentment machine' = Another straw man