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.
yeah it's a pretty stupid idea, especially when they are asking people to compare them to apple stores, although i don't see a shortage of products microsoft could sell. it really could be a full fledged store, selling not only pc software, hardware, games, but also xbox hardware and games and zunes.
if they have better knowledge and service than big box retailers, they might be quite successful. i think small computer stores (now corporate boutiques rather than the old fashioned locally owned computer shops) are making a big comeback because of the uselessness of customer service at big box stores.
knowing microsoft, they'll call them some ridiculous name like "microsoft customer experience and purchasing center 2009" and somehow screw it all up
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.
I have no idea what the MS stores will look like, nor what they will sell, but the idea of positioning your store near a competitor is standard practice in many retail areas. If you already have people looking at computer-y things you might as well place your store where they are, kinda thing. That's why clothes stores and furniture stores etc are always grouped together. I would think this is a big gamble for MS, however. They will need to create a buzz in their stores to match the Apple stores and that might be hard. I suspect they will focus on fan and games to draw young people and families in order to emphasize the ease of use and accessibility of the Windows experience.
burger king has been doing that for years, same for private labels at stores , have you ever seen an add for "little debbie cakes" who cares as long as they are positioned next to its rivals
but quality product regardless of the marketing technique sells, i go by many stores and services to get to those i use, that's why a MS store can't sell its wares since just reminds people of how not to do things. at the easton mall in columbus the gateway store was just a little walk from apple and had much better exposure, next to the music store both closed.
customers drive a business and MS isn't tuned into customers wants, if so they would shut them selves down and restart with different leadership--reboot MS because it's frozen
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.
THAT comment was hilarious!!! just luv it!
just like their os, maybe as you enter the store it could welcome you with the MS vista "splash"
I hope MS makes its store look just like it does in the picture. The more they can get it to resemble a big-box store like best buy, Circuit City (RIP), or CompUSA (RIP) the better, because people already know what kind of help they can expect entering a store like that.
And I'd love to be there when the first customer asks "How much does this cost?" and the MS employee has to hang his head and say, "Sorry, these products aren't for sale."
I'm going to go into these stores and ask them about viruses and spyware and put their responses up on YouTube. LOL
The last time Microsoft was able to create a buzz was for Windows 3.0.
Excel 3.0 for Windows was a pretty fantastic product. The company I worked for at that time bought 486's with Windows 3.0 just so we could run that version of Excel. It was that groundbreaking (i.e. it ate 1-2-3's lunch). What ever happened to that Microsoft?
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?
God rest Microsoft!
AT LEAST NO ONE WOULD ACCUSE MICROSOFT OF COPYING APPLE!!!! ( once again )
(Do you think the current head of retail for Target is available? Or at least find someone else who may just have the initials RJ might be good luck?) By the way, that store looks like a security nightmare. But then again, MS customers never steal-it's only the execs that do that. Sleazy at best. Say, they don't call him ball-mur for nuttin'!
Good for Jobs. He should get out more. Maybe he'll become more approachable if he does so that roadies (and others) don't feel intimidated by his presence. I've never actually seen Jobs described as as "nice guy". He could change that by acting more like a regular joe.
Excel 3.0 for Windows was a pretty fantastic product. The company I worked for at that time bought 486's with Windows 3.0 just so we could run that version of Excel. It was that groundbreaking (i.e. it ate 1-2-3's lunch). What ever happened to that Microsoft?
I don't know, but, MS hasn't been able to create the same fanfare for a Windows release the way they did with 3.0. Probably because since then, every release has been a disappointment or taken way too long.
Ssshhh- remember what you're dealing with on here sometimes. Remember, Apple didn't buy and copy Soundjam, they created iTunes. Ask solipism.
They bought SoundJam. They based iTunes off of SoundJam. It is the foundation that started iTunes. Nothing more.
Your claims that they stole SoundJam, that iTunes is in anyway the same SoundJam from a decade past, that all that is in iTunes today was dreamed up, conceived, and/or included by SoundJam, or that the iTunes trademark was in anyway a part of SoundJam is, per your MO, erroneous and false. What truly is sad is that you learned a little about the origins of iTunes and you actually jumped to a conclusion that iTunes is any a SoundJam creation simply because it formed the foundation of the app so long ago. Do you also go around telling people modern US English is Insular Germanic?
The Apple stores make money, so would Microsoft stores.
Not everyone are iSheep. In fact, most of the world aren't.
Hahahahaaaa. So you actually admit following the bigger crowd. Maybe you are trying to not come across as a sheep, makes you a sheep. Because not being a sheep is the in-thing. What's wrong with following others? I read so many posts each day where people argue that they do not want to buy an iPod because everybody has one. So that person was willing to be put up with an inferior product, just because else he would be labeled as a sheep. Meeehh. So stating a fact does not make one a sheep. Ignoring a fact does. Sorry I could not resist.
Microsoft must've looked at Apple's iPhone growth curve and made a deposit right in their Microshorts. With all of their competitors on all fronts nipping at their heels, they are in danger of imploding soon. First step toward the cure... Fire Ballmer.
PC users will wander into the Apple Store out of curiosity, see the beautiful unibody Macbooks with their stunning screens, naturally follow the intuitive need to tap the cursor on the dock, then when nothing happens ( because the staff do not enable tap-to-click by default ) they will move on.
in my area, when best buys first started popping up, they were all located at least a few miles away from a circuitcity. In one case here in manassas off 234 business, the best buy was located pretty much next door (with a lowes in between the two.)
anyways, look what happened to circuitcity. Not saying its what will happen to Apple (in fact very unlikely) but opening stores so close to the competition is not some brand new douche bag plan MS has come up with on their own.
And when Steve Jobs gets on stage with Coldplay, I hope he doesn't have a rush of blood to the head.
Comments
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.
yeah it's a pretty stupid idea, especially when they are asking people to compare them to apple stores, although i don't see a shortage of products microsoft could sell. it really could be a full fledged store, selling not only pc software, hardware, games, but also xbox hardware and games and zunes.
if they have better knowledge and service than big box retailers, they might be quite successful. i think small computer stores (now corporate boutiques rather than the old fashioned locally owned computer shops) are making a big comeback because of the uselessness of customer service at big box stores.
knowing microsoft, they'll call them some ridiculous name like "microsoft customer experience and purchasing center 2009" and somehow screw it all up
And no, Microsoft stores won't fail.
They already have. Do try to keep up.
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.
THAT comment was hilarious!!! just luv it!
I have no idea what the MS stores will look like, nor what they will sell, but the idea of positioning your store near a competitor is standard practice in many retail areas. If you already have people looking at computer-y things you might as well place your store where they are, kinda thing. That's why clothes stores and furniture stores etc are always grouped together. I would think this is a big gamble for MS, however. They will need to create a buzz in their stores to match the Apple stores and that might be hard. I suspect they will focus on fan and games to draw young people and families in order to emphasize the ease of use and accessibility of the Windows experience.
burger king has been doing that for years, same for private labels at stores , have you ever seen an add for "little debbie cakes" who cares as long as they are positioned next to its rivals
but quality product regardless of the marketing technique sells, i go by many stores and services to get to those i use, that's why a MS store can't sell its wares since just reminds people of how not to do things. at the easton mall in columbus the gateway store was just a little walk from apple and had much better exposure, next to the music store both closed.
customers drive a business and MS isn't tuned into customers wants, if so they would shut them selves down and restart with different leadership--reboot MS because it's frozen
Originally Posted by macnyc View Post
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.
THAT comment was hilarious!!! just luv it!
just like their os, maybe as you enter the store it could welcome you with the MS vista "splash"
maybe call their store "vista"
And I'd love to be there when the first customer asks "How much does this cost?" and the MS employee has to hang his head and say, "Sorry, these products aren't for sale."
I'm going to go into these stores and ask them about viruses and spyware and put their responses up on YouTube. LOL
The last time Microsoft was able to create a buzz was for Windows 3.0.
Excel 3.0 for Windows was a pretty fantastic product. The company I worked for at that time bought 486's with Windows 3.0 just so we could run that version of Excel. It was that groundbreaking (i.e. it ate 1-2-3's lunch). What ever happened to that Microsoft?
this is how they should operate their stores
sign says "open" but doors are locked
"please reboot to enter"
5 different entrances for each version of sp vista
lights flicker
suddenly all sales staff freeze
they use apple software for checkout
all computers lock up showing a porn portal
you must show your virus protection software to enter
they sell condoms for the laptops
$25 to enter, $35 release fee then $45 to leave
they have a kiosk outside each store for immediate fixes for just purchased items
sales staff have black market linux and chrome os reboot disks
fog fills the store--that's their cloud
sales staff speak only dolphin language
card board people to enhance the numbers
sued for unusual punishment for sales staff
run by gateway
sales staff get to downgrade to XP
just add to the list
Brilliant. Funny. You should start your own blog.
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?
God rest Microsoft!
AT LEAST NO ONE WOULD ACCUSE MICROSOFT OF COPYING APPLE!!!! ( once again )
(Do you think the current head of retail for Target is available? Or at least find someone else who may just have the initials RJ might be good luck?) By the way, that store looks like a security nightmare. But then again, MS customers never steal-it's only the execs that do that. Sleazy at best. Say, they don't call him ball-mur for nuttin'!
They didn't copy Mac OS.
They didn't copy the iPod.
Ssshhh- remember what you're dealing with on here sometimes. Remember, Apple didn't buy and copy Soundjam, they created iTunes. Ask solipism.
Do folks really pay retail for Windows?
Yes, someone who wants their OS to be safe, stable and secure...
Oh wait...
Good for Jobs. He should get out more. Maybe he'll become more approachable if he does so that roadies (and others) don't feel intimidated by his presence. I've never actually seen Jobs described as as "nice guy". He could change that by acting more like a regular joe.
Excel 3.0 for Windows was a pretty fantastic product. The company I worked for at that time bought 486's with Windows 3.0 just so we could run that version of Excel. It was that groundbreaking (i.e. it ate 1-2-3's lunch). What ever happened to that Microsoft?
I don't know, but, MS hasn't been able to create the same fanfare for a Windows release the way they did with 3.0. Probably because since then, every release has been a disappointment or taken way too long.
And being a slobbering, Apple fanboy makes you the "cool popular guy", and not the geek?
Why do nearly all of your posts contain personal attacks?
Ssshhh- remember what you're dealing with on here sometimes. Remember, Apple didn't buy and copy Soundjam, they created iTunes. Ask solipism.
They bought SoundJam. They based iTunes off of SoundJam. It is the foundation that started iTunes. Nothing more.
Your claims that they stole SoundJam, that iTunes is in anyway the same SoundJam from a decade past, that all that is in iTunes today was dreamed up, conceived, and/or included by SoundJam, or that the iTunes trademark was in anyway a part of SoundJam is, per your MO, erroneous and false. What truly is sad is that you learned a little about the origins of iTunes and you actually jumped to a conclusion that iTunes is any a SoundJam creation simply because it formed the foundation of the app so long ago. Do you also go around telling people modern US English is Insular Germanic?
The Apple stores make money, so would Microsoft stores.
Not everyone are iSheep. In fact, most of the world aren't.
Hahahahaaaa. So you actually admit following the bigger crowd. Maybe you are trying to not come across as a sheep, makes you a sheep. Because not being a sheep is the in-thing. What's wrong with following others? I read so many posts each day where people argue that they do not want to buy an iPod because everybody has one. So that person was willing to be put up with an inferior product, just because else he would be labeled as a sheep. Meeehh. So stating a fact does not make one a sheep. Ignoring a fact does. Sorry I could not resist.
Seen it a dozen times !
anyways, look what happened to circuitcity. Not saying its what will happen to Apple (in fact very unlikely) but opening stores so close to the competition is not some brand new douche bag plan MS has come up with on their own.
And when Steve Jobs gets on stage with Coldplay, I hope he doesn't have a rush of blood to the head.