Microsoft to open Retail Stores like Apple...
MS Store update:
http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/microso...erent-20090722/
The cliffnotes:
MS hired the Apple guy that scouted Apple Store locations
MS stores will open "next to" Apple stores - I guess MS's new scout doesn't need to do more work, just dust off the Apple store list and get paid by MS for it?
So it is more of a giant help desk than a retail store, possibly.
Trendy MS stores have big shopping carts so you can load up on A/V software.
http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/microso...erent-20090722/
The cliffnotes:
MS hired the Apple guy that scouted Apple Store locations
MS stores will open "next to" Apple stores - I guess MS's new scout doesn't need to do more work, just dust off the Apple store list and get paid by MS for it?
A prototype store image leaked from Microsoft Retail Experience Center, a 20,000 square foot private retail center at Redmond, suggests the company will focus on showing what PCs can do, promoting high-profile software like Windows 7, and helping people troubleshoot their PCs.
Trendy MS stores have big shopping carts so you can load up on A/V software.

Originally Posted by Yellow_S,Jul 19 2009, 09:10 PM
Laugh all you want, but my 3 yr-old Zune is still going as strong as ever. It does all I need as a media player. Let me guess, you're an iPod fanboi. 
I think my Zune as a Honda. Enough said!

I think my Zune as a Honda. Enough said!

even more now
Originally Posted by ryanmatic,Jul 18 2009, 10:10 AM
I don't understand this. Microsoft sells software, not integrated hardware & software like Apple does.
Isn't Best Buy, Wal Mart, and almost any other store that sells a PC, pretty much a Microsoft store?
That's what I was thinking - Apple had no retail distribution chains so it had to set up stores. BB, CC, and the other big box stores all pretty much sucked at selling Macs, maybe MS thinks they suck at selling PCs too. No one offers the level of service and expertise that you find at an Apple Store on the PC side anymore - Gateway and Dell had some retail stores but they didn't generate profit. MS has operated its XBox and Zune divisions at a loss for years, so maybe it plans on doing the same with retail stores?
Originally Posted by C U AT 9K,Jul 23 2009, 04:06 PM
I think its only recently that Best Buy started to carry Macs and accessories for them. At least for the ones in my area.







