As previously reported right here on Neowin, Microsoft is opening up retail stores this coming fall season, just in time for the Windows 7 October 22 launch time frame.Many of the Microsoft stores will open up right near Apple stores to compete with the popular Apple retail chains. Microsoft is slow to get into the market of having its own retail chain, which will sell all of their own products, much like Sony and Apple currently do.
Not many details have been released on what the store will contain or what type of hardware, if any, they will make available for sale. Microsoft's strategy is to open retail chains in locations currently occupied by Apple stores to better compete with them, including a rumor about Microsoft looking into opening a chain in Times Square, New York back in 2005. The retail chains will be able to directly assist customers with their Microsoft purchases, rather than having large retail chains like Bestbuy sell Microsoft products.
The stores will be headed by a former DreamWorks Animation and Wal-Mart executive, David Porter. There isn't any set dates on when the stores will launch this fall season, but it would be a safe bet to say that they will be open in time for the release of Microsoft's next operating system, Windows 7.
This is a good decision though. I want to see battles of employees over which operating system outside of the stores.
I would like to see it in LARP!
Larp: http://recipes.egullet.org/recipes/r970.html
Sort of like a delicious Laotian version of mud wrestling...
This is a good decision though. I want to see battles of employees over which operating system outside of the stores.
don't they usually use HP computers in expos and stuff?
I remember a big expo in madrid right before vista RTM'd, most (if not all) or the computers were HP.
On the other hand my HP Pavillion blew its nvidia 8400m and HP refuses to acknowledge the issue and expect me to pay hundreds and hundreds for the mobo to be replaced. Guess which laptop brand I won't be buying ever again.
This is not true. If you still have warranty, I am sure they will replace it for you for free and even exchange a newer model of your laptop if time takes so long to fix. I have never had any issue with HP.
HP are rubbish, just like Dell. Saying it is better than an Acer is not saying a lot. IBM make great laptops still (under Lenovo), good solid beasts, designed beautifully. Toshiba used to make great laptops, but now they are all made by the same people. The Toshibas look like the Sonys, look like the rest of them, because they are all made in the same place.
Really, my experience with Acer, HP, Dell, Toshiba, and even Sony have been positive overall. Though Sony does have a lot of bloatware and Acers tend to use some cheap materials. Out of what I've listed, I like HPs the most.
You build your own laptop?
I stopped reading there.
Dell is one of the best laptop brands. Period. I dont know how they are in the desktop world but in the laptop world they blow anything else outta the water (price/features/etc ratio)
Almost impossible to build your own laptop (and no, buying a 3rd party HDD doesnt make it your own)
no it's not you just don't know where to look
You really have no idea what you're talking about.
Dell is one of the best laptop brands. Period. I dont know how they are in the desktop world but in the laptop world they blow anything else outta the water (price/features/etc ratio)
Look, dell might be good for the price, but I really see no different to them. the dell d640 is no different to the elitebook 6930p that I have now. They almost look exactly the same, the don't always sleep properly, but I am sure they are very cheap. I just would not count them in the same class as IBM/Lenovo or Apple.
you do? What point exactly are you trying to make?
can you tell me where ? i'd like to start building my own laptops as well
lol
Why? Don't you have any stores in Atlanta?? I imagine you would have quite a few, even ones that sell Microsofts product.
I am not sure what MS think they can add by opening their own stores. It just looks like they are copying Apple for the sake of it now!!
I am not sure what MS think they can add by opening their own stores. It just looks like they are copying Apple for the sake of it now!!
He doesn't have any Microsoft retail stores in Atlanta; which is what he was hoping for.
Are you also not sure about what Apple think they add by operating their retail stores?
I think MS is going to **** off some of those stores that sell MS stuff. Unless MS isn't going to compete with them on pricing, in which case MS stores aren't going to make any $$$. Maybe they're trying to offer tech support or something, since Geek Squad and other such retail services do nothing but rip people off.
I think Apple offer something different to Microsoft. Apple offer hardware and software, what are Microsoft going to do. While MS hardware is great, they don't offer a full range of stuff, like PCs for example. Sure, they could sell zunes and xboxs and keyboards, but what do people really associate with Microsoft. Office and OSes, are they going to have a range of different pcs with windows 7 on there? I just don't see how it would be different to a best buy in that way.
The brilliance that is MS naming continues!
The brilliance that is MS naming continues!
You realise that's an old video about a mock-up store Microsoft made as an example for it's partners right?
The brilliance that is MS naming continues!
Even though it's actually just "Experience Center"?
Which, actually, wouldn't be a bad name at all for a shop, even though it is almost certainly just a name for the mockup. The Microsoft "Experience Center".
I know, this is the most exciting thing to happen in the world ever. This is bigger than the moon landing. I hope they build one at the end of my street, so i can go visit it every day, eat my meals next to he store, rub it every few hours. That would make my life complete...
Don't get me wrong though, the store's brilliant and looks like they've utilized some really cool technology. But the name is bloody awful.
Don't get me wrong though, the store's brilliant and looks like they've utilized some really cool technology. But the name is bloody awful.
Where have I heard that name before... The ... Store. So MS do something original (the name, obviously not the idea), and you want them to keep copying??
There is nothing original about presumptive names such as "The Source", or various outlets of "experience" and "Genius".
Last edited by Axon on 16 Jul 2009 - 15:54
When comparing prices: $500, $1400, $0
When comparing prices: $500, $1400, $0
Your pricing makes no sense, I've never seen an OS that costs $1400...
Furthermore... hardware will never be free. Not even Linux hardware.
Regardz
When comparing prices: $500, $1400, $0
And what will pay the rent for the shop?
When comparing prices: $500, $1400, $0
Your pricing makes no sense, I've never seen an OS that costs $1400...
Furthermore... hardware will never be free. Not even Linux hardware.
Regardz
You've never seen a server os then.
When comparing prices: $500, $1400, $0
Your pricing makes no sense, I've never seen an OS that costs $1400...
Furthermore... hardware will never be free. Not even Linux hardware.
Regardz
You've never seen a server os then.
Touche..... lol
Regardz
There are other online retailers who already do an excellent job selling Microsoft products. But there I can't think of any retail store that I actually want to go to for Microsoft stuff. If there was a "Microsoft Store" that offered a great way to experience their different technologies then that might be worth the trip to the store.
You have to wonder how they approached this. Did they do their homework and realize that Apple already had the best spots? It seems a bit lazy to just move in next door to Apple. You don't need to be right beside your competitor in order to compete. Besides that, it enhances the image of Microsoft playing catch-up to Apple's retail stores.
The store is a good idea for showing off their products and how they work together. The only way I know about that is because I'm interested in technology and visit sites like Neowin. The average consumer wouldn't have a scooby about the great features of some Microsoft stuff.
Last edited by WooHoo!!! on 16 Jul 2009 - 11:12
Looks like you are just trying to find a reason to dislike Microsoft.
This may take away business from other stores that offer Microsoft products.
I am confused as to your point? M$ = Microsoft
People who use 'M$' are generally branded idiots by anyone with a highschool diploma and/or a significant other.
It's a real hard thing to explain, but they do definitely have that 'something different' about them.
It should be everything Microsoft has to offer - Office, Operating Systems, Zune and other software, The portable Zune Players, Xbox, Mouses, keyboards etc. and most probably laptops and other hardware form their partners - HP, Dell, Acer and so on. It all looks great but we have to wait to see how the real thing will operate
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