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Microsoft To Open Retail Stores
chaz373 writes "CNET reports that Microsoft is going retail. In the 'Beyond Binary' blog Ina Fried reports, 'After years of brushing off the notion, Microsoft said on Thursday that it will open up its own line of retail stores. Without detailing the plans, Microsoft said it has hired David Porter, a 25-year Wal-Mart veteran, to lead the effort. Sources say that Porter's mission will be to develop the company's retail plans and that the effort is likely to start small with just a few locations.'"
This should be entertaining...
Yes... Apple has had lot of success with its retail stores, but it already had the reputation and recognition to drive people to the stores.
For Microsoft, I fear that they are going to be just like the Sony stores.... Better Location than the Apple store, but considerable less people in the store.
Hope they paint everything blue..
Is this thing on? Check. Check.
Competition is good for everyone.
I would be hard pressed to find any downside to this at all.
I get Mac stores since they sell their image...oh, and proprietary hardware. But a specialized Microsoft store, even though I like some of their products, doesn't make sense to me. I can pick up Microsoft software at nearly anywhere already, and some of it that I don't even want comes on my computer every time I buy a new one.
It must be another example of "Microsoft Innovation"
I mean no other member of the computer industry has EVER tried opening brick and mortar retail spaces... oh, wait
Microsoft sells ubiquitous software to schools, OEMs and offices. They do a great job. Why do they need to build their brand recognition? If they want to copy Apple, why don't they put some cool tools in Windows, like Python or Ruby. Or heavens forbid, a C compiler? And an IDE, and source control? Wouldn't that rock?
...and this is the result. No wonder share holders are pissed!
See all the great products that already come by default on your PC.
If you have an Old version buy a new one... See that it doesn't work on your old PC and buy a New One with all the products you just bought is pre-installed!
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
Clippy will man the Super Genius Bar. And they will have Karaoke using that new tech of theirs. Don't forget the $10,000 coffee tables.
Because really, is there anything else they're selling right now? In all seriousness this could be a fun idea, but are they just going to be selling boxes of software or do they have a hardware vendor(s) in mind to demo some products? The article mentioned a few, but this could have some potential, and with the way the economy is going I am all for more stores opening up hiring more people.
The musings of just another geek and his junk.
Well i'll guess they'll be selling xbox and zune. But what about personal computers? A Microsoft software store doesn't seam very exciting, but if they start selling computers wouldn't that hurt their relationship with partners such as HP, dell, acer etc?
To the first person who obtains, and releases into the Microsoft retail store, a dog bearing an uncanny resemblance to the horrible Windows search dog.
I'd like to see this, but the economics would be difficult. The Apple store is more like a marketing tool than a profit center (even through it does very well). The MS stores would likely be similar. Open source is customer driven. Once a consumer or business finds and embraces it, they get an excellent, competitive experience. The problem is there is little to no financial incentive for ISV's or retail to push it.
I welcome our new Generic overlords.
I bought the protection agreement!
she was the daughter of a wealthy florentine pogen read em and weep was her adjustable slogan
A decade ago, the world danced to Microsoft's wonky, arhythmic tune. These days it's almost as if the company's business model is built around becoming Apple Computer- only from two or three years earlier.
Here's a more detailed account:
http://www.ridiculopathy.com/news_detail.php?id=2263
Now we can all go to Microsoft stores and ask "does this run Linux"? or "Here are the normal windows, where are all the super windowses"?
"I'm sorry sir, but our office is now closed. You'll have to vacate the premises."
"Do you sell these without Windows or just with monopoly?"
The article does touch on PC makers showcasing wares in the store. The idea of a MS store creates some questions in my mind.
First, what PC's will be showcased? I would think the high-end systems mentioned would be a great idea. There are plenty of mid and low end systems at current electronic retailers.
Secondly, can someone walk out with a PC? And if so, is MS going to do any service at the store? This is what the Apple store has going for it; a full service shop.
A few people have tried with only limited success (anyone remember the Gateway stores?).
I love the sound of distortion in the morning -- webcommando
Will they install windows?
MS store? Unless they are inside a best buy ... this is doomed ...
I'm tired of getting my Windows OEM version. Now I know where I can buy the full retail version. /sarcasm
Seriously, has anyone tried to shop locally to buy a full version, that won't force a disk format upon install, and will truly upgrade applications and user-accounts? I tried once, and it was painful. I went to all the PC shops in Amsterdam and only found one with a copy for sale. It cost 285 euros (incl. 19% sales tax), compared to the 109 OEM price.
Think about it: cheap real estate! Now if they could only get a coffee shop inside somehow. I would never leave!
Let's face it, they'd have been mad to open shops and show people Vista. Now they have something apparantly rather better, they want to show it off to the world.
As others have said though, I can't imagine much real reason unless they have a whole raft of new titles coming out that no-one knows about. A few years ago when they had all those multimedia titles for movies, art, musical intsruments and so on, I'd have appreciated the chance ot get hands on with a few titles but now I can't see much in their lineup that is a try-before-you-buy sort of title. It's either something you need or you don't.
I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
With the economic downturn and stockholders angry for MS spending 'too much' on R&D, this is the *perfect* time to acquire a bunch of retail space and hire new employees!
If your only tool is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.
What better way to increase the profit margin on your products? Hire, train, and pay staff, pay rent on retail space? Develop a logistics network. Oh, Get into a market where you have no experience. Sounds like a fantastic way to cut costs and overhead.
There are some people that if they don't know, you can't tell 'em.
Summary is misleading. Microsoft has tried retail before. (before apple and dell, even.)
No way are these stores going to be less than 75% Xbox/GFW.
--- Do you believe in the day?
Only a moron would go into one of those stores. Half the people going in there will get a virus in the first 20 minutes!
Then again, I just yoinked some shares for the sake of getting their divident (as well as selling them higher after next week).
Viable Slashdot alternatives: https://pipedot.org/ and http://soylentnews.org/
Something tells me the enormous amounts of caffeine I had this morning will probably affect my judgment in the market today as badly as it just affected my ability to spell.
Viable Slashdot alternatives: https://pipedot.org/ and http://soylentnews.org/
It's about the only way they'll sucker someone into buying a Zune. :)
Why would anyone go to a store when they can download viruses at home for free?
Say hello to my little sig.
As they pay salary and not just commission, I think that it is a GREAT idea. The reason is that it will have a number of hires that would otherwise sit on Unemployment. For once, MS would be doing something good, even though they are just copying Apple again.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
once the economy starts back, that would be a great time for several of the distros to get together and do just that. Rent and pay would be low at most places. They could use it to market to schools, businesses, etc. Keep in mind that MANY ppl want somebody to come out and fix things. The "Genius" ppl.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
And the desperate search for a sustainable business model continues. Too bad they have destroyed their reputation in the process. Will I be charged to breathe in this store? Will there be a "dirty shoe" fee? Does my hearing the chime on entering the store constitute agreeing to pay $50 every time I look at one of their products on the shelf? And finally, how many windows will this store have (at the same time)?
Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
iPod is to Zune as Apple Store is to Microsoft Store. I predict it'll be an embarrassing rip off of the Apple Store that will cause no more than snickering from most people. And their customers will be nothing but MCSEs looking for a place to hang out. Should be amusing.
The best part is that Microsoft is dumb enough to keep pouring money into a losing venture for decades...
Do you have ESP?
Instead of visiting this new Microsoft Store, download yourself a copy of Ninnle Linux and fire up NinnleLIVE! It will tell you everything you need to know about all things Ninnle. For further information, contact your nearest Ninnle Users Group.
Wow! This really takes me back! Who here over the age of 25 never pulled this one at their local 80's retailer (I was always partial to Sears, myself...):
10 PRINT "SEARS SUCKS!"
20 GOTO 10
Looks like I finally have a reason to learn javascript...
to be in the meeting in which they decided to do this.
This is either going to be the biggest surprise, or the biggest flop in history.
This is just the Microsoft business model v2.0
They will sell PCs AND software, bundled together.
The catch is, you don't actually OWN the PC OR the Software.
You will lease or rent the PC for a "small monthly fee", and rent the software for another "small monthly fee".
This will give you the right to use the PC and software.
This will ensure that everyone is compensated fairly.
You will pay "small monthly fees" for services like:
-Local disk space
-Remote backup
-pay per use applications
-pay per use gaming
the XBOX was the model for this service, this will just expand it.
Think it won't work? It already does. The PC will be the new 'contract cellphone'.
We do this:
http://improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/
It will be a lot more challenging since its a smaller store, but that's were the fun come from.
Sometimes it's nice to go to a store and blow off some steam if their product is bad. It might not solve the problem, but it just feels good.
Of course, you should use polite words, and tell the person "helping" you that it's not personal.
Location #1: In Hell
How is this store going to work. Most customer service is done by third parties, so where will be the help desk? Computers are sold by third parties, so where will be computers? How will it be decided which brands to stock? How will the store not look like Comp USA.
OTOH, I disagree that this is a bad time to start this. The economy is down, but MS has money. Strip center space is going to be cheap. Consumers will be looking for low prices with a big name to back the sales up. The problem is MS is not going to be abe to offer low prices without annoying it's retail partners. And consumers are not going to make a special trip just to experience the MS Store.
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
...Microsoft does offer an excellent line of keyboards and mice, but keyboards, mice, operating systems, and office suites are simply not enough to create a viable retail chain in my opinion, particularly not at the start of a looming depression.
I vote for leisure suits.
I can see it now: you walk into the store (by accident) and an assistant dressed as a paper clip appears beside you saying
"You look like you're trying to buy a PC. Shall I ..
* ignore all your needs and suggest one now
* spew FUD about anything not owned by Microsoft
* help myself to your wallet now
* do a weird little spin and bugger off!"
Please god let them have a coffee shop with wireless!
The next time your favorite release comes out it will be a great place to gather and do installs -
Is this the new troll meme? I don't usually browse the lower-scored posts, so I haven't seen this one before, but it looks like a generic post--it certainly has nothing to do with MS opening new stores. It's kind of a bland post--my favorite from days of yore was the Mac troll complaining about how long it took to copy a small file at his "freelancing gig." Good times, good times.
What would you like help with?
* MSCE Bar
* Flying Chairs Screensaver
Retail Experience Center
I especially like the photo with the shopping cart ...
First off, I thought the way they laid the store out was irritating. Everything was "my" this and "my" that and very confusing. They stuck games in a "MyGames" section that was hidden behind the "MyTools" section which you couldn't even see was there unless you walked through all the "MySystem" displays.
I was also disturbed by the number of sleazy, if not down right criminal, people that Microsoft let get into the store. It looked like a dangerous place to take my kids.
The kicker for me, however, was what they called their "Blue Light Special". Right in the middle of walking through the "MyRegistry" area looking for a stack of TCPs, all the store lights turned blue and we were hustled out of the store onto the sidewalk outside. We had to stand there for 5 minutes before they would let us back in.
I found the shopping experience at the Apple Store much more enjoyable. They even gave me a really big iPod to put under my bed.
Dear Microsoft,
This is a great idea! I am so sure it will be successful that you should get started on the second phase right away. Everybody will want to come to your stores so you need to stop diluting your brand by selling it via other distribution methods. You should immediately stop bundling your software with prebuilt computers from manufacturers like Dell. Also immediately remove your product from online stores. Having people come into your stores will form a strong community.
I was just talking to some IT Admins yesterday and they were complaining how the 1000 licenses of Windows they just bought were just an electric piece of paper. They really wanted to go to a physical store with physical shopping cards and put a 1000 boxes in that cart. They thought that would be much more satisfying that just a number on a piece of paper.
Your profits are falling, you need to implement this strategy to maximize profits in these tough economic time. It's time to make this change. Do it now. Please!
Hobby Robotics
I think this could do a lot for Microsoft. One thing is for sure they will need better techs than what you can find at say a Best Buy. If you have people there that actually know the products it could do a lot for people getting what they need not what the high school senior at best buy tells them will do what they need. Also there is a good chance this will be a place to get Xboxs and some of Microsoft's other hardware out there. I am willing to bet there are a lot of retailers who have never heard of some of the hardware MS puts out and it will be nice to see a lot of it and play with it.
by people coming in for tech. support.
Perhaps thats what their store will be, not selling product but support services.
quite young. 25; a veteran of Wall Mart (blimey, he must have started working there early!)...
It may just be that they will get more information on their product than their traveling shows. This also may prove to be a lower cost solution than flying people in to their corporate office to get information on how people use their products, or what they want from them. Even if they lose money it will at least churn some money to cover cost of direct contact with their users.
The year of Microsoft on the high street!
To be honest I'm surprised they aren't setting up shop as an online retailer. I would have thought that would give them a wider reach for less outlay, but I guess they want people to play with their products. In store surfaces and all that.
The other thing is the main impression that I came away with from the images of the concept store was, well, how dull and boring it looked. Not the sort of place I would enjoy shopping.
Knowing Microsoft it will put its corporate salespeople on the shop floor to be all 'customer facing' who will scare away most customers by the time they have stalked their prey (they'll call that 'proactive') and introduced themselves with, "Hi! Can I help you?" (They think they are doing you a favor but it's rare I will stay long if I sense any potential for being hounded into a purchase.)
Maybe I'm just being cynical?
"Three eyes are better than one" -- Lieutenant Columbo
When Apple went into retail, they got a guy from the nice Gap stores to set it up. When Microsoft does the same thing, they get a guy from WalMart. That pretty much sums up the difference between Apple and Microsoft.
I suppose he could technically be a veteran if he has been at Wal-Mart long enough, but this implies experience in this context as well. Does a 25 year old who (it seems through usde of the word vet) has only worked for one retail operation so far have the industry experience to run with something like this in these times? I'm not knocking him personally, but he must be really special to have landed this gig?
At that time the Sony metro-center was trying to be a high tech playground. It had innovative video games, a new movie theater, a theme restaurant, action figure store, and the MicroSoft software store. I stopped by there to get free email updates. I store was in the center of "Dot com land" or SoMa lofts for high tech work and living. Lots of people from Stanford and Silicon valley lived there because it was just a train ride up the pennisula, with a urban ambience. That area faded a bit after the dot.com crash.
I don't think the 4 year old will be all that happy doing demos of sending pics to her family 8 hours a day.
This is genuinely hilarious. You know, I haven't laughed so much all week. Laughter is healthy. I feel good. Thanks MS!
Eric Baird
So does that mean the store will close down right in the middle of you trying to make a serious purchase decision?
They are going to compete with MacStore using a guy from Wal-Mart? LOL
*Paper clip guy does a weird little spin and buggers off*
Moments later ...
"You look like you're trying to select a new PC. Shall I ..
* ignore all your needs and suggest one now
* spew FUD about anything not owned by Microsoft
* help myself to your wallet now
* do a weird little spin and bugger off!"
They should sell drinks and people can test out their great software like Songsmith! It would be the most popular store in the mall.
Maybe this is Microsoft's Attempt at helping fix the economy? Hiring a bunch or dumm.. err.. real people to sell their products at minimal wage?
It's April Fool's Day already?
The user "twitter" is a twitter sock puppet.
Microsoft has a different PR problem. Their success has trivialized their products. Even their high end software which is rather nice (if you are able to look at them threw un Fanboy/Zealot eyes) has the stigma of being sub-par home software. As well associating any and all PC problems that one has with Microsoft even if it isn't their fault. Really gives them a PR problem. Now I am not sure a retail store will fix it. Showing off the software is a much more difficult problem. It takes time to determine if you want or like the software. Vs. say a Mac which just looks cool and you feel that it can do what you want it to do. Most people felt they have been burned by Microsoft far more then people who felt burned by Apple so standard marketing will make them suspicious.
Nonsense. MS doesn't have a PR problem outside a tiny, albeit self-regarding, minority. The vast majority have no problem doing what they want to do on a MS operating system -- surf the web, work in Word and Excel, play games, edit their digital camera pictures etc.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
Like all things Microsoft I'm going to recommend that everyone wait till version 3.0 comes out. Their microsoftSF store was opened at the height of the dot-com days in 1999 and was closed in 2001. This is version 2.0. I would at least wait until the 2nd store opens. But be warned that might be 2.1 and not 3.0. :P
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
with the cow pattern boxes?
gateway was once dell's main competitor in the 1990s
one of the things that did them in was their foray into retail business. colossal failure
now they don't even sell direct anymore, no internet or phone sales. all of their retail stores are closed. and i believe they were bought by another company recently
so if you cheer microsoft's downfall, cheer their foray into retail sales: its a boondoggle
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Do I have to buy the chair, or can I just pick one up and throw it?
Speaking about the Ballmer experience, which is bound to be in the store. Who wouldnt want to throw a chair?
Warning: Corny karma killing post above.
No, Microsoft's free Win7 upgrade scheme was going to be entirely administered by participating OEMs, at their discretion (translation: it's a "final resort" option to allow OEM customer service people to placate angry Vista customers who bought premium hardware with Vista, have "issues" with it, no longer have XP as an option, and who can't be placated any other way). It's an OEM service based on an option agreed between MS and the OEM. It's not an option that MS themselves would be offering to end-users (and "retail Windows pack" customers are specifically excluded from the scheme).
Then again, they always have the option to change their minds and do this. IMO, a free upgrade to Win7 for all Vista customers would be an excellent idea, and would really help restore their reputation. The question is, are Microsoft bright enough to realise it?
Eric Baird
I'm fairly realistic about Microsoft usually, but it's hard to escape the impression lately that they are rudderless, drifting, and desperately trying to copy Apply who are sailing far ahead into profitable new markets with seeming ease.
They've always had a tendency to copy the best of other people's ideas, but in the past that worked better for them, and was useful to customers because the rough edges were smooth off.
Now Apple and Google seem to be executing well, shuffling Microsoft off to IBM-style irrelevancy.
OK, there is still those Office and Windows cash-cows, but obviously OSX, Linux and OO are nipping at their heels; they are having to reduce prices (Windows CE is extremely cheap, they seem to lose a lot of money on it) and do new unpleasant things for them (like XP for Netbooks).
For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert. - Arthur C. Clarke
I would have to agree. It looks entertaining.
After deciding they did not want to be kicked to the curb any longer by the "Im a Mac" ads. Microsoft made it very well known that they had a 300 million dollar ad campaign to counter that image. After 2 commercials with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates that were essentially WTF moments. Those were pulled. "Are the luminaries at Microsoft working on a computer that is moist and chewy". Give me a break.
Then it morphed into the "I'm a PC" adds. Which were totally forgettable. The Mac ads were still kicking them in the nards. The Zune is not doing so hot against the iPod.
Microsoft's next area of failure? "Let's open a store like Apple has." This should be entertaining....
vi +
The number of people who have a positive view of Microsoft vastly outnumbers the installed user base of Apple. Most people like Microsoft, warts and all, because they can afford a PC and it has everything they need. The fact that Apple is shinier is not lost on them, it just doesn't outweigh all of the fun and power owning a modern PC connected to the internet brings. Only Apple zealots think that PC users are jealous of them. Only Linux zealots think of thrown chairs when someone mentions windows. It might be cool if the software section has 3 surface stations where multiple people can try out demos or see videos of products. It actually seems more like a PR stunt. Open a few stores in major cities and every time a new Halo or Gears of War game comes out, they'll have lines around the block.
in the form of audio- it would sound like this:
Hey! Microsoft is going to o*crowd rushes up*rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble chairthrow rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble!
"twitter" is a twitter sock puppet.
... Microsoft operating systems and applications (even in pre-load configurations) to be available at the Microsoft store at least three months before any other PC or software seller has access. This will allow the Microsoft store to gain an unfair advantage in the market.
I would also expect to see rent increases to any competing specialty (Linux/Apple) stores, due to Microsoft "incentives" to mall owners.
These actions may actually fall outside of the current antitrust constraints.
OTOH, maybe Microsoft has changed their ways and now believes in competing fairly.
POSSIBILITY #1
Microsoft don't know what the hell they are doing. Sell stock now.
POSSIBILITY #2
Microsoft DO know what they're doing, and realise that the company is on the edge of total collapse, partly due to their poor image, and they have do do something risky and major to change their business model and their public perception. They're prepared to make a major loss paying people all over the country to tell customers that Win7 isn't total crap, and to show them how well it runs. Things really are that desperately bad, and MS know it, but they figure that they don't have much choice, desperate times call for desperate measures. Sell stock now.
POSSIBILITY #3
MS have spotted a genuine opportunity, not for retailing, but for buying up a load of high-value retail sites in good locations at the bottom of the market. They have a hell of a lot of money in the bank, and they don't really know what to do with it. They don't know how to make money on the web, their acquisition of Yahoo's brains-pool failed, the Office and Windows revenues are set to dry up with no obvious replacement products, and the billions they're spent on R&D haven't really produced anything. And banks aren't as safe as they used to be.
So a Walmart guy comes up to them and says, Dudes, with all that cash there's a real investment opportunity here. Shops are going bust all over, and its a buyers market. With all that cash, you should be able to buy up retail space in strategic locations dirt-cheap, then kit out the stores as MS Stores and run 'em for a few years as a public relations exercise. If the shops do well you make money, if they do badly you write it off as a PR cost. Then when the economy recovers and the retail space prices rise again in a few years, you own all these key sites, and you get to sell them off at a high profit. Or maybe hang onto them and rent them out. You currently have a lot of your core investment in intangibles that're high risk (Win7) or are going to have lost most of their value in five years time. Switch some of your investment portfolio into actual physical things that have a real physical worth, and are almost guaranteed to be worth more in five or ten years time than they are now in the current slump.
That'd be the sales pitch, anyway. How well it works out in practice probably depends on how well the Walmart guy really knows the retail property market. We shall see.
Eric Baird
When referring to yourself, please use the pronoun 'I', rather than referring to yourself in the third person. It will help prevent confusion.
Slow Down Cowboy!
Slashdot requires you to wait between each successful posting of a comment to allow everyone a fair chance at posting a comment.
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I thought there's already plenty of retail in Swiss.
>>get frisked on the way out
All, you can mod me off topic if you want, but i wanted to mention that one does not have to put up with being searched on the way out of the store.
Now, IANAL but I don't believe that there is any law that says that you have to submit to a search by a store employee.
When I'm leaving a place and the 'security guy' wants to check my receipt or bag, I simply walk past them. If confronted I tell them that if they think that I am stealing that they should ||call the police|| --I'll wait.
Usually the security guy tries to quote some company policy or makes something up on the spot to try to get me to comply --it's unthinkable that I'd actually stand up for my rights after-all!!-- but I just tell them that I'll let a police officer check out my bag.
Of course it never gets that far, because the guys know that it's not worth the trouble of actually calling the police, so they 'let' me go.
In searching you, or checking your goods, the big faceless company is treating you, a paying customer, like a criminal. Push back a little, you get to stand up for your rights, and watch a security drone squirm a little.
Try it sometime folks, you might like the result. :)
Huh?
The Metreon was never much of a mall. I'm not even sure it was meant to be given its proximity to Market Street, the real mall at the base of Powell, Union Square etc. Other than the Playstation store, there was really no reason to go there unless you were on your way to the Cinema upstairs.
It seemed more like a mini-expo center -- a place to put product in front of people who were looking to kill time before their movie started.
User maintains more than a dozen sockpuppet accounts on Slashdot.
Yes, yes I would. Most people here would.
Tell me, your running Slackware and some pretty young lady decides to start a conversation with you about it, do you tell her to shove off?
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Mu biggest fear is them stuffing some poor clerk in a 8ft tall Clippy suit and turning him loose in the mall. My worst desktop support nightmare come to life..
On the other hand I'll finally have the chance to beat that stupid paperclip senseless..
If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur. --Red Adair
With M$'s reputation, the first thing I pictured is a store with many entrances. Once your inside, there is now visible way to tell what time it is, or whether or not there is daylight outside or not. Also, once inside, all of the entrances are now not so obvious. You have to go through some sort of market research, or trial period in order to actually leave.
Ya think?
B-)
A friend will come and bail you out of jail, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "damn that was fun!"
the pull down blue shades when they are closed.
Tell me that wouldn't earn them some cred?
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
It'll be a great place to hand out OpenOffice CD's on a Sunday afternoon. I love living in Seattle.
Is there anything better than clicking through Microsoft ads on Slashdot?
Well shit, does this mean that I will need to pay state sales tax when I purchase Microsoft products online?
How is this going to affect Microsofts' current retail channels, like Dixons or PC World ..
For the record, I upgraded the memory on my (first generation) Mac Mini myself, and it turned out to be simpler than expected. The putty-knife thing, pffffft! I used a flat-head screwdriver and a butter knife to easily remove the cover from the bottom.
It was trully a breeze. And the DIMM cost me about $30.00 in crucial.com.
-dZ.
Carol vs. Ghost
Or the "Press any key to format c:" followed by the percentage incrementing once a second after the key is hit.
There are a huge number of yeast infections in this county. Probably because we're downriver from the bread factory.
um...
10 PRINT "SEARS SUCKS "; -- fixed that , you really want it to be obnoxious. :)
I bet they wish ALL this whole thread was marked 0, troll.
WHere is there troll-maker who zapped my ass yesterday, twice?
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1125601&cid=26832913
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1124677&cid=26822197
Where is that cheerleading, anonymous coward?
Come out, come out, where ever you are...
Captcha: "sonata"
Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"
Realistically, even if all the MS stores did was set up an XBox corner and drove traffic to it by hosting a continuous Halo tournament, that would be a success.
Microsoft should focus on what works really well in these stores; the 360 is one of those things.
-Rob
Biblical fiscal responsibility
Will I be able to get a refund for Windows when I buy a PC with it pre-installed but want to put a real OS on it?
Microsoft has a PR problem on their hands, I can assure you. Doesn't mean people are going to change OS or anything. But the fact of the matter is that non-geeks distrust computers, and to them that means Windows.
>> Finally, retail space is pretty cheap right now
There's a place nearby that is the skeleton of what used to be a Circuit City.
That microsoft's front doors will not be located in the front like the apple stores, instead they will be at the back. Additionally they won't be called front doors, instead they will be called Start doors. So yes Our Strategy is completely different.
With your sockpuppets.
> Circuit City and CompUSA both failed due to
> Vista channel stuffing.
What??
One shade of blue in particular.
HERE
Microsoft has a PR problem on their hands, I can assure you. Doesn't mean people are going to change OS or anything. But the fact of the matter is that non-geeks distrust computers, and to them that means Windows.
I would say that non-geeks are intimidated by computers, and that drives them to forgive the flaws of well established brands like MS because they still seem like a safe bet. Apple has gained a lot on user recognition, but remain limited by their uncompetitive price point.
If MS can put consumers in front of a nice computer running Windows 7, that will go a long way towards assuaging any reservations that people have about Windows. Thus, the MS store.
Will I be able to get the Windows refund in the store rather than fighting my OEM for it?
The Scotch Boutique comes to mind.
"Well, ... we got Windows ... and we got Office ... we got Office ... and we got Windows ... so, what'll it be today?"
Research shows that 67% of those who use the term "research shows", are just making shit up.
I'd expect more.
I would say that non-geeks are intimidated by computers, and that drives them to forgive the flaws of well established brands like MS because they still seem like a safe bet.
Good point
If MS can put consumers in front of a nice computer running Windows 7, that will go a long way towards assuaging any reservations that people have about Windows. Thus, the MS store.
Ah ha! so they DO have a problem!
Why bother with a real store? Microsoft is primarily a software company, they should be looking at ways to maximize the sales of software.
If you're going to steal something from Apple, maybe looking at the App Store would be a good starting point. Imagine if Vista had an Add/Remove Programs link that would actually show you new programs you could install just like the App Store.
The current Microsoft store is missing way too much, and most of the software is far too expensive. Consumers won't be buying $150 copies of MS Office anytime soon. Why not offer MS Word for $25?
More importantly, take advantage of _software_ and integrate this with MS Windows. Let me shop for programs from within my os, similar to Ubuntu's Add/Remove application, but with a hook into your MS Live ID where you can include billing information.
Heck, if you do it right you can ditch the MSDN downloads for enterprise users and have the billing info in the MS AppStore connected to the corporate account.
Eric Sarjeant
eric[@]sarjeant.com
Haha! The local Radio Shack in my neighborhood had their TRS-80's demo disks wiped almost weekly by some random ne'er-do-well with too much time on his hands and not enough quarters for the arcade.
Thanks for the memories!
-dZ.
Carol vs. Ghost
Directly ompeting with your distributors and integrators is the very best way to lose resellers and the best way to boost your real competition (Linux distributors) since your newly-created competitors will have a sour taste in their mouths and will be promoting your competition.
Good move, Microsoft. You're losing market share already and now you want to drive off the cliff.
The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
My trick was (on Apple ][+) to enter a very short (11 bytes, I think) machine language program which output a random character to the screen and clicked the speaker in a tight loop. I'd walk away quickly while the screen filled with scrolling garbage and the machine emitted a buzzing noise.
They've been working with some of todays hottest interior designers. I have friends that work for one of these designers and they snuck out some of their preliminary sketches! ENJOY!
No sig for you!!
A blind search for successful strategies... and looking up to Apple.
Instead of building the product that the customers really want. I guess there's nothing more difficult than making a fast, stable, clean implementation of a windows-compatible OS.
Finally a good opportunity for someone to put the Microsoft Surface to use.
Apples do NOT cost twice what an equivalent PC costs. Try doing the math some time. I did, then I bought my Macbook.
If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
Good luck running that program in a store full of BSOD boxen.
Say hello to my little sig.
I was going to tell you politely how Linux is more desktop ready than Windows and that you don't need to compile shit and touch the CLI even once and that there are some gamers (gaming nothing to do with the desktop, rather something with consoles) who cannot switch because Wine hasn't got full Direct3D support yet, but instead I am going to say this:
Lol you're a fscking idiot!
Here be signatures
I don't recall Commodore BASIC requiring the closing semicolon. :)
I wasn't as anti-retail as that, of course... I just liked to make the screen cycle through the pretty colors (all 16 of 'em) while the computer made siren sounds.
Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.
If you were smart, you first set it to disengage the keyboard, then wait three minutes for you to walk away. Oh, and beep a lot. I'd print the commands, but it's been too long....
Yes, we did this a time or two back in the day.
What if I do the same thing, and I do get different results?
Just take the BSOD screensaver with you on a USB stick and install it
Follow me
twitter, please learn how to use the apostrophe. It's really not that hard. Your atrocious grammar is one of the ways people identify you and your many accounts.
Although I think Apple could actually start charging Microsoft for writing their business plan, as well as the amazing total lack of innovative ability from Microsoft, Microsoft might actually be on its way to stealing another of Apple's business plans that would be far more significant: They might start making computers and mobiles themselves and selling them in their own stores.
If you were running Microsoft and finally got tired of throwing chairs at the wall, what part of Apple's business would upset you most, and no, the fact that Apple actually does do amazing innovation isn't the one you're looking for. Apple owns and sells the whole package.
Microsoft could easily start building their own PCs, notebooks, netbooks and mobiles, integrate Windows so that it works very well with them, and sell the whole package using its new stores to increase awareness of them.
Take note that Linux is starting to eat into Microsoft's low end, and the fact that some OEMs, like HP are making better Linux GUIs for these netbooks than Microsoft does. Also think what could OEMs actually do if Microsoft were to start building and selling its own hardware? Nothing. The OEMs are almost toally dependent on Microsoft for their OS as Linux could not replace Windows quickly or easily in general.
Microsoft would not even have to stop selling Windows to OEMs. Sure the OEMs would scream anti-trust and threaten legal action, but Microsoft could just point to Apple, and say, "at least we'll sell you the OS". And if Microsoft really is in as much trouble as I think they are, they might just be desperate enough to try a stunt like this.
5 to 10 yers down the road and almost no OEMs are left, only Microsoft and Apple computers, notebooks and mobiles. It's just like the American political system: two big parties that swap power every once in a while.
When does the Microsoft Store lock up? . . . . . Every five minutes!
I don't think a Microsoft store would be like an Apple store. At an Apple store the salespeople think a chipset is a processor and the higher cost is justified because Apple uses different "premium" hardware in their computers that's not available in others. They're designed to sell nice features like MagSafe, glossy screens, and multi-finger touchpads.
I'm not saying the salespeople at the Microsoft store are going to be experts, just that Microsoft has never highlighted their similarities to Apple. They'll sell their products as devices rather than parts of a unique computing experience. The failed ad campaign you mentioned surely made them aware that their userbase is not interested in computing experiences; they're interested in things, and don't care too much about image or the emotional states promoted by some experience.
Not trying to sound like some weird Microsoft fan or rant nonsensically, just in a metaphorical mood..
Would I be able to go to the store and ask for a refund for the Windows license I was obliged to purchase when buying my computer?
I bet not...
Remember the year 2000? They promised us flying cars. They delivered the PT Cruiser...
Looks more like gratuitous flamebait to me.
Sounds about as fun as a shit-sandwich after having your wisdom teeth pulled.
Maybe they can partner with Intel ... now there's an exciting couple.
Velvet drapes - check
Spike the Koolaide - check
Cue the Dirge music - check
Its not the years, its the mileage
Well, I can tell you're off to a great start! Good luck with that.
It's all about the money and how much you can afford to burn.
Deleted
Imagine if this is not something to go after Apple but to go after Best Buy's Geek Squad. Consumer support RIGHT THERE directly from MS.
MS has always lacked on consumer support (Corp support is incredible, this is from somebody whose seen three highly placed engineers working to fix an issue we had with Solomon) And you can only do so much with phone support. Geek Squad slipped into that niche for the PC market and Apple's stores have supplied it for the Apple Market. Supply low/no cost support at these locations and I think a lot of people will be more willing to buy a Windows based PC
My elderly mother (hi mum) can do all that (Ubuntu), she was computer illiterate until her early sixties.
I know it is not exactly the same, the only thing I am saying is that your computer may be misconfigured somehow.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
Show me your balance sheet.
When it is in the black then we can talk.
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
Dream on ...
IANAL but write like a drunk one.