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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.'"

10 of 535 comments (clear)

  1. Sorry, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Linux just isn't ready for the desktop yet. It may be ready for the web servers that you nerds use to distribute your TRON fanzines and personal Dungeons and Dragons web-sights across the world wide web, but the average computer user isn't going to spend months learning how to use a CLI and then hours compiling packages so that they can get a workable graphic interface to check their mail with, especially not when they already have a Windows machine that does its job perfectly well and is backed by a major corporation, as opposed to Linux which is only supported by a few unemployed nerds living in their mother's basement somewhere. The last thing I want is a level 5 dwarf (haha) providing me my OS.

    1. Re:Sorry, but... by 8tim8 · · Score: 0, Troll

      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.

  2. Is MS trying to become a time-delayed Apple? by tenzig_112 · · Score: 0, Troll

    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

  3. Re:I hope it succeeds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Are you retarded? Is that why you posted that? Seriously. WTF?

  4. Re:Following Apple by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Apple manages it, but I don't see how their design could be sexy to anyone but a pedophile...

  5. Re:this should be embarrassing for all involved by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Why do you care what others do? I guess you're an apple zealot that can't stand the thought that others don't subscribe to your cult.

  6. All sorts of Doom Predicted. by Erris · · Score: -1, Troll

    Twitter has rounded up the doom and gloom. WSJ, and others predict failure based on M$'s heavy retail chain dependence (aka channel stuffing and partner squeeze in less polite company), and previous vertical integration failures. Yes, M$ had a store before but other, larger vertical integration failures are more predictive. Remember that Gateway, HP and Compaq efforts? In short, M$ has either lost it's grip on retailers or will soon with stunts like this.

    M$ partners should always remember that M$ considers you a "one night stand" to be used and discarded.

    --
    DMCA, Hollings, Palladium. What might have sounded like paranoia is now common sense.
  7. Re:Wow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    yeah, when you have no software to run Linux works great

  8. Awwww, poor, misunderstood, little M$. by twitter · · Score: -1, Troll

    Fanboy barf:

    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.

    Showing off software is only difficult if people who use your software universally agree that it sucks.

    The PR problem comes from more than a decade of vicious anti-competitive behavior and you can say that the M$ store is more of the same. Circuit City and CompUSA both failed due to Vista channel stuffing. Zune is a byword for DRM betrayal, both for customers and OEMs left high and dry by M$'s shifting non standards. Xbox "support" includes sabotaging and screwing game partners. M$ has screwed all of their friends and have to make a little place of their own. They will soon be bankrupt.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  9. Imagine this. by twitter · · Score: -1, Troll

    Imagine me laughing like this, "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!" It makes me feel good too. No need for a laugh box when you have a sense of humor.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.