This has been rumored forever, but I guess it's going to happen. I wonder what kind of stuff the Borg collective will sell? http://www.cnbc.com/id/29168365 ---------------------------------- Microsoft to Open Chain of Retail Stores Reuters | 12 Feb 2009 | 06:42 PM ET Microsoft announced plans Thursday to open its own chain of stores and hired a DreamWorks Animation executive to run them. The move follows rival Apple's successful foray into retailing, but comes at a time when consumer spending is under pressure due to the recession. The company did not say how many stores it was looking to open, or when, or which products would be available. That is to be decided by David Porter, a former DreamWorks Animation executive, whom Microsoft named as its new vice president of retail stores Thursday.
I'm guessing they will use this to pushing the home-entertainment side of the XBox360. People think of it as a gaming system as opposed to a universal entertainment system. I think having a retail store where people can see it connected to the Zune, or downloading Netflix movies and the like will be big for that side of their business.
With retail stores closing left and right, this sounds like MS's way to dump some money into the economy.
Would they really get into this without knowing the risk/reward obviously they think the reward is greater than the risk. everyones complaining that they're cutting down jobs everywhere and microsoft is opening some up and all you guys can say is fail.
Apple mp3 players are the most well known and probably best selling mp3 players on the market. Their iPhones, unfortunately are pretty popular too. Microsoft doesn't have their own cell phone, yet. Apple sells laptops/desktops + monitors. Microsoft has PC accessories, operating systems, xbox and I'm a PC shirts for sale. Basically, Apple has a larger variety of electronics to choose from. Microsoft, not so much. It's not a bad idea and with all things Microsoft, they'll throw enough money to eventually turn it successful.
If Microsoft is so good about calculating risks/rewards when executing a plan, what happened with Vista? Or the Zune? They hit and miss just like anyone else. I'm not guaranteeing failure with this but what's wrong with predicting it will not succeed? Is this not a message board? IROC it, sorry it bothers you others have a different opinion. You are free to love MS and hate "Appfail" all you want. Just like others are free to feel the opposite and some of us are skeptical of both. Every time someone posts a negative comment about MS, it's like there is a defense mechanism that kicks in here to protect them. I started a thread a couple of years ago about MS' diminishing influence in the marketplace and you would have thought I called Gates and Ballmer child abusers and said MS would be out of business soon. Watching these overreactions is amusing. Maybe MS will become "cool" (like Appfail) and these stores will become a big deal. Time will tell.
I'm a fan of neither side. But for an Apple fanatic to call out MS supporters is hilarious. Apple Fan is notorious for how vehemently they defend anything and everything Apple. Overly and obnoxiously so.
100% agree. Crazed Apple fanatics deserve the scorn. I think people who are in love with one company or the other are silly. It's like Apple, MS or Sony is a family member to them. But to each his own.
I wouldn't underestimate branding on a personal level. One could say it has more significance than being loyal to a sports team. The company gives you something you like to use, it makes you feel good, and it makes you feel better. Even the more mundane items like Colgate or Crest...while I wouldn't get into a flame war over it, my teeth feels cleaner with Colgate, and that's a fact...
http://www.pcworld.com/article/1595...ail_stores_will_differ_from_apple_stores.html 1) Instead of Apple's sheer walls of glass, Microsoft's stores will have brushed steel walls dotted with holes -- reminiscent of Windows security. 2) The store will have six different entrances: Starter, Basic, Premium, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate. While all six doors will lead into the same store, the Ultimate door requires a fee of $100 for no apparent reason. 3) Instead of a "Genius Bar" (as Apple provides) Microsoft will offer an Excuse Bar. It will be staffed by Microsofties trained in the art of evading questions, directing you to complicated and obscure fixes, and explaining it's a problem with the hardware -- not a software bug. 4) The Windows Genuine Advantage team will run storefront security, assuming everybody is a thief until they can prove otherwise. 5) Store hours are undetermined. At any given time the store mysteriously shuts down instantaneously for no apparent reason. (No word yet on what happens to customers inside). 6) Stores will be named Microsoft Live Retail Store with PC Services for Digital Lifestyle Enthusiasts. 7) Fashioned after Microsoft's User Account Control (UAC) in Vista, sales personnel will ask you whether you're positive you want to purchase something at least twice. 8) Xbox 360 section of the store will be organized in a ring -- which will inexplicably go red occasionally. 9) DreamWorks will design a scary in-store theme park ride called "blue screen of death." 10) Store emergency exits will be unlocked at all times so people can get in anytime they want even if the front doors are locked.
