Microsoft gets serious about retail stores with exec hire
By Ross Miller 
posted February 12th 2009 7:43PM
posted February 12th 2009 7:43PM
posted February 12th 2009 7:43PM
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Where the hell are the Engadget moderators. Jesus christ, clean up this filth already.
Really and i hope they bring the ban hammer with them.
While some of you might be 14 or 15 stop acting like it.
This could be good for MS. I think they have a lot of products that consumers want. We can foam at the mouth ripping on MS and the BSOD. But, that doesn't deny the truth that they control over 90% of the computers in the world. So, that in itself, gives them some ground. If it has worked for Apple, I don't see why it can't for MS. MS doesn't have a lot of hardware to speak of other than peripherals like keyboards and mouse/s (pc mice I guess), and the Zune. The rest is software. So, it'd be easier for them to provide their customers with direct access to MS trained personnel.
A now, a dose of sarcasm: ... and if it all fails, MS Techs can always blame the pc manufacturer for the customers' problems.
@ chapel.
You are a fucking Dick. I'm not a massive apple fan but the fact you are joking about Steve jobs is pathetic. Don't say its not you because if you click on the person making the jokes it come up with you're name. Someone needs to do something about chapel and have him removed.
How have they stolen both my avatars.
right click and save image as??
owned lol
what a fucking douche paul.
dumbfuck computer USER. learn a thing or too.
oh, and while you are at it, get a fucking life.
anyone with me on that?
"not cool asshole troll".
Look who's talking.
what a fucking douche paul.
dumbfuck computer USER. learn a thing or too.
oh, and while you are at it, get a fucking life.
anyone with me on that?
macbook air as well!
Oy vey, I'm going to be pretty surprised if engadget doesn't shut down comments soon.
Damn! I hate Microsoft, I wish they would just go away.
Even thou, I know thats not going to happen, I just wish the whole was more Unix, or Unix-like...
Everything about Microsoft sux...
Gee, I wonder who the real one is, probably the one who created his account today.
http://www.engadget.com/profile/2595731/
This could be really good for Microsoft if they do it right.
Their biggest weakness the last few years has been marketing. 99% of the people don't read engadget and stay on top of the latest and greatest, their main source of information about matters is advertising. Apple has used their stores as an extention of their ad campaigns. By having all their products in one place with none of the competition, their salespeople can spin things however they want to put a new mac or iphone in people's hands compared to Best Buy etc. who also sells Windows and Zunes and gives more opportunity for people to see them side by side. We already know Microsoft's I'm a PC campaign has been working, so why not go the extra step. A retail environment that is focused on pushing out PCs, WinMo handsets, Zunes, and Xboxes will allow people to see their offerings in a way where the spotlight is on them and not trying to share it with the competition.
Paul A Chapel is a self righteous apple/pc/whatever user who just like to start fights and see if his epen*** is bigger than somebody's. If we ignore him he might go away.
or we can ban him.
Maybe they hire back some of the 1000s of people they fired to run these stores.
Which store is she working in?
Jesus Chirst, the last time I saw such a crapload of spam was in... a tin of spam. For the love of god stop flaming and posting pointless crap stay on topic. [/usermod]
Anyway, if Microsoft do launch these stores, judging by how they've managed the Zune, we probably won't see them over here. Besides, I'm not sure if we really need them... PC World is just fine for PC related stuff. The only reason Apple need stores is because of their closed ecosystem. It's one platform, supported by one company, and having it's own store just builds on their monolithic way of doing things. Plus, they're heavily dependant on fierce brand loyality (as so aptly demonstrated by some of the comments on this article), so having a retail front where the fanboys can gather and exuberate is something Apple needs. Not so much for Microsoft. Windows is the default platform for 95% of retail PCs. People don't go Windows like they go Mac, they just use it because it works, and that's what comes on reasonably priced PCs, and it's what people are generaly familiar with. Windows just doesn't attract the same fanboyism that OSX does, people just use it because it's there 90% of the time. They're ambilivant towards it.
The same thing can't be said of the Zune, going for one as your MP3 player is something that people will actively "go for", as in regards to MP3 players, let's face it, iPods are the "default choice." But seeing as they're not even sold over here, that wouldn't add any reason for MS to launch stores over here.
And holy crap, stop the press, all of Paul's comments just disappeared. He was vaguely amusing to laugh at, but it's no great loss.
I know I'm going to get downranked for this, but this just feels like a solution in search of a problem. I don't get the feeling that Microsoft identified a specific market problem and designed the stores around them, it just seems like some exec said "hey, you know what we need? Retail stores!" and everyone nodded their heads and decided to give it a try.
The only way this will work is if they accept the fact that the stores will lose money, and treat them as a form of advertising and product promotion, designed to give customers a cool place to play with new toys and to keep the Microsoft name out there.
Retail is a bag of hurt (sorry, had to). Go back to when Apple started opening their stores -- Forbes had a great article on why they would utterly fail, based on the number of dollars that retail stores must generate per square foot, and explaining why previous attempts such as Gateway 2000 had failed. Apple was only successful because of a perfect storm of factors. First of all, their products were very hard to find in retail stores. Second, because their products were the "alternative" to Windows, it was important for users to be able to try before buying -- this is not the case for most of Microsoft's products. Third, the timing was perfect to catch the wave of iPod, then Mac and iPhone successes, not to mention a simultaneous skyrocketing in "cool" factor attached to the brand.
We can't really say to what extent Apple's plan was genius, and to what extent it succeeded just due to dumb luck, but Microsoft simply isn't in the same position that Apple was. Everybody is familiar with Microsoft products, you can buy them anywhere, and they're not perceived as "different".
It might be an okay plan to run them just for the publicity/marketing value, but unfortunately some bean counter like Ballmer is going to look at the stores, 2 years down the road, decide they aren't worthwhile merely because they don't generate a profit on their own, and kill off the whole production, making the whole thing more of a waste than if they had never done it in the first place.
Microsoft's worst investment since the Zune. Nuff said.
Why open a retail store, when your the sole product of purchase in computing. Apple can pull it off because they make the actual products. Microsoft only leases with the exception of Zune, and Xbox. In the end, this is just going to be a Best Buy that is nothing but Microsoft.
Another reason why Apple has success with a retail store is because they have a minimal product line. This is just too big of a retail store to even successfully do.
and Apple only makes Macs and iPods/Phones, so I fail to see how they're allowed to have their own store but not microsoft.
If anything Microsoft has more to sell than Apple because aside from their own hardware (Xbox and Zune) they can sell PCs and WinMo phones from featured hardware partners like HP, Dell, HTC, etc. They can focus their sales pitch on having infinite choice and the ability to have your computer custom suited to your use. Maybe they could have station where salespeople help customers custom configure their machines, or even sell parts and offer advice on computer building.
All this in addition to aisles and aisles of Windows software, Xbox games, and accessories.
Name me one thing besides the OS that Apple actually "makes".
You are a fool if you believe that Apple builds their own computers, phones, music players, keyboards, mice, anything.
They do the designs in house, and then send out the specs to factories in Taiwan, China, Singapore, etc.
Not really sure how this will work out for them, its different with apple since the OS is tied to the hardware. But wont this be just a bunch of computers running windows vista and windows 7, and a few boxes of office? and maybe a zune ?
I don't see the difference?
Just because Apple makes it's own computers that's more or less all they have in the Apple stores.
95% are laptops/desktops. When you walk into that store everything looks the same and the only real difference is what the specs are in the computers and even that varies slightly.
5% are everything else like the Ipod,Iphone, etc
Microsoft can easily pick computers they want to demo in the stores. Dell, HP and others make great computers. They could easily show side by side a $400 pc can do next to a $1,000 and next to a 2,000 one and let you be the judge on the speed you need.
Also they would be able to set up computers with the different versions of Vista/7 to explain to them that the average to moderate user only needs to worry about Home premium.
At least that's how I would set up a computer store pending what my goal is.
I think that im the only one here who thinks that this is a great idea. First off, with CompUSA gone (exept for a few stores, mostly in FL), and Circuit City being liquidated, all thats left is Best Buy, so this would probably bring some competition to the table. Also, this doesnt have to be a complete failure, they will centainly sell Windows Mobile Phones, this means that wireless companies will be paying Microsoft for every phone they sell, also, this means that they can sell shelf space to OEMs like Dell, HP, and Acer. If they add some TV's into the mix, we've got aourselves a nice replacement for Circuit City or CompUSA. This also means that people will actually get to try the Zune, see what a wonderful thing it is, and maybe it will take off. Seriously, the only thing the iPod has on the Zune is the "cool factor".
Seriously, people have always hated Vista, Zune, and the XBOX, but every time I ask a a potential customer in my store as to why they are picking the iPod, or why they just have to have Vista they just say, "uhhh, microsoft sucks" and NONE can give me a more elaborate answer. Just use a Zune and tell me why the iPod is so much better. All it can do is play music from its storage device, You cant buy a song directly off the web from you iPod, but you can with the Zune's built in Wi-Fi, neither can you share a song with a friend using an iPod, or listen to the radio for news, weather, or whatever floats your boat. Also, keep in mind that the Zune Software can actually see the recorded TV shows on your PC from media center, and put them right on your Zune.
Oh, and dont get me started on Vista, I already wrotte an essay lat week for class on it , and why people just hate it without trying it first, or why people belive that Vista will run on their old PC, or that cheap $399.99 laptop with a sempron and a gig of ram.
It's no surprise that Microsoft will enter the retail market in the near future. It is Miscreantsoft DNA to copy Apple. The public as well as the technology sector no longer question the fact that MS is the biggest "me too" Apple emulators on the planet. I for one cannot wait to see MS version of the genius bar. It's going to be hilarious!
Wait, arn't you banned yet?
"Miscreantsoft"
Yeah all the kids are calling em that.
I wonder if they will sell churros?
how many people will go to a store just to buy crap? 'cuz that's what MS produces.
From my understanding a lot.
How many people go to the Apple store to buy stuff? It seems a lot of people do.
I think this is a great idea they are making a store. I hope they include a place where you can ask questions with problems you might have or a fix it center.
Also should be a great way for people to go in and understand the OS they are using better or figure it out before you buy.
I am sure they are going to have a lot of demo and use hands on stuff so you can try it before you buy it!
I would most likely enjoy spending time in this place!!!
Perhaps instead of a Genius Bar they could have a Microsoft® Songsmith™ piano lounge.
Microsoft really has the chance to get something right here. Their hardware business has really grown over the last 10 years and they now have the chance to do something really special with their own retail outlets. It will add an incredibly human element to the entire home PC brand, something that Apple has been kicking them in the nuts on for years.
Hey MS, if you are going to open up some retail outlets, you need to start designing a closed computing platform first. Who cares if people say you are copying Apple, you are already doing it on your Xbox's and it would transfer very nicely over to a PC, just think about amalgamating payment systems into laptops for the online distribution channels. Huge bucks.
This idea is doomed. MS keeps trying to follow Apple. For them, it's a horrible strategy. They need to forge their own path. If you keep following, how can you be anything but #2. But without worrying about that, MS branded stores wont work anyway. 1) Apple products are pretty-much price-fixed (How do they get away with that?), so there is little incentive to waste time at trashed displays at Fry's or buy online. When you're in the Apple Store, you know you're only getting ripped off for at most a few bucks (compared to other Apple sellers), so you buy from the people who made the box. MS has no such advantage. Windows software never sells for the "official" price, and few will pay big bucks for the privilege of purchasing in an MS store. 2) Apple stores provide real help and service. I doubt it is even POSSIBLE for MS to duplicate that, given that they don't control the hardware. 3) It doesn't matter how pretty the store is, or how earnest the clerks are, if you don't have compelling products. I fully understand the value of good sales people, but they have to have the goods to back them up. And unfortunately MS does not. Away from the the enterprise buyers, and out where people make their own buying choice, the market percentages are much more dire than than the total market share numbers that float around. Vista was the best thing that ever happened to Apple. Windows 7 can afford no failures.
Well now we know what will be moving in to all the empty Circuit City buildings.
App store for WinMo, retail store, translucent dock, is there anything Microsoft can do without copying Apple?
I have a feeling that MS is going to get a big wake-up call with these stores. While the intent may be to market and sell their products in a positive light, it's much more likely that most of their walk-ins will be customers who are having problems with a MS product.
People won't go in there to buy Zunes. There are plenty of other places to buy XBox 360s.
I give these stores three years until they're all closed down, and that's being optimistic.
The slogan for the Microsoft stores will be:
"YOU WILL FACE A BACKLASH!"
Ballmer's screaming face will greet people as they enter.
The problem with this idea is that 90% of the people that own computers don't even care about Microsoft.
Windows is what comes on a computer, you don't buy it. People buy a Dell, HP, Sony, or Acer. People know that a PC runs windows but they really don't care what it is as long as they can do what they do.
If you took the average persons PC and replaced windows with Linux and had a carbon copy GUI with Firefox and Openoffice the average computer user would probably never even notice the change. They may even notice that thier computer is actually running a lot faster.
Microsoft has a lot to fear from netbooks running Linux. Mnay netbooks now have a superior interface to Vista and do everything the common user needs. That is one reason why I can see Microsoft getting into the retail game.
Still it is doomed to fail. Look at Dell and Gateway stores. The Apple Store works becuase they have high dollar eye candy stores in eye candy areas. I don't think you'll find a single Apple store in a low income area. The stores aren't about selling product, you can barely even buy anything there. I can't think of any product I'd actually want to go to a Microsoft store and see.
Microsoft also make the worst quality hardware imaginable from a major corporation. Thier mice and keyboards are garbage along with the webcams. Look at the 360, it's a piece of crap. Only the size of Microsoft's pocketbook keeps them in business. No other company could make products this bad and stay in business.
By opening thier own stores Best Buy and Walmart will turn on Microsoft as soon as the first store opens. Best Buy will have some trouble but Walmart holds all the cards. They'll take all Microsoft products off the shelf and stock cheap computers with Linux based windows clones. Then we'll see how well the Microsoft stores do.
Well the Retail space is available, Hello Defunct Circuit City locations!
Typical MS, they're behind the curve, still. I don't see this being a viable enterprise. Software won't be a big attraction to draw consumers to one of their "branded" stores and they won't provide much discount (if any) for their gaming equipment or Zunes. I never expect to see them get close to selling at Walmart's prices. Shows how desperate they are to stay relevant. (Linux must be making more inroads than I thought in the personal computer business.)
The pictures make it look like a brighter-colored Circuit City.
And this would be appealing to me because?
If it had a Microsoft Surface with full-capability... Maybe.
If I could play a 360 on a 100+ inch screen... Possibly.
If I could throw darts at a poster at Steve Ballmer's tongue... Definitely!