Microsoft confirms retail stores coming this fall

Well, this is going to be fun! Microsoft, which hired former Wal-Mart exec David Porter to be its corporate vice president of retail stores back in February, has just confirmed that stores are, indeed, on the way -- and soon. COO Kevin Turner confirmed the plans at the Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans yesterday, saying the stores are due to open this fall (maybe to coincide with the launch of Windows 7?) -- and what's more, Redmond's bringing the fight directly to Apple's doorstep. "Stay tuned, because we're going to have some retail stores opened up that are opened up right next door to Apple stores." Things are about to get saucy, people.

[DiGiC @ Jul 15th 2009 5:02PM]

Whats with the underlining?

[Christian Martin @ Jul 15th 2009 5:03PM]

Trying to catch Paul A. Chapel's attention.

[HaZaRd @ Jul 15th 2009 5:08PM]

I guess the whole article is just really important.

Also, what's with the creeper wearing an "I'M A PC" shirt?

[Zune Claus @ Jul 15th 2009 5:05PM]

Don't wake PAC.

[Mermaid @ Jul 15th 2009 5:19PM]

the kid in the suit has a boner, and the chick has a nice round walnut-crushing bum!

[AnnoyingPoster @ Jul 15th 2009 7:02PM]

store looks warm and professional.

apple stores look lifeless and cold with dumb little kids in gay colored t-shirts "working" there.

[Jordan @ Jul 15th 2009 7:33PM]

I agree with AnnoyingPoster. Besides the guy in the I'm a PC shirt, the store looks very professional, warm, and serene. Even the main employee is dressed very professional. Look at an Apple store where you have a teenager working who only knows that his Mac has TimeMachine and is wearing an iPhone nametag around his neck in a brightly colored shirt and, well, I think you get the comparisson. I only hope that Microsoft uses actual registers and not the "I'll check you out anywhere let me run your credit card right here" approach that Apple took.

[mdnetguru @ Jul 15th 2009 8:02PM]

If the MS store looks anything like that picture, Apple has absolutely nothing to worry about.

[Feelinggood @ Jul 16th 2009 10:37AM]

@AnnoyingPoster

5 shades of '82 BEIGE" is considered "warm and inviting"? LOMAO! Thank you for so clearly demonstrating that there is really no bottom to the depth of lack of taste and sense of design of Microsoft and all its fanbois (who seem to be living on this blog, for lack of a life worth living, no doubt).

But still, this is great news! The extreme contrast provided by the close proximity of MS brothels (where apparently you will not be able to buy anything, or very little - obviously a MS retail concept by the sheer idiocy of it all) to the Apple stores will make it even more clearly evident what a drab and depressingly boring life a PC centered life can be... Can't wait to watch MS embarrassed themselves again, "Zune style", while attempting to, yet again, copy Apple's every's moves...

As I keep saying, the future will show that leaving Steve Ballmer in charge was the best thing that ever happened to AAPL. Thank you Steve indeed.

[Jeff @ Jul 15th 2009 10:56PM]

mdnetguru:

Seriously. I was about to say I'm sure there are some Wal-Marts pretty close to some Bergdorf Goodmans too, but I really doubt they're eating into too much of their business.

[TJ @ Jul 16th 2009 6:15AM]

Great post Feelinggood ! BTW, didn't Gateway try this many years ago and Fail ?

[Vag Hurtz @ Jul 25th 2009 7:21AM]

Ah, so this is where Apple got their idea for their design award winning stores? Curse you Jobs! Stealing from Gates once again!

[Aaron Basrai @ Jul 15th 2009 5:04PM]

Sounds really boring.

[Sisyphus @ Jul 15th 2009 5:23PM]

I've said this before in previous topics, but:

I think this is a really, really, really, really, really, really, really important and good idea by Microsoft.

Apple stores offer a very cohesive and comprehensive experience. They are completley self-contained, and from what I can tell, have well-trained and knowledgeable staff that can completley relate guests to their products.

PC resellers, on the other hand, have Best Buy, and other computer retailers. Most of these employees know just enough to be able to point someone toward a PC, but rarely have I come across a salesman who understands WINDOWS and is capable (or even interested) in showing me the features of the windows environment.

The layperson doesn't necessarily know all of the cool or useful things that you can do with Vista or other Microsoft OSes, even if they are simple in nature. I think Microsoft would benefit overall, in the long term, by communicating to consumers what they can do with their products.

Not even just Windows, but the whole host of MS products that can interact.

[mitchell_pgh @ Jul 15th 2009 5:34PM]

Microsoft still doesn't understand Apple.

The Microsoft stores will fail in the same way that the Gateway stores failed. I'm not trying to be overly critical of Microsoft, but why exactly would I go to a Microsoft store? I can pick up Windows and MS Office at a number of locations... along with their other software offerings.

I go to the Apple Store because:
- They can service the OS and hardware (and much of the software), all under one roof.
- Most other stores don't carry Mac hardware/software.
- There are few Mac experts (Genius)
- To check out the cool Mac hardware/software

Having an Apple Store was the only solution for Apple as nobody was stalking Mac software/hardware at the time. It was very difficult to have your hardware serviced and people wanted to "try before they buy."

I don't see the same issues with Microsoft.

[Sisyphus @ Jul 15th 2009 5:39PM]

"I don't see the same issues with Microsoft."

Microsoft doesn't need to satisfy those areas to be successful with "stores."

I have a feeling that some of the logic behind this plan comes from the Mojave experiments. If they could only get people in front of the actual technology, they can show off some pretty cool stuff.

Even if the stores ONLY do the service of improving or changing the public perception of MS products, that's enough -- it can be chalked up to marketing.

And I do think that people will visit stores, especially if they look as nice as the demo pictures. People will go because consumers like to shop and they will be curious.

[Quix @ Jul 15th 2009 5:43PM]

Ballmer see, Ballmer do.

[bioadam @ Jul 15th 2009 5:47PM]

wait until you see the warez section

[Zak @ Jul 15th 2009 6:03PM]

"I think this is a really, really, really, really, really, really, really important and good idea by Microsoft. "

Yes, most of Microsoft's really, really, really, really, really, really, really important and good ideas have come from Apple.

[Mark @ Jul 15th 2009 6:09PM]

@Zak: the "copying" argument is tired. Nobody outside the hardcore fanboys cares who copied who, all that matters is who does it well. And it's fairly safe to say that with the Zune HD, Windows 7, XBox 360, Surface, and Project Natal(included separately because it deserves it) they've started doing things really well.

[j_g_puff @ Jul 15th 2009 6:12PM]

Apple stores scare me. They're creepy and filled with grinning twats. I'd be willing to bet that the MS stores will be the same. Sure they'll have a different icon, but the only time I'll visit will be during nightmares.

That's not to say it's a bad idea. The kids slurp up the Apple store experience like crack candyfloss, so MS will probably do well out of the venture.

[Quix @ Jul 15th 2009 6:57PM]

"And it's fairly safe to say that with the Zune HD, Windows 7, XBox 360, Surface, and Project Natal(included separately because it deserves it) they've started doing things really well." - Mark

Zune HD: unreleased
Windows 7: unreleased
Xbox 360: RROD
Surface: who is buying these???
Project Natal: unreleased

I think your praise may be a bit...premature.

[Latin_Trident @ Jul 15th 2009 6:57PM]

I would hate to go to the checkout after I buy Natal and the person checking me out says, "Have a Microsoft Points Rewards Visa card with us? Why not sign up today and we'll give you 5% off your next OS purchase." That would be funny too though.

[NohOne - The official hater, stalker, and psychopath @ Jul 15th 2009 7:34PM]

The first Gateway Country Store opened in November of 1996.
The first Apple Store opened May 2001.
Who copied who again?

But I guess, Zak, you are correct. Microsoft is copying Apple once again. I mean, who would ever think of creating a building where companies could sell products and people could purchase those products? People could have been doing this for 1000s of years, but it was not until Apple used all their creativity to change buisness forever by creating these "stores." Here is another idea, and I give Apple full exclusive rights to use this idea - they should send pieces of paper bound together through the US postal mail to people's homes, listing the items they sell and the price. People can then send money to Apple and then Apple can send the product back to them. I think it should be called a "catalog." It will change business forever!

[HektikLyfe @ Jul 16th 2009 4:23PM]

>Quix:

Zune HD: unreleased (Releasing this fall - CNet: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10249364-56.html)
Windows 7: unreleased (Releasing this fall - Computer Weekly: http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2009/06/03/236271/windows-7-coming-out-on-22-october.htm)

"Microsoft confirms retail stores coming this fall" I would consider that timely, not premature.

Xbox 360: RROD (OK Troll. Everyone is aware of this but its still 2nd only to the Wii fluke. If Microsoft decides to sell games here too they could stand to make a lot of money. Apple stores aren't known for their game sales.)
Surface: who is buying these??? (Interesting product which I think will "eventually" make it to the average consumer in a different form. Why penalize them for taking strides? Granted, it shouldn't be sold in the Microsoft store but perhaps demoed to corporate execs?)
Project Natal: unreleased (Estimates are sometime in 2010.)

I think it is highly likely that these stores will fail as retailers but succeed as marketing schemes. They will get the word out. "PC's too can be pretty, flashy and eliteist. So come on by spoiled private school brats and get your pretty pretty status symbol hardware just like at the Apple store."

I for one am glad that I will be able to go into a store without being bombarded with low shoddy low budget Rocketfish type generic products like they have at Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy.

Now lets hope they price competitively. If we can get it for less than half on Amazon....what's the point?

Oh and for those claiming Microsoft is copying Apple again. Read a book. Just because you don't know about history doesn't mean it never happened.

[tom @ Jul 15th 2009 5:04PM]

How long until they close these loser stores?

[DiGiC @ Jul 15th 2009 5:06PM]

January 2010?

[AnnoyingPoster @ Jul 15th 2009 6:55PM]

yea seriously im so sick of apple stores

pwnt

[KirkHamster @ Jul 15th 2009 5:05PM]

I need those stools in my life.

[aardWolf @ Jul 15th 2009 5:48PM]

It's the Microsoft store... there will be plenty of "stool" to go around...

[Harri @ Jul 16th 2009 1:03AM]

Maybe we should create some Tshirts saying "I am human".

[alan @ Jul 15th 2009 5:05PM]

I wonder what a royal rumble between "typical" apple employees vs "typical" microsoft employees will be like.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Jul 15th 2009 5:12PM]

Probably like it is in the mall when you walk by 3 cell phone kiosks in a row while mentioning your 2 year contract is up to a friend...

[Chris Are @ Jul 15th 2009 6:38PM]

Dude I seriously HATE the T-Mobile kiosk at the Colorado Mills Mall (it's notorious around here and had to mention it by name). Those guys are cockfaces who FORCE me to be rude to them.

[Skeezle @ Jul 16th 2009 9:24AM]

a slap fight.

[hamerhead_12 @ Jul 15th 2009 5:05PM]

I can't stand target :D.

[Michael de la Morena @ Jul 15th 2009 5:08PM]

I wouldn't put it past em to have a cover charge.

[Saad Rabia @ Jul 15th 2009 5:06PM]

Bla bla bla bla bla.

[David Takahashi @ Jul 15th 2009 5:08PM]

She looks like a mannequin.. the only customer they could get.

[Skeezle @ Jul 16th 2009 9:30AM]

You mean the only girl they could get? Take a look at these comments, some of these (obviously guys) have erections at the very idea of an MS store.

[slamEVIL @ Jul 15th 2009 5:08PM]

i'll be first in line!

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 15th 2009 5:08PM]

Not an Apple story, and you are trolling and spreading Hate.

Care to explain why?

[Shiz @ Jul 15th 2009 5:08PM]

Hopefully they open one in Philadelphia.

[Michael de la Morena @ Jul 15th 2009 5:09PM]

I bet the stores will have a beta version, which will be much better than the finished store.

[Celedhring @ Jul 15th 2009 5:10PM]

What are they going to sell? Zunes, Windows 7 and mice?

Don't think MSFT lends itself to brick and mortar as well as Apple, they are a software company mostly, and software boxes don't have that ooooh shiny!!!! gadget effect.

[Look_Around_You @ Jul 15th 2009 5:13PM]

Xboxes
Software like Ofice
Win Mobile Devices
UMPCs
Netbooks
Tablets
Demos of MS products from MS labs.
Surface kiosks.



Steve Balmer action figures?

[Dave @ Jul 15th 2009 5:20PM]

@lookaroundyou

steve already has so many ridiculous looking pictures that bobble head steve balmers may just work out... lol

[Microdot @ Jul 15th 2009 5:32PM]

@lookaroundyou

so... microsoft is going to open a retail store, to sell other companies products? they have very few items that would work in a retail environment like this... the xbox (and its accessories)... windows (which is already sold everywhere)... office (again, already sold everywhere)... and the zune. so... are they planning on selling dell/hp/etc? if so... dont these companies already have their own channels... and wouldnt it be a huge conflict of interest?

thats going to be one hell of an empty store... and/or one hell of a waste of cash.

[Dayne @ Jul 15th 2009 5:35PM]

@Look_Around_You

Is there a pre-order for Ballmer action figures? I wanna be on that list!

[kjb434 @ Jul 15th 2009 5:37PM]

Don't forget all XBox gear and games.

They could sell all WinMo based devices (especially non-exclusive ones that are unlocked!).

They could provide some tech support too.

There are lots of possibilities.