Imagine for a second that you're Microsoft: unimaginably rich, a bit bloated after years on the Office hog, and worried about a few
big projects you've been
meaning to finish if only you could find the time. Now, what day would you choose to launch your
brick-and-mortar stores back into retail if you were David Porter, vice president of retail stores and former Wal-Mart exec? If it was us, we'd choose October 22nd, the official Windows 7 launch. That's exactly what a number of tipsters are telling us courtesy of an in-person briefing by Kevin Turner, Microsoft's COO. Specifically, the Scottsdale store will swing the doors wide on the 22nd, we're not sure about the Mission Viejo location. According to the
Wall Street Journal, the stores will sell Windows-based laptops and cellphones and allow consumers to play Xbox 360 games on a 94-inch in-store screen. It'll even have a
Genius Bar "counter" where people can bring their Microsoft gear for help. In fact, the WSJ claims that the Scottsdale store interior is a "nearly exact replica" of the store created on Redmond's campus -- something we
covered back in January (pics in the gallery below). Who knows, this could be the beginning of www.peopleofmicrosftstore.com as Internet trends go.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted October 16th 2009 5:40AM
If this store looks anything like the pics it will fail miserably. Looks like something someone from Wal-Mart would create, just only a bit more upscale. Total crap! They need to set a new bar, yet they settle for "safe". Same ol' Microsoft!
Assuming all the pics are true, which I hope it's not.
is that Best Buy?
The snark!!! OMG THE SNARK!!!
OMG! lokk at the lady ..... on the right! LOLOL!
Can some explain to me what I'm looking at w/ picture #6?
Given that the strange pattern appears on that screen in the other picture I'm gonna guess there's going to be some strange system in store for identifying products with a hand-held device by pointing its camera at the weird patterns on things. One of those weird solutions in desperate search of a problem that just wasn't there. Expect it to be used by no one and shunned by employees.
oh... more M$ hate... nice.
This is why we continue coming to Engadget. Not afraid to hate on the softie. schweet!
it is shopped? what about the lady on the right she didn't
Oh gawd... it looks like they're re-animating CompUSA but covered in the trademark confused design aesthetic of Microsoft. The shopping carts say it all.
It's these kind of posts that make me run to Gizmodo and Slashgear.
yea the lady has her eyes blacked out, but does anyone see the lady on the right showing some [disgusting] skin??? FAIL...
If Engadget has to resort to "ad hominem" photoshops when posting about upcoming Microsoft stores does that mean that they have no valid counterpoints?
Haha. If you guys only knew what is really going on...
EWWW a shopping cart!
What is this Wal-Mart?
it's an MS-Mart heheh
that girl is delicious
as for the mission viejo store, it will be located in the center of the mission viejo mall, some 120 yards from the apple store, prolly still not enough room between them but whatever, is there any word on there being a microsoft surface in the store?
LOL, I wonder how long these stores will last. But then again, I'm surprised there are Apple stores too.
Apple sells computers and iPods/iPhones. That makes a lot more sense than Microsoft having a retail store. Think about it.
obvious troll is obvious
wtf? did anyone notice the kid lying on the floor or the lady ready to moon some people
where did they get this picture from lol
Brilliant Microsoft. A shopping cart. Sexy. And just how many copies of Windows do you want us to buy?
Cashier Experience..:
"(monotone MS Employee).....25 copies of Windows Starter Edition........." *BEEP!*
"...15 copies of Office Professional" *BEEP!
"3 USED Xbox360's.... Want a 60 day warranty on those? It's just $300..."
Wow, I approve of the girl in the jeans in all of the pics. She's got a really nice booty!
I was at an electronics store and the bit where they had the apple macbooks and such actually had a slightly higher floor and as I walked over it I noticed it was cushioned, so sad such silliness.
So I guess the MS section will then have cushioned super-heated floors, then apple has to think up yet another even bigger special treatment thing, body supporting foam? Robots that carry you?
lol kid wants a panty flash
OMG that picture 8 just wonderful.
i had to do a double and then triple take on that one. We need more pics like that.
I was just thinking that there needed to be a smaller Best Buy in off-white. Greater selection in a blue box is for suckers.
I'm particularly looking forward to the Guru Squad...Genius Bench...Genie Pod...well, whatever it's called, it's going to be awesome. My life feels better already.
Obviously this picture has been photo-shopped but Apple has created this "aura" about their products that invites curiosity and people in their stores but Microsoft is the Toyota Camry of the computer world - they sell like crazy but are just appliances to get to point A to B like Windows/Office are so really having a "store" is not needed.
What is with the main photo? It is a photoshop FAIL, and why is the kid underneath the chubby mom's foot and that other chubby women better pull down her shirt! And the chubby mom's cart looks like it is hovering!!!
Otherwise, cool to know what Microsoft Retail Expirence will be like, :)!
Pic #1 "AND I SHARE THE TRUTH" while censoring as we see fit
Pic #2: "It just crashed!"
Pic #3: No customers
Pic #4: No customers
Pic #5: "I can't see what's on the screen"
Pic #6: VSync is screwed up on this Q-Bert level
Pic #7: Customers are allowed to browse freely for a moment while workers take breaks
Pic #8: "I did the breast screening like this" "Is that what you were doing? I'll have to try it myself"
Pic #9: "Alright! I got another job!" "Yes, you can watch all the games on this new TV we're going to get"
I don't think Microsoft will successful as a retail company, however I do think there are some positives they can gain from having retail stores. Having their own store will give them some direct contact with customers that they don't really get while selling their products through not only third party stores, but third party companies as well. Then again, maybe I'm giving Microsoft too much credit.
http://travisgraham.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/microsoft-stores/
What the heck is this? Same bullcrap on the shelfs, no difference with a Best Buy.
Sales at these MS stores will be SO non-existent that in a desperate bid to turn a profit, MS will open its own Apple mini store inside, just like Best Buy.