Microsoft Store opening Thursday with Ashley Tisdale
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Oct 19th 2009 1:26AM
posted Oct 19th 2009 1:26AM
[Thanks, Sebastian O.]
posted Oct 19th 2009 1:26AM
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Not San Fran, not LA, not NYC, not DC... they picked hip and happenin' Scottsdale!
Exactly I can totally see some 40 something ms fanboys rushing to get aoutographed windows 7 cd. Or maybe aoutographed windows mobile cell.
Dee Dee deee!!
Hilarious. Engadget please gives us some live video feed from Zack n Cody Disney channel chic.
ashley tisdale doesn't know how to work/type/do shit on a computer.
And that's how it should be.
This is a complete mindfuck. Why and why.
If there was a betting shop giving good odds on half a dozen or so Mactards (not Mac owners - they're not the same thing and I think we all know the difference) trolling away in this topic I would be a rich man by now.
Let's be honest, guys: Apple aren't cool anymore and Microsoft are becoming interesting again. Your over compensatory yapping just kind of drives the point home.
Although, in fairness, I'm not sure what a Microsoft shop will sell. Surely this is a PR exercise rather than a serious retail venture? Not that it matters, it's publicity.
You would think that if they were going for hip and happenin', they would've chosen to open the Mission Viejo store first. I'd guess that South Orange County is a bit more hip than Arizona, but I really just want them to open the Mission Viejo one first because I'm within 5 miles of the store.
yeah, in terms of marketing, and actually having a good market presence....this is quite possibly the worst region to grand open a store
Mark Andersen- Living proof on Engadget that MS douchecocks are just as bad as the "Mactards."
Good news for MS investors! Another MONEY LOSING venture from MS is coming!
It's most likely a Grand-Soft Opening. To test some retail procedures common work trends and see some 'real' general feedback from customer in the store and day-to-day feedback from the consultants about how the store 'feels'.
@Millah
See, that's the problem - because I've criticised a bunch of immature twats you assume that I'm doing so because I'm an MS fanboy and not just someone who finds the capering of fan monkeys of any stripe a little tedious.
I realise that attention to detail isn't high on Generation Y's agenda but you might want to read what I actually wrote.
@Mark
"Apple aren't cool anymore and Microsoft are becoming interesting again"
With this, you are either a fanboy or delusional! Just using the term 'Mactards' blows your cover.
At least you didn't make the mistake of stating that in contrast to Apple's uncoolness, Microsoft was becoming 'cool.' That would just give you away completely.
Considering how this is a complete non-event, the choice of ashley tisdale, whoever the frack she is, is a perfect match. In any case , count me there, sitting right in front of the store on my beach chair, pop corn in hand, getting ready to enjoy one of the biggest FAIL Fat Boy Ballmer ever came up with! Oh boy, it's gonna be fun to watch!!
On this note, my now traditional toast: " Thank you Steve Ballmer, for yet another idea to make AAPL look even more irresistible!"
LOL...
Yeah but I'm sure they won't do a really lame chant like Apple does when they open a store...
He said "pop corn."
Lawl to the ESL student.
@Jordan
No, not unless you count "developers, developers, deveopers" or "I. Love. This. Company. Yeahh!" as lame chants.
@Skeezle: Those still sound like Apple chants, the first one being the developers for the app store who think their gods with their crappy apps, and the second being the religious cult following that follows Apple around.
@Jordan Total fail. Those are both Ballmer quotes.
D.C.? How is that "hip and happenin" Delete that from your list and I would agree.
SRS??
I really love that Microsoft has to tell everyone to "be excited".
I really "love" how apple fans have to tell Windows users not to be excited.
Word.
I also love how Microsoft has to tell (i.e. bribe) people to have a "party" to "celebrate" the launch of their newest OS lmao!
Bribe? Really? Like how Apple bribes it customers with free iPods to get them to buy a computer every back-to-school season...?
@ wixos : don't be jealous that apple gives away free ipods when they buy a notebook, steve from ms just can't do that because his device is still just available in one country so he can't just produce more then enough to give 'em away! but hey ask him for a free tattoo of your very cute and very attractive logo, that should be possible :)
@Wixos
- Get a free iPod Touch when you buy a MacBook Pro for college
- We'll give you a free copy of Windows 7 if you throw a "party" for us
One of these is not like the other. Also, I am not sure you know what the word "bribe" means.
@ ridley182
- Get a free iPod Touch if you buy a computer from us.
- Get a free copy of Windows 7 if you throw us a party.
They both seem like "Hey we'll give you this if you do this for us."
I'm not the one who started using the word bribe out of it's typical context.
wixos think first, post second.
Actually, Swiss, Microsoft can't do that because they don't make computers. They allow anyone to install their OS on any hardware they choose. Unlike Apple, where, well you all look boring and lame using the same monotonous computer.
And even if they tried to give a free Zune with a computer purchase, they would probably get sued for trying to get market share in the portable media player area by "forcing" users to use a Zune by giving them one free. Just sayin, that's the kind of crap Microsoft has to deal with, while Apple gets to do whatever it chooses.
I love that its the Apple people who are supposed to be nothing but hipsters wanting to look cool, but everyday i hear talk about how it sucks for us all using the same "boring" computer, and nothing stylish like dells with nail polish color on them or some horrific we tore this off some emo kids deviant art page 70 color rainbow montage. So what your saying is your 4 colored plastic abortion with 75 stickers on it is what we are missing out on? Thank god for that.
@Tsing:
Mmmmm No, that's what you're saying. What I'm saying is you all use the same boring looking computer. Like drones following their leader.
tweens love microsoft!
bonus points if Tisdale comes in flanked by Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer lol
Pretty damn sure that Ballmer will turn up.
I can imagine Ballmer's crazy excitement and excessive sweating due to the Arizona heat already...
What the fuck is a TWEEN?! o_O
balmer has an appointment in nyc on the 22nd, im sure you guys all know what im talking about.
WTF. !
Ashley tisdale, high school musical actress.
Lol what a fail this is microsofts failed attempt to be as hip as apple n iTunes.
I wish I could witness ut I'd lmao.
I can totally see ms fanboys rushing the stage to get a glimpse for an autographed windows 7 cd. Lol!!!
(facepalm)
Ashley who? Never heard of her....
Ashley Titsdale!!! Im on board
Ashley Tisdale is being given away to the first 1000 customers??? sweet!!!
Same here, who?
doesnt she have a high school musical show to be doing or something...
I heard Disney and Microsoft are planning to release High School Musical 4 with Windows as the main theme.
Ashley? FORELZ!? I would rather have Spiderma-
oh wait...
I'm not one to buy into these MS copied this or Apple copied that, but come on! This is a blatant ripoff! The worst part is Microsoft doesn't need this. Apple neede their own stores because they couldn't get placement in big box retailer. Microsoft has all the exposure in the world! They need to let go of this obsession with Apple and Google and play to their own strengths.
It's a reactionary presence in the retail space. The main target is Apple which has turned their retail stores into a major success (compared with previous retail efforts by Dell, Gateway and Sony - all of which are in retreat). So what do you do? Concede the space to Apple? Microsoft isn't intending to make (much) money from these stores. It's about profile. It'll probably work, but given that Microsoft does not exhibit the same control-freak behavior of Apple where every detail is planned out and there is some semblance of "harmony" in their product designs, Microsoft will have to rely on ever changing and often incongruous products to display. It is good timing for Windows 7 (and bad timing for WinMo 6.5). Microsoft can still afford to burn money like TG in 30 Rock - but this is a form of presence advertising that is needed when you are in a mature market you dominate.
When you have Apple trashing their products daily, and every other company trying to get a piece of their pie it is clear to see this is a wise move. Many people are not aware about all the things their Microsoft products can do. For instance, how many people know that their Xbox can be synced with their Media Center software? Or that Zune and Xbox has partial integration?
Best Buy employees cannot offer all the details because they have too many other products to train for and everyone knows that going to a Wal-Mart associate for advice on tech is a no-no. So this is a great move by Microsoft. They have been trashed for the past 3 years and although they still sell products people have a lot of misconceptions about them. Opening their own specialty stores can help to change that.
You open a store to advertise? What if they look like Sony Style stores? If anything, those things (the ones I have seen anyway) make me NOT want to buy Sony products. Just because Apple does well in the retail does not mean MS will or even needs to.
As for showing how well their products work together, if that is really an issue, then they need better marketing and ease of use, and a store is not it.
Microsoft needs to concentrate on better integrating their products and making sure their core products, Office and Windows, stay relevant. The PC industry is on the verge of another revolution where traditional desktop apps and OS's may be left for dead and Microsoft is worried about competing with the Apple Store?