Microsoft Store opens to Scottsdale campers (video)
By Thomas Ricker 
posted Oct 22nd 2009 1:26PM
posted Oct 22nd 2009 1:26PM
P.S. The first four campers each received a free Zune HD from Microsoft. Nice.
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Fanboyism scares me just a little bit
Indeed. This is a bit weird.
They're not fanboys, just idiots.
This takes the cake!
@Mark Anderson: this is not weird at all, it's pathetic!
I always wonder what the un-employed do all day.
Thank you for some insight.
Fanboyism? Maybe a little bit...
All I saw was a grand opening for a store that was hugely hyped and so people came out to see the festivities. Seemed like a good time actually.
Kudos to Microsoft for the ability to sell themselves and their store like an Apple store, seriously. It's not an easy feat to garner that kind of attention.
Is it me or does the setup look EXACTLY the same as an Apple Store?
Windows users will just have to accept that there's manic diciples in their camp as well. There's no going back now.
Hey look it's a real live herd of sheep!
now that i've finally watched the videos...
1st video: holy CRAP that line was long. i thought it ended a couple times, but it just jumped to the other side of the isle.
2nd: the cheering is a kinda excessive.
3rd: that line/tunnel thing the employees did reminds me of what they after little kids soccer games where i live (the parents make a tunnel and the kids run through and everyone cheers). between the jumping/screaming employees, the cheering crowed, and all the high-fiving, i'm definitely creeped out. i can see waiting in line a bit, but this is absurd. it's a store, people. you go there to give a company your money in exchange for a good.
Sorry, as much as I love Windows, for one minuted this came to my mind "paid extras" lol
I don't really like the logo of the store.... why divert from the original logo that is easily recognizable and found in the OS. The new logo made me think of a tiling and flooring store...
7...6...5...4...3...2...1... after the curtain came down I almost thought the screens were displaying the BSOD. That would have been the funniest fail of all time.
Yah. Mac or PC. People who wait in line are a little weird. The only time I've ever waited in line was for the rerelease of Star Wars IV,V, & VI and the PS2. And the only reason I did that was for the fun of the crowd. That and watching drunk idiots parking lot race on foot at 5AM in the morning and hit the edge of the parking lot, trip, roll down a hill face first...good times, good times.
I've walked past Apple launch events and the picts of this seem the same. Its not the same type of energy. Its a freaking OS for god sake.
Does this mean that Microsoft users will actually admit that they have fanbois too? You guys have been resisting that idea for so long. Ironic since by resisting you actually prove the point.
John Doe........
sounds like you may be weirder than the guys in the video if you've been to a few of these and grand opening nerd lines are your idea of a good time. Especially considering they were star wars movies. I mean to me that's as or more weird as the Apple Store
but whatever floats your boat dude :)
we're all a little weird
By the way TOTAL copy of the Apple Store. We get it Microsoft, you got your braces off and you're starting to dress in form fitting university clothes like Mac. Your coming into your own, you can compete in the awkwardly funny commercials department. Now back it up some serious software or you'll be out of the cool kids club faster than you can say "but iphone has no multitasking!!!!"
Not as weird as having an Apple chant outside the store before it opens...
Great news for MS investors. Another MONEY LOSING venture from MS
has arrived.
Just look at those pathetic, grass-munching Windows Sheeple. They make me wanna puke. I hope they all get the clap. You know, the handclap when they enter the store. They were so upset that they couldn't have store openings just like Apple and so they petitioned Microsoft to open a few stores just so they wouldn't feel left out.
So this is what the start of a brainwashed cult looks like. What are they gonna call themselves? Ballmer's Beloved? Maybe the Microtards. Does the company of Microsoft even have a collective conscience when they copy something like a store opening so blatantly from a competitor? Didn't somebody in Microsoft stand up and say, "Jeez, we already copied everything else we have from Apple, do we have to do this, too." I'm telling ya, the colored T-shirts is going way too far to copy. I guess it's true that Microsoft had all those employees sit down and watch a dozen Apple Retail Store openings and told them "Do it exactly like you see in the videos to capture the Apple experience." What the hell is next? Get Ballmer a face like Steve Jobs because Ballmer will never get his body like Steve's. Frickin' Apple copycats.
All that bleating is hurting my eardrums. Baaaa-baaaa. The wolves and mountain lions are going to come out of the mountains just to get at this bunch. All these sheep are going to get fleeced into upgrading to Windows 7. Just a bunch of innocent lambs heading to a Windows 7 slaughter. It would be sad if it weren't so amusing. Lamp chops anyone?
wtf? they completely imitated the layout and look of the Apple stores, right down to the employees uniforms. i mean, they even are wearing the same necklace thing that Apple store employees wear.
I was seriously hoping that Microsoft would at least TRY and not make it look like they are blatantly imitating Apple. Guess I was wrong, should have known better, it is MIcrosoft after all.
Gateway's stores were a really big hit.
So were those kooky Target shops.
Gateways stores worked well towards the brand. Unfortunately Gateway had no idea how to leverage it.
Ya, I liked going into the Gateway stores. Gateway is gone, Packard Bell is still around. The world is obviously going to hell.
Gateway and Packard Bell are both owned. By Acer.
do these people know you can buy most Microsoft in Walmart also? I understand the Apple store since the are not available in most places but Microsoft has whole shelves everywhere...
I still don't believe it.
Why? Because you dont want to accept the fact that Microsoft has fanboys more fanboys than apple?
*Microsoft has more fanboys
Gizmodo got it right when they added a EDIT button!
You need to learn to edit your comment before you post.
That the store layout, design, aesthetics, entire premise are,
EXACTLY LIKE THE APPLE STORE.
Holey Crap !! .talk about Redmond turning on it's copiers !!!
An if this entry, is grayed out, the fact still remains the same !!
Because only Mac fanboys have the right to be fanboys.
@iGo
If I were nitpicking I'd have to say they didn't get the lighting right, and the brown tables are quite revolting. While the video screens are quite cool, they can be quite distracting.
PS. Ha... fat Microsoft guru.
Johnny, where have you been all night?
Ma, I just had the most wonderful experience in my life. I got clapped into a Microsoft Retail Store, got a free T-shirt that says Windows 7 Sheeple and was able to meet Reverend Steve Ballmer, kiss his ring and actually hold a Windows 7 Retail DVD box. I'm a Windows convert for life.
Johnny, enough of your foolishness, get dressed and ready to go to work. You're already 40 years old.
Scottsdale? Any chance of a San Francisco store?
Not anytime soon, but Mission Viejo is next, not too far from me. =)
Gee, that was special...
Those are good actors !
Idiots unfamiliar with torrents...
What? Windows store is available on torrents as well?! o_O
I be damned!
Fans = Folks who need tech support
Dunno, but if my friends and family are any indication, I hope their tech support staff is large --- I wonder how long the wait time is. I mean 90% of installed OS base will mean a hell of a lot of folks.
Hope they don't brake anything!
Don't worry, I'm sure they'll stop themselves.
*snicker*
i was half expecting people to start smashing stuff when they flooded through the doors.
No, there is no such thing as Microsoft fans. You will never see people waiting in line for something from Microsoft like you will see people sitting in line for an iPhone.
Another Apple fanboy talking point dispelled.
Yeah, I guess nobody lined up for the Xbox, or other MS games?
I've gone to every Halo and Xbox launch since either of those 2 existed.
-Sent from my iPhone
First, I have several Apple products and cast off my Windows machines. Having said that, the Xbox 360 is terrific. Windows Surfaces holds a lot of promise. Windows 7 works at matching Snow Leopard.
What I wonder is what I'd buy there? I guess Xbox stuff? It's not like Microsoft is selling computers. I go to the Apple Store for higher quality accessories than say Target or Best Buy. Additionally, the Apple Store offers help on their own hardware.
So my question is what are they selling? I'd actually like to see Microsoft succeed. We need serious competition amongst similar products. It drives quality and innovation.
So, It's sexy to be a geek now...
And I've been wasting my time trying to pull myself out of my geekdom.
BACK WE GO!!
This is pathetic!
Must be something damn good in that gift bag I guess. Ill probably go check it out in a couple weeks, my wife wants to go there because they just opened a barneys.
well hello there wall of liquid crystal
All those people no doubt rushing in to buy W7 and replace Vista. Given the last 3 years, not surprising at all.
an hope of an all Linux store?
I didn't think so....
Like a co-op, or do you mean a RedHat or Novell store?
What where they waiting for? What's even in there that you can't get anywhere else?
I mean... At least people waiting outside of Apple (and AT&T) Stores where waiting for a device to be released. These lines for Win7? Many people either already have it or could get it at any number of stores with no wait.
Most of them are there buying W7 to get rid of Vista. Remember, W7 (for obvious reasons) has already sold more copies in 1 day than Vista did over 3 years, consumer and corporate combined. Accordingly, lots of places sold out of W7 discs or are backordered, and the MS stores likely had more copies in stock. People are doing anything to get rid of Vista.
A lot of those people are also likely seeking tech help from the MS store employees, since there are over a dozen W7 versions and the whole upgrade/clean install issue has been made very confusing to the average consumer.
Except its a new store, once more its a new store that's a first of it's kind, which generally means free giveaways to the first x number of people and so on. Doesn't even need to be a good giveaway, just something, and people will come. Back in college, some friends and I would do the whole Chick Fil A opening wait, you sleep outside for a night, and in the morning get 52 coupons for a free sandwich. Not all that valuable, but if you have free time, why not. Also got a free year of service from T-Mobile for showing up at a store at 3 AM in a bathrobe. These things can be fun, all I'm saying, and if there's free stuff to be had, they will always be packed.
@DigDug: Umm there are only 3 versions anyone would see in a store: Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate. Of those, for home use Home Premium is the only one that makes sense for anyone to buy. Unless you're counting the odd ball ones only available for corporate and also counting the x86 and x64 versions(which are both included in the same box) as separate versions.
@Mark, indeed, there are limited versions seen *in a store.* However, my point was that many people are seeking assistance since there are many more versions *available* and Microsoft, in a typical manner, has made things very confusing to most consumers.
For example, there is home basic, starter, home premium, professional, and ultimate. There is 32 bit and there is 64 bit. There is retail version and there is OEM version (not supported).
For someone like my mom, who is fairly clever with a PC but not a techie/geek, she is positively befuddled which version to get and how to install W7 without losing important information. It is the opposite of a transparent/simple process.
Haha, yea. First 4 got something! Way to pull out all the stops Microsoft! ;)
Is it just me or when the curtain fell down were you expecting the store windows to turn blue with some white text gibberish on it? :D
@ DigDug
I get what your saying, there are many versions, then doubled by 32 and 64 bit. But people are kind of smart sometimes and they will only see Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate in a store. most likely they will pick up Home Premium. If they do business, they probably just know to get professional, and then will probably be turned off by Ultimate's price. It is not that confusing. the confusing part may be which disc to put in but there are probably some instructions, correct me if im wrong.
Agreed. I will make fun of Windows idiots just as I made fun of Apple idiots.
Waiting outside overnight? How about getting a Technet subscription? Could have been running the RTM of 7 for a couple months now.
Windows 7 is great - just not worth waiting outside overnight for.
Man, that round-green-greeter is very scary!
That was a M&M
I guess ....I learned not to underestimate the power of ashley tisdale?
I dont know but the design of the store should be a little different since when i saw the store the first thing i thought of is the opposite brand. I am very neutral in the OS wars since i used all of them and have computer that have most of the os(mac, window, linux). I think window store should go with the new look of window 7 such as more color than now.
the whole wall wrapping around the store acts a computer screen. very impressive
i think both companies have their flaws... but this looks an awful lot like an apple store, doesn't it?
the hardwood floors and the way the laptops are set up on the tables... just like the old Apple store design.
i was kind of hoping Microsoft would do something really original and cool. oh well.
What? Suspend the laptops from chains with shag carpet on the floor and Yanni music in the background while a people on a stage set random stuff on fire?
Well MS has had their hands full the last 3 years trying to fix Vista, so the stores likely had to take a back burner. I'm happy to take printer compatibility (oh, the novelty!) over a groovy store any day.
Microsoft opened up a store inside of an Apple store? What the hell is this ruckus all about?
To the third video :
what...the...hell...
It's amazing at how much control Apple really has over the industry.
Had apple not opted to open brick and mortar locations, this would not exist - it's a complete mirror, right down to the T-shirt and lanyard outfits and the 'bar' in the back of the store.
kudos MS for jumping into retail, and for launching win 7. It's a great OS and works in perfect harmony with snow leopard on my mbpro.
it's good to be into tech. fanboys be damned.
Does anybody know why Scottsdale?
Seems like it would have been a bigger and better launch if they had launched it in the heart of a world renowned city like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago or... you know... Seattle. The company is practically on the doorstep of that city anyways.
They want to test the store in an average city, likely with a low unemployment rate and above-average income level.
Stores in NYC or LA tend to just be tourist traps and hangouts.
Yup, Apple did the same thing. The first Apple store was in Tyson's corner Virginia
Idiots, wait outside for nothing!!
now it begins.... they will spread like a plague! infesting every mall in America! and then... the world!
btw what do they call their employees? Genius is apple, Brains are Microsoft? Acumen? prodigies?
Gurus, actually.
that looks far better than any Apple Store i've been in... look at all the screens and color and variety of laptops, computers, accessories and what not. Its not just plain colored walls with wood floors/tables and five of the exact same laptop or ipod laying out.
I want a Microsoft Store in my city!
simplicity is elegance. look not at the forest with its many trees and bushes, but at the field of flowers and grass.
I am in this picture and frankly this was the worst thing I have ever done, we waited 18 hours, Microsoft provide food and an xbox with 2 controllers and 2 games to pass the time, other than that we got to sleep in the parking lot 30ft for portapottys. Over the 18 hours we spent maybe 10 minutes with any MS employees insight until we went into the mall, and then they still payed us no attention as they were trying to kiss press ass all day :(
Yeeeeeah sure you were there.
Can I ask why you waited 18 hours? Was it just to be there? No offense, but I just don't understand it. I mean, I waited 16 hours for a Wii at Target when it launched... but that was for something.
I could probably see myself waiting a couple hous to see what all the hub bub was about but 18 hours? Geeze...
Thought it might be fun. Figured MS would make and event out of it for all the ppl they were trying to entise with the giftbags.
Whiner
LOL, what a bunch of geeks & dorks.
I wish I was there :(
It's Apple fanboy's/spy's dressed up as Microsoftdorks to sabotage the store.
...Actually it's just as pathetic as waiting in line for Snow Leopard
I don't get it! why is there a line? it's not like the store is going to "run out" of Windows 7 or anything of that matter. It's not like the store is gonna close tomorrow, or have some deals going on. I understand wanting to go and see the store, but you don't have to be wait in a freaking line! it's not like best buy has 5 computers for $200 thing! it's just windows 7! jeez crazy people with too much time!
subin, as the media and tech bloggers have pointed out, people are literally desparate to replace Vista - hence the urgency to buy the new OS. Also, the clever folks who were fortunate enough to avoid the Vista nightmare, and thus still have XP, likely also want to finally be able to update to what is (supposed to be) a stable, reliable OS (since Vista obviously wasnt an option).
As a resident of Tempe, Arizona I am deeply disturbed by what I just saw.
A store full of Apple retail employees rejects working for the Borg..er Microsoft! I can't wait to hear about _that_ customer service experience/satisfaction. (shivers)
and in a typical Microsoft m.o. the store is a virtual bad copy of an Apple store. How fracking predictable...
of all places, they had to pick a store somewhere in a desert. Can't wait for OC opening.
I live about a block away from this and had no idea about it. I knew it was opening in fashion square mall, but I have seen nothing about when it was opening or where exactly it was.
This is sad. I can understand waiting and camping out for an Apple product but Microsoft? No way! Let me camp outside all night so I can start the 10hr Win7 install process a little sooner...HAHA
I bet MS paid all those people wait in line and get media attention. If if they weren't paid I'm concerned for THEM.
So anyone could have walked into best buy at 1 in the afternoon the day the Xbox 360 came out and find an abundance of them sitting on the shelf?
I'd do more research before claiming that "no one would camp for a Microsoft product"
Tsk tsk. This is not your day, eh?