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Jul 15, 09 - 03:54 pm Comment from: Jubei

I hope they have an "Idiot Bar" which will be twice a long as the Apple Genius Bar. The workers will be behind a bullet proof glass shields. Prevents pissed off Windows users from administering bodily harm to them.

Jul 15, 09 - 03:55 pm Comment from: Mac Daddy

Bwaaaaa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Ballmer's a fat, sweaty, joke. The board should fire him.

Show cases but little or no sales floor? Sounds like a typical MS solution, copy and make it worse.

Let me get this straight…a retail store that really doesn't retail anything; just tries to builds brand awareness.

Oh, and the photos should be incredible. A brand new MS store with fewer people in it than a 5-year-old Apple Store.

Only the wealthiest company in the world could do something so idiotic.

Good thing Bill doesn't have enough sense (or style) to get rid of the management team. They are doing a smashing job.

Jul 15, 09 - 03:56 pm Comment from: Kit-N

"…the stores would be more about building Microsoft’s consumer brand than distribution."

In other words, "Come in and take a look at what we offer. But you can't buy it and take it home with you. Just look. Don't touch. Just look. You can order from our online catalog. But you can't get it here. Just look."

Great innovative strategy.

Fixed: Microsoft to open retail stores near Apple Retail Stores this *fail

Jul 15, 09 - 03:57 pm Comment from: Gregg Thurman

I hope MSFT opens its stores right next door to Apple's Stores.

Nothing could be more effective in increasing Mac sales than such an easy comparison of the two platforms.

Jul 15, 09 - 03:57 pm Comment from: flappo

how sad

Jul 15, 09 - 03:59 pm Comment from: ABQ Peter

this "look but don't buy here" is similar to what dell tried a while ago isn't it?

Jul 15, 09 - 04:00 pm Comment from: MacTony

What will be funny is when someone plants a worm on those computers in the "Microsoft Stores" and everything gets shut down. Of course it would be nice to stop and laugh at MS before walking in the Apple store.

Will the stores closest to the Apple Stores be the:

Windows Ultimate Window Shopping Preview Vista
Windows Business Window Shopping Ultimate
Windows Home Basic Window Shopping For Suburbanites
Windows Home Professional Window Shopping For Small Businesses
Windows Net Window Shopping (limited to 3 or less product categories)

This is all about consumer choice after all!

So many choices, I'm not sure where to buy... oh yeah, the Apple Store.

...come and hear our new Edison cylinders!

Jul 15, 09 - 04:03 pm Comment from: flappo

so what exactly are they going to sell ??

that's the conundrum

ms don't ACTUALLY make any pc's do they .. ???

Apple should buy an ad stand next to M$'s stores:

"You've seen the copy whore, now go to the Apple store"

Jul 15, 09 - 04:06 pm Comment from: FloydPink

Possibly a good thing for the PC owners. A convenient place to visit for the removal of spyware, viruses, trojans, and boatware. Also a nice place to get help selecting which of the six or so versions of the next windows to buy. As well as the best anitvirus, antitrojan, antispyware package to buy. Good times ahead

Jul 15, 09 - 04:07 pm Comment from: Gregg Thurman

"the stores would be more about building Microsoft’s consumer brand than distribution."

Microsoft is trapped by its own business model. Its partners are nothing more than assemblers of generic boxes Because they compete against "white boxes" and each other, with nothing to differentiate themselves, they compete strictly on price with an inferior OS. Ergo MSFT can't offer hardware except its own. That mens no complete boxes, as that has the potential of favoring one assembler over another, and with partner retailers such as Best Buy who is making more off of Mac sales than they are off Wintels

This venture is doomed to fail on many levels.

Sounds like Dell kiosks. "more about building brand than distribution". Sounds like they aren't going to sell anything.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:08 pm Comment from: Ray

I guess there will now be a "Wrong side of the Food Court" coming to a mall near you.

just my $0.02

Jul 15, 09 - 04:10 pm Comment from: Winston

The hottie and the nottie, awkwardly side by side — a familiar sight in American shopping malls.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:10 pm Comment from: thethirdshoe

This is not wise.

When a pair of guys/girls go out, the better looking person just looks mo better. Sad but true.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:13 pm Comment from: thethirdshoe

@Winston
What's with the quantum entanglement?

Jul 15, 09 - 04:18 pm Comment from: MidWest Mac

Oh, I get it. They're not actually selling anything.
Wait, I don't get it.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:23 pm Comment from: Gordon Horne

I finally understand the Seinfeld ads. It's a store that sells nothing.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:27 pm Comment from: mta

Un -finished Big Ass Tables
oh- I thought it was a furniture store.

They will all be painted a bright blue colour and the windows will be stuck open.

I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE HOW STUPID THIS IS. THIS STORY CAN'T BE REAL.... or could it be?

The store greeter will be a rotund bloke in a brown suit wearing glasses.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:30 pm Comment from: breeze

Microsoft can't even do their own location market research or scouting...

Would you buy an OS from someone so lame?

I keep picturing those Progressive Insurance ads, where there are aisles upon aisles of one product... insurance. And that goofy yet really hot chick helping people out. Somehow, I see these MS stores looking more or less like those. Except instead of the hot chick, it'll be fat sweaty Uncle Fester look-alikes.

MS is really smart for opening their stores near Apple Stores. That way they don't have to go far to copy the design of the stores. Maybe the MS employees can even steal the furniture when the the Apple Store employees are busy with all those customers.

Maybe with these stores, we will find out what life will be like with Windows and yet without walls.

@ Unregistered Blahger - That's exactly how I read the headline too!

Microsoft and fail - they go together so naturally these days.

What can they innovate Turner?

Time will tell.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:43 pm Comment from: Mac Daddy

"Turner said Microsoft wouldn’t be imitating Apple; it would be innovating with the new stores."

Yeah, that's very innovative. Open "brand building" kiosks. Good God, every day Ballmer gets stupider and stupider.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:45 pm Comment from: Demon

The Big question is how is Microsoft going to get the property managers and owners of the high-end shopping centers that most of Apple's store are in to let Microsoft open a Not High-End Non-Retail Store?
I've worked with the owners and Managers of Three of the shopping centers here in the Phoenix Metro Area that have Apple Stores and they would not rent space to Microsoft. It would be like renting space to Wal-Mart for a Super Center in the same center that you have a Saks 5th Ave. and a Neiman Marcus in, It's just not done. And as allowing Microsoft to rent space next to or even in the same general area, this is a no go even in the largest of Malls lease contracts with stores like Apples are full of legal restrictions on how close managers are allowed to rent space to competitors, It's all standard to Malls and High Profile store's like the Apple Stores managers do not want to piss off, because they bring traffic to the mall or center.
The only stores that Microsoft might get close to are some of Apple's Flagship stores that are in Building that Apple as bought or leased that aren't in a Mall or Shopping Center setting. But, Apple Flagship stores are Mecca's for Apple buyers Microsoft opening a small Radio Shack sized store next to or in proximity to a Flagship Apple Store would be a joke.
Microsoft opening a "Brand Awareness Center"(TradeMark 2009 Demon)" anywhere close to an Apple Store is a joke. I'll give Microsoft 18 months before they pull the plug. They'll also open fewer then 10 stores.

...then what exactly is the point of the stores?

Oh..to provide the only place you can see a Zune.

More potential customers near by Apple stores.

Come on in!

Jul 15, 09 - 04:48 pm Comment from: alansky

Hey, this is great! Now all the Apple customers will have someplace quiet to hang out when they get tired of the crowds at the Apple Store!

I can't wait for one to open near me. I'm going to leave a flaming paperbag of Zune on their doorstep.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:52 pm Comment from: AlanAudio

Each store will have a Surface to showcase Microsoft's touch interface. It will mean that dozens of extra Surfaces will then get sold globally.

Meanwhile in the Apple store, every time you talk to a member of staff, they bring out their individual version of Apple's touch interface and use it to sell you real products or provide real services.

Jul 15, 09 - 04:58 pm Comment from: Connor MacBook

The "meh" starts now

What do they have to sell that requires a store? Boxes of Vista? Dells that Walmart can't unload? This makes no-sense, so I guess in Ballmer's universe this seems like a no-brainer (which makes this one of those very rare cases I agree with him).

To repeat an earlier post for the MS Board, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep Ballmer as the CEO...he's doing an excellent job

Jul 15, 09 - 05:01 pm Comment from: cptnkirk

What's a plce called that displays various items but they are not for sale?

A museum!

What kinds of things are on display in a museum?

Old bones, dead animals, mummies, the pasts!

Perfect!

didn't MS do something like this in the past?

http://kara.allthingsd.com/20090213/department-of-deja-vu-last-microsoft-retail-store-foray-was-a-bust/

what will be different this time? Remind me: what is the definition of insanity? Repeating the same activity and expecting a different outcome? Bring it on, I say. Microsoft looks so hapless and directionless right now. Stark contrast to the 80s

Fantastic way first hand for people to realise how shit Microsoft products are compared to Apple.

Do they honestly think they can compete against Apple in the high street???

All this is going to do is drive people to Apple stores!

Jul 15, 09 - 05:09 pm Comment from: Big Al

Hey Balmy!

You just need a picture of a blue screen of death on the Mall wall.

You' ll get all the brand recognition you need with that.

Send me a check for 10% of all the millions of dollars you were going to misspend on all of those stores.

That's my usual consulting fee.

Jul 15, 09 - 05:18 pm Comment from: thethirdshoe

@ MR. Ballmer of Microsoft.

Give me the couple of million dollars you would spend on a local ad and I will get you some world wide attention. Oh, and include permission to use the Microsoft logo.

They really are scared aren't they.

Burger King apparently used this same tactic back in the 60's and 70's. Ever notice back then how there was ALWAYS a Burger King on the same block as a McDonald's? I had once read that McD's would invest a tidy sum of money doing market research and whatnot in preparation for finding the "perfect" spot for a new location. After building, Burger King would just build right next to them and save on the research dollars.

Oh, this is rich. If Jay Leno was still on, think of the comedy possibilities:

"Microsoft officials said the stores would be more about building Microsoft’s consumer brand than distribution." One would think after 30 years in the business folks would know what they sell, but maybe they're just slow.

"Microsoft is planning to open the first of its planned retail stores next to existing Apple stores this fall," Wow. Now they're even copying store locations!

"There will be scenarios where we have stores in proximity to Apple." They're taking quite a risk. I mean, where are Microsoft's people going to go during their lunch break?

As I see it, the store will need only two people manning the store. The security guard at the front, and the guy directing customers to the video hookup to tech support in Bangalore.

Jul 15, 09 - 05:35 pm Comment from: aka Christian

"What's a plce called that displays various items but they are not for sale?

A museum!" - cptnkirk

Nice one.

Personally, I think M$ could simply hang an over-sized poster in the malls of their choice showing all the stuff they make but aren't really selling in the mall. Save them a lot of dough.

When it was first announced that they would open retail outlets, even pundits like Dvorak understood what a dumb idea it is. If you haven't, check out the related articles.