Comments on: Microsoft to open new retail stores like Apple

By: Why Microsoft Will Slaughter Its Windows Mobile, PC Partners, and What it Means for Apple and Google — RoughlyDrafted Magazine

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:27:02 +0000

[...] Microsoft to open new retail stores like Apple Video Game Consoles 2007: Wii, PS3 and the Death of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 [...]

By: CCS

CCS — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:22:10 +0000

Microsoft should definitely display their software using Macs. It’s more abstract and artsy that way, don’t you think?

By: daGUY

daGUY — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 02:25:29 +0000

@gus2000: You’re totally right. Microsoft dumps tons of money into profitless projects and pundits talk about how their solution will “take over the market” by X date, yet if Apple doesn’t post stellar results for every product 100% of the time, Rob Enderle is out in full force predicting Apple is doomed…again.

It’s sad how we already know how the whole thing’s going to play out.

By: Microsoft Retail Stores - Mac-Forums.com

Microsoft Retail Stores - Mac-Forums.com — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:23:17 +0000

[...] stores, but manage to get the mix wrong and manage to create another consumer turkey like the zune Microsoft to open new retail stores like Apple — RoughlyDrafted Magazine __________________ New here? Make sure you read the forum rules | Use the Rep system Member [...]

By: gus2000

gus2000 — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:48:25 +0000

I had the dubious pleasure of visiting the Metreon Microsoft store once, and it was a depressing epitomization of retail “fail”. Row after row of Windows and Office. And mice. Really? Mice? I think FotoMat had a better business model.

Funny how most of Microsoft’s “innovation” mirrors what Apple does, and bears very little resemblance to the predictions of the future that they laid out years past. Weren’t we all supposed to be using pen-based tablet PCs by now?

Here’s my prediction for the future: MS stores will lose money faster than the XBox, but pundits will suggest that MS will “make it up in volume”. Years of losses will be deemed “investment”. And when the eventual closing of an underperforming Apple store comes to pass, the punditry will cry “oh noes, sell ur stockz, Apple is doomed, DOOMED”.

By: nat

nat — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:38:38 +0000

The Xbox 360 is currently cheaper than the Wii. But that doesn’t even matter since Wii systems are constantly sold out.

Well, when you spec them out the same, the Wii is cheaper. The lowest priced 360 SKU, the Arcade model for $199, comes with a pathetic 256MB proprietary memory card, whereas the Wii ships with 512MB internal flash storage and uses standard SD flash cards. A 512MB Xbox 360 memory card will run you $50, bringing the price up to the Wii’s $250. The Wii also comes with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. While no amount of money will get you BT on the 360, you’ll pay $100 for the 360 WiFi adapter. Now we’re up to $350. Finally, the Wii has free online play in contrast to the $50/year Xbox Live Tax (though the Wii’s online system is admittedly pretty poor and unified).

By: august

august — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:34:54 +0000

I like how you left out that the Metreon started out as a Sony venture. MS store in a Sony building.

By: Brau

Brau — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:43:52 +0000

How Microsoft’s retail stores will differ from Apple’s:

1. They’ll have so many unofficial “entrances” (otherwise known as Windows? ), that people will be able to steal easily, but won’t for lack of desire.

2. Each customer will be scrutinized by at least three security vendors and require *authorization* before they are allowed to view anything.

3. BSOD now means Buy Stuff Or Die.

4. Their *registry* ain’t no gift list!

5. DLL is an acronym for DULL.

By: lyndell

lyndell — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:11:10 +0000

How could you do that to a picture of a Walmart store?! …and not even skew the text to fit the perspective? It does seem appropriate for Microsoft though, except they’d have more gloss, sugar coating and a prettier sky.

By: luisd

luisd — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:50:16 +0000

Yes, I read it (it’s almost addictive). But, still competitive, is not the same as catching up. Look at the Palm Pre marketing so far. Their rhetoric is not about catching up with the iPhone, it is about “we are going to provide features that the iPhone can’t do”. The costumer needs to believe they are getting more or different than the competition. Catching up is all about getting there but not quite.

What I meant was that if MS is really aiming at being seen as “catching up” the company must be in worse state that it seems…. and that is saying a lot!