Microsoft opens its second shop near Apple store - Apple shuts its own down for a little refurbishment
Here we go: Microsoft today opened its second ‘me too’ store in the same mall as Apple, this time in Mission Viejo, California.
It’s the new physical manifestation of the philosophical battle between Microsoft’s strategy of managing through necessity and Apple’s “whole widget’ M.O.
Naturally it all represents part of the (expensive) marketing hype surrounding the release of Windows 7, itself preceded by the Apples camouflaged cat, Snow Leopard.
This second opening has the significance that the new MSFT shop is in the same mall as Apple’s, though in an interesting manouver, Apple’s shop is currently “closed for renovation”.
This likely means the November re-opening of Apple’s Orange County shop will attract a little more interest than most high street retailers attract after a little redecoration job.
(Microsoft has a few images of its opening, featuring crowds attracted by offers such as a $25 Zune gift card).
Hurrah (erm).
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Comments (28)
I heard Apple was going to close that store permanently. Their strategy is to close stores wherever Microsoft Opens them so Microsoft stores will get very little traffic. I happen to agree with them. Every mall I have been in with an Apple Store, the Apple Store has as much or more people in it than all the other stores in the mall combined. Since Apple is known to have saved more than one mall by the traffic it brings in, they decided to play hard ball not just with Microsoft, but with the Owners of the Malls themselves.
I do not think it will be long before Mall owners with Apple Stores turn Microsoft away. Have to love corporate strategy. ;).
[disclaimer, it is a joke, but could be true ;) ]
Funny... but it could be true.
poo
Giving away a $25 Zune card is the equivalent of handing out nothing. They know nobody is going to actually cash those things in. Clearly they are only worried about the short-term bottom line, or they might have given folks something they would actually use. :-)
Microsoft will OPEN all the stores near Apple to close them for Good... Go Microsoft GO!
If Microsoft 'get' the formula they may open stores in parts of the world that Apple haven't. Then Apple will look like the copy cat.
Will their experts be willing to see if they can fix my corrupted MS-Entourage database?
Or do they only support a subset of Microsoft products?
Why don't such wannabees just change their name to MicroApple?
if they really wanna bring people in they should give out itunes cards. imbeciles.
I hope Apple does NOT close any stores where Microsoft set up shop. Who really cares? The people that shop at the Apple stores aren't interested in Microsoft anyway. Plus Apple doesn't want to be perceived as running away scared.
Personally I think the Apple store bursting at the seams while the Microsoft store is nearly empty would be hilarious and a huge black eye for Redmond. Apple should just keep doing what they're doing and forget what Microsoft does.
Microsoft are always going to attract the people who only look for the cheapest stuff, the people who wouldn't know a good computer if it bit them on the ass. Those people will likely be satisfied with what they get because they don't know better. Let Microsoft have them.
Apple stay the course!
Now this is your perception of what a "good" computer is.
A good computer is something with high end components... something not easily accomplished on an Apple computer without spending an arm and a leg.
I agree the Microsoft store would probably not get much traffic, and Apple's would get more since Apple has always been known to have a store and Microsoft not.
Let's be realistic here and acknowledge that a non-Apple computer can be good or better. I use both brands (Apple and non Apple) each day, my Apple computer crashes more than my Windows computer does. I'm not the only one who has problems with a Mac, and I laugh at anyone who tells people that Macs have no problems because it's still a machine... and machines break! Even the OS breaks!
So lets cut the crap and tell people pros and cons of each OS.
LIAR!!
I like when Winblow users make up stories that their Mac crashes all the time. This is how you know they have never owned a Mac to begin with. The nerv of the tards.
I'm not a Microsoft sympathiser, but I have been using Apple computers since the early 80s so I think I'm qualified to comment here. Despite my knowledge of how to keep a Mac running smoothly, I do experience crashes and system freezes on my current Mac. So the previous poster is correct, in my opinion, the Macintosh is not free of problems. I would, however, still choose a Macintosh over a Windows machine any day.
It's a shame that the image of Mac users is constantly tarnished by these over-enthusiastic lads who are unwilling to admit that their choice of computer might be subject to the occasional glitch. It just ruins it for all of us. Just be honest and be happy with the choice you've made. No need to get agressive.
Liar? I own a Mac Mini!
Not only do I own a Mac, I've been using Macs since the 90's when I was in school.
Wake up sheeple!
Apple has created a chain of worldwide stores that are the envy of all retail!
Good luck MS. If your stores are like your software, it's"OH HAPPY DAYS"!
Apple has created a chain of worldwide stores that are the envy of all retail!
Good luck MS. If your stores are like your software, it's"OH HAPPY DAYS"!
let's roll back the clock to pre-iphone launch... "The iPhone does not have a physical keyboard, does not support developers, is not what business users want, is too EXPENSIVE, doesn't have a replaceable battery, blah... blah.. blah." Hmmm.. looks like that guy just didn't get it back then and still doesn't get it. He has zero credibility with anybody with half a brain. How's he still a CEO?
Mr. Microsoft CEO, what people don't want is to support a copypat company that doesn't have one INNOVATIVE product of it's own. Why not spend some of those billions actually developing a new and revolutionary product for a change like Apple continues to do over and over again. Come up with some original ideas for a change and people will actually flock to your products like they do to Apple's. Ask yourself this.... how many people switch to mac and then can't wait to get back to windows.... it's a low number for a reason.
Microsoft stores.... YAWN!
Two words, Microsoft Surface.
Another thing, Project Natal.
Another one, Xbox 360.
.NET framework
I can go on. You might not agree with everything I just said here, you might say "Oh, Microsoft just bought the companies making it to brand it as Microsoft." Guess what? That's what Apple does with its products... it gets other people to make it for them. Just today we were reading about how Apple was sending someone to somewhere in Japan I think it is, for the company awarded with the contract that could be the Apple Tablet.
It's the same thing Microsoft does.
So if you want to think Microsoft copies Apple, then this is the order it goes for innovation.
Linux <- Apple <- Microsoft
Linux wins Apple and Microsoft loses (for OSes not other products)
Buying another company for it's technology and using it to create innovative products is one thing, that's par for the course. But what has really come of the microsoft surface? You don't see those flying off the shelves at $20,000 a pop.
The Xbox could be the one consumer product that actually did pretty well for them.... you're bound to get lucky after 50 products failures. But it's even fallen by the wasteside, because they can't take it to the next level. They can't sustain innovation with their products, because it's not in their corporate culture to put out only innovative products. They just will throw every idea against the wall and see what sticks.. the shotgun approach.
.NET framework... that's and innovative product? You're grasping for straws there my friend. The world will always need people who like fixing their own beat up cars and fixing their cobbled together PC's.
lol.....you win! And I'm sure Apple will continue to keep losing?
@ Carl
"Two words, Microsoft Surface.
Another thing, Project Natal.
Another one, Xbox 360.
.NET framework
I can go on. "
No, please don't!
Surface stutters in the iteration in Windows 7. Of little use in a WIMP based OS, very confusing in fact.
Xbox 360 had Microsoft ripping off and lying to its own customers. Also, where is the innovation? RROD?
Natal is not released and looks to be another concept that is confusing. Microsoft are hoping that it will be simple to understand but they could innovate themselves into martyrdom.
is that Apple (generally) tries to develop answers to problems, whereas Microsoft (generally) tries to develop answers to things that Apple (or other companies) have done.
Just look at the ways that Windows 7 tries to counter Mac OS X's Exposé feature - Aero Peek, Shake, Taskbar Previews - none of which actually solve the problem of finding your windows anywhere near as efficiently or elegantly.
The Microsoft stores are simply another example of this. Rather than looking at what makes a good retail experience and then developing their own solution, they simply looked enviously at Apple - who had done the hard work - and just copied them, without the slightest clue as to why Apple are doing things the way they are.
Very true. Apple is always trying to find answers to any real world interface problems they can find in their OS's. They even find the answers to problems that you didn't even realize was a problem before. Microsoft never attempts to do that. They are always just trying to find answers to Apples designs. With all that money Microsoft has, you would think they could afford to hire the best interface designers in the world, yet all they have are decent designers that are only good at imitating.
I still don't get these MS stores - I can't imagine that in 6 months time they'll be still as busy as they are now.
People go to Apple stores to marvel at Apple's latest shiny hardware. Why would I want to go to a MS Store when any Jo Bloggs electric store sells Windows 7 PCs.
Seems to me they're like apples & pears. Apple stores are your like classy Mercedes-Benz garages, while MS Stores are more like car supermarkets.
Thats the dilemma with these stores, they don't have any real incentive to shop there other than just being in a nicer, Apple-like experience. They sell the same computers you can buy at Best Buy or any other retail store, and they also are more expensive for the same machines.
Funny how MS also criticizes Apple for higher prices, yet they mark up their prices higher than other retailers. There's really no reason for a PC user to buy anything from these stores. Just gonna be another place Mallrats hang out and play around with things like Surface and Natal. I'm definitely going there to do that.
You know its also funny that MS would enter a market thats not necessary for them and now make themselves a competitor with all their distribution partners. I heard Best Buy and other retailers were pretty mad at MS for this.
Computers at Microsoft would have to be sold at higher prices than retailers. You know why? There is something called Anti-Competitive and hurting your partners. Plus the EU keeps bitching at Microsoft when somehow Apple gets away with everything.
So, Microsoft is smart in not charging less than stores like Best Buy for computers because everyone would go directly to Microsoft.
It will be interesting to hear the public statements Microsoft issues in the likely event the is retail experiment fails and they start closing them down.
Since much of this thread has devolved into adolescent level fanboy arguements, let me join in. The 13 year old in this 57 year old's body just loves to come out and play.
Hey MS lovers,what is it about Apple and others that gets under your skin so bad? Why are you so insecure? It is not like Apple is a monopoly with 90% of the market and produces second rate imitations of MS products two or more years late . . . . Microsoft is king. Your beloved software merchant rules. Relax already.
"Hey MS lovers,what is it about Apple and others that gets under your skin so bad?"
I use a mac, I even have a Mac Mini and Macbook. To answer your question, it's the elitist we're better than you attitude. It's so irritating and Windows users are constantly insulted on this website.
If anyone researching Macs find these websites, they're automatically turned off from wanting one because of the pathetic users that do nothing but insult other users.
Mac users are known as elitists, and no one wants to be associated as that. Sure, some Mac commercials are amusing... but the Mac community is despised because of the users.