Microsoft Retail Stores in Autumn

[Pyroka]

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/07/microsoft-retail-stores-coming-this-fall.ars


Kevin Turner, Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer, told partners during his Worldwide Partner Conference (https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40018508) keynote that Microsoft plans to open its first retail stores this fall. Some of them will be deliberately located near a certain other company's retail stores: "And stay tuned, because we're going to have some retail stores opened up that are opened up right next door to Apple stores," said Turner, according to ZDNet (http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=3358).


The timing is good: Windows 7 is being launched on October 22, 2009 (http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/06/windows-7-arrives-on-october-22.ars), and Microsoft will of course want to offer the operating system in its own stores. Turner again emphasized that Microsoft would be sharing what it learns from its retail stores with its partners.


The rumor of Microsoft retail stores first surfaced in April 2008 (http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2008/04/would-a-microsoft-store-work.ars). When the online Microsoft Store expanded to the US in November 2008 (http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2008/11/the-official-microsoft-store-finally-comes-to-the-us.ars), some believed that's what all the hubbub had been about.


In February 2009 (http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/what-do-you-want-to-see-in-microsofts-retail-stores.ars), however, the software giant announced that it was planning to roll out Microsoft-branded retail stores; Microsoft also announced David Porter as corporate vice president of Retail Stores, who would report Turner. Porter's first task was to define the timeframe, locations, and specifics for the Microsoft-branded retail stores. We know the first one of the three, so the wait begins for the other two.



Right next to the Apple Stores looooooooooooool.

[GommeInc]

I'm guessing this is only in the US? The EU who seem to think only Microsoft exist as a company, won't allow it :P No-one can complain about Microsoft opening up stores, so there's no real discussion :/ If they show of Surface, that would be cool, plus people can get help and advice through them if they really need it (for the novices).

[Pyroka]

Nah they probably will come over to the UK eventually, but theyll trial it first.

[GommeInc]

It'll be a very sketchy opening though, if the EU still have this unknown vendetta against Microsoft and Windows :P I'd pop into one if there is actually anything to look at that's worth looking at. What would they have in these stores, considering they don't make computers? Surface might be on show, but anything else won't be that amazing (in my opinion, at least).

[jimi]

It'll be a very sketchy opening though, if the EU still have this unknown vendetta against Microsoft and Windows :P I'd pop into one if there is actually anything to look at that's worth looking at. What would they have in these stores, considering they don't make computers? Surface might be on show, but anything else won't be that amazing (in my opinion, at least).


I dno, maybe a cinema? Robots or even interative dance floors tiles. The possiblites are endless. I doubt its just going to be computers and things. They need to make the stores fun and intresting to compete with Apple.

[ElliottThompson]

Microsoft is a predominantly software company, shelves with boxes on them maybe?
Probably as many Zune HD players as apple stores have iPods lol
That surface table thing will be a definite but they will be wanting to show off their OS's so I wonder what company they choose to use for their PC's.

[GommeInc]

I dno, maybe a cinema? Robots or even interative dance floors tiles. The possiblites are endless. I doubt its just going to be computers and things. They need to make the stores fun and intresting to compete with Apple.
Apple stores are hardly fun :P A cinema would be good though, showing off Windows Media Centre, and dance tiles would be fun :D Those two things alone would make Apple Stores seem boring in comparison. The mental image of hundreds of Zune players would be scary, speaking of which, does the Zune actually exists in the UK yet? Last time I noticed, it never really took off :S

[DavidDaveDavid]

there are not any apple stores near me anyway

[xxMATTGxx]

Apple stores are hardly fun :P A cinema would be good though, showing off Windows Media Centre, and dance tiles would be fun :D Those two things alone would make Apple Stores seem boring in comparison. The mental image of hundreds of Zune players would be scary, speaking of which, does the Zune actually exists in the UK yet? Last time I noticed, it never really took off :S

I think the Zune HD is coming to the United Kingdom. Not sure though :].

[ElliottThompson]

Nah your right the Zune players never took off in England (they barely took off in America) but with the Zune Marketplace Coming to england on PC's and also Xbox im sure they must be bringing out the Zune HD's in England :D

[GommeInc]

Nah your right the Zune players never took off in England (they barely took off in America) but with the Zune Marketplace Coming to england on PC's and also Xbox im sure they must be bringing out the Zune HD's in England :D
They do look quite good, so it's possible.

What is really frustrating (noticed this the other day) is how anti-competitive electronic stores are against MP3 Player companies. Currys and PC World do not sell Creative Zens, or at least any of the decent ones (Zen, Zen X-Fi) - but they have a huge line of iPods. Yeah, they don't sell like hot cakes like the over-glorified iPod, but loads of people want to buy a product that isn't common. It won't even harm the companies involved to have them in stock incase the do (if they don't they just sit in stock until called upon), because as far as Creative go, they don't make a new generation of Zen every 6 to 12 months (more like 2+ years :P), so they won't go out of style as fast as the iPod.

Until stores bother to sell mixed types of MP3 Players, the Zune may have difficulties unless Microsoft push to have the Zune sell in other stores as well as their Microsoft Stores.

[Recursion]

I don't think the Zune came to England because we have to import them from US sites :S

[Agnostic Bear]

What would they have in these stores, considering they don't make computers?

Hardware, they have a massive range of it and it's all incredibly good and reliable, they usually have the best or very near the best in the industry of what they sell, even though it's all made in China.

[efq]

Lol if I read it right, it said next to Apple Stores? I would love to see the competition between them both.

[Clowgon]

Should be good, no surprise if they choose London as the first!

I hear Amazon will be opening up some retail stores also.

[efq]

We have a brand new Apple Store in the Grand Arcade 2 mins away.

[GommeInc]

Hardware, they have a massive range of it and it's all incredibly good and reliable, they usually have the best or very near the best in the industry of what they sell, even though it's all made in China.
I've never heard of their hardware! Only the OS, Surface, Office and peripherals(?) (webcams, mice, keyboards etc). It'll be interesting to see this hardware in action in the stores and what they have to offer.

It looks like all these e-businesses are taking up some of the empty shops now in towns and cities :S (granted, Microsoft isn't an e-business as such). One shop in Colchester sells stuff for you on ebay, with a % of the sale.

[Turbocom]

Already heard about it, I heard they're were plans for them making one by an Apple store about a half hour near my home so that would be nice. (In Canada)

Here is a mockup design. The model is a 1/18th scale of what Microsoft is planning for the future.

http://www.neowin.net/images/uploaded/msretail1.jpg

notice on all the laptops they have

http://www.neowin.net/images/uploaded/msretail4.jpg

This is a finished model in a warehouse in the Microsoft REDMOND ground.
http://images.appleinsider.com/msretail-090212-1.jpg

and then Ned Flanders.
http://www.porhomme.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/microsoft-gizmodo-retail-store-1.jpg

If you'd like to see more of it, I've got this video link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEW8ITpUvSs

[GommeInc]

That actually looks awesome. Very modern and chic. It's not drowned out in white like loads of stores lately (not just Apple stores incase you think this is an anti-Apple store post ;)). I'd actually go into one of them and browse, but what would the laptops be? Surely they don't make their own (or plan to) and won't use third party computer companies like Samsung, Dell etc?

[Turbocom]

I think they are going to be doing what BestBuy does - bringing in other laptops and showing them off. I've also read it maybe a partnership with dell.

[Meanies]

lmao thats a bit cheeky having shops next to apple:P

[Agnostic Bear]

I've never heard of their hardware! Only the OS, Surface, Office and peripherals(?) (webcams, mice, keyboards etc). It'll be interesting to see this hardware in action in the stores and what they have to offer.

It looks like all these e-businesses are taking up some of the empty shops now in towns and cities :S (granted, Microsoft isn't an e-business as such). One shop in Colchester sells stuff for you on ebay, with a % of the sale.

I consider mice, webcams etc to be hardware, that's what I meant by it.

[GommeInc]

I consider mice, webcams etc to be hardware, that's what I meant by it.
Ahh, I had a slight idea that's what you meant :)

[ElliottThompson]

Woah that actually looks really hot. I totally forgot that they have the Xbox 360 plus the Zune HD to show off. And with Natal just round the corner im sure they will find space to show that off :D


Looks really nice rofl, I like the "I'm a PC" sign

Just wondering btw has anyone seen a Zune origional, are they really crappy because Microsoft being Microsoft they have the whole world marketed with their products and are a well known company so why did the Zune flop :< The origional Xbox wasnt the best hardware ever (most uncomfortable controller ever) yet as a Microsoft product it still sold reasonably well. Maybe they didnt advertise the Zune enough as a Microsoft product because surely the fact it was Microsoft would have got it sales.

[Agnostic Bear]

Woah that actually looks really hot. I totally forgot that they have the Xbox 360 plus the Zune HD to show off. And with Natal just round the corner im sure they will find space to show that off :D


Looks really nice rofl, I like the "I'm a PC" sign

Just wondering btw has anyone seen a Zune origional, are they really crappy because Microsoft being Microsoft they have the whole world marketed with their products and are a well known company so why did the Zune flop :< The origional Xbox wasnt the best hardware ever (most uncomfortable controller ever) yet as a Microsoft product it still sold reasonably well. Maybe they didnt advertise the Zune enough as a Microsoft product because surely the fact it was Microsoft would have got it sales.

The original Zune is US + Canada only I believe, that's why you don't see it around the world. Zune HD will probably be picked up by a lot of UK/Europe people if it comes here as they prefer good industrial looks to baby looking things.