Microsoft Retail Stores in Autumn

[Pyroka]

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/new...-this-fall.ars

Kevin Turner, Microsoft's Chief Operating Officer, told partners during his Worldwide Partner Conference 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.


The timing is good: Windows 7 is being launched on October 22, 2009, 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. When the online Microsoft Store expanded to the US in November 2008, some believed that's what all the hubbub had been about.


In February 2009, 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 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 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 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 A cinema would be good though, showing off Windows Media Centre, and dance tiles would be fun 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 A cinema would be good though, showing off Windows Media Centre, and dance tiles would be fun 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