Man, they really do that whole "follow Apple" thing, don't they? This is taking it to a nutty extreme...
http://www.fudzilla.com/index.php?op...769&Ite mid=1
From the article:
Quote:
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Our sources close to Microsoft have confirmed that the company wants to reach out for the retail market presence. Microsoft wants to open and create many retail shops dedicated exclusive to Microsoft and its products.
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Yeah, goodness knows they need to get that marketshare and "recognition factor" up a bit.
Quote:
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This is something that Apple did with its many Apple retail stores around the world.
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Yes, because you can't buy Macs and Apple software at every chain department store, electronics outlet and pisspot grocery store in the known universe like you can Microsoft's. There was an actual
reason (beyond "it'll look cool as hell!") to Apple's retail initiative; it kinda had to be done. Where can't someone go and get Windows, a Microsoft mouse or other Windows software in any sort of town in the U.S.?
Quote:
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Microsoft will put its retail people in the shops with hope that these skilled people will be able to show the true Microsoft experience.
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Yikes, they'd better not...
IMO, "the true Microsoft experience" isn't something you'd open a damn store over, to share with others. Yeah, they'd
better be "skilled people".
A store where nothing works right the first two times you try it? Yeah, we've already had those...they were called CompUSA.
I can't wait. That'll be fodder for a kick-ass home movie (comparing the stores of the two giants).
A few early predictions:
Apple: Genius Bar
Microsoft: Solution Station (I would say "Saloon" but surely even they wouldn't go
that far...)
Apple: Giant iPhones in front window with simulated interface
Microsoft: Giant Zunes in front window with real frozen screen
Apple: daily free classes in iLife, iWork, Leopard, switching, etc.
Microsoft: Three-hour $45 course in virus protection/system maintenance (sign me up...sounds like a hard-on waiting to happen)
Apple: Store packed on weekends...all ages, races, genders, actually buying stuff
Microsoft: Three customers (one admiring giant Zune despite frozen screen, and two others asking staff why their "brand new $#%^(#@ mouse made their printer driver disappear")
Apple: Large white glowing logo on storefront, beckoning the faithful and the curious
Microsoft: Gaudy blue, red, yellow and green neon surrounding entire storefront, luring guys thinking "a titty bar opened up next to JCPenney!"
Apple: Check-out registers using iMacs for cash-drawer/check-out
Microsoft: Check-out registers using iMacs for cash-drawer/check-out
Apple: Looping "lifestyle" footage, or iLife tutorials shown on rear movie screen
Microsoft: Rear screen gets its feed from the same source as the Zune in the front windows...frozen, or blue as hell.
Apple: Employees walking around in matching T-shirts
Microsoft: Same thing, except two employees (on rotating shifts) have to don Clippy "mascot uniform", walking around, bugging the two customers with "it looks like you're wanting to buy that keyboard; do you want help?"