04/11/2008, 10:10am, EDT
Friday, April 11thMicrosoft exploring Apple-like retail shops?
Microsoft is seriously investigating the prospect of opening a self-branded set of retail stores, according to a new claim. Alleged sources near Microsoft say that the company hopes to boost its brand by launching a retail chain that presents an ideal Microsoft experience, similar to Apple's own outlets. What the store is likely to contain is unknown, though the company is likely to promote Windows and its software. It may also use the strategy to tout its own hardware, including the Xbox 360, the Zune, and potentially its smaller peripherals.
If true, the rumored launch would represent a part reversal of Microsoft's long-term strategy, which has been dependent largely on the marketing of system partners and third-party stores. The company has gradually seen an increasing need to market for itself as it begins to produce consumer electronics, starting with the original Xbox in 2001.
No mention is made in the claim of whether Microsoft would sell computers in its own stores or use them as showcases for its software.
Filed under: computers, industry
Other story tags: Microsoft, Windows, Xbox 360, Zune
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What's next, Gateway or Dell experience stores? Oh wait...
"Alleged sources near Microsoft say that the company hopes to boost its brand by launching a retail chain that presents an ideal Microsoft experience"
1) first of all let's get the grammar nazi nitpicking out of the way. "Alleged sources"??? You mean they may or may not be sources? I think you meant, "Sources allegedly near Microsoft". Can I please get a job writing for MacNN? I would improve the quality of the writing by about 1000%.
2) "An ideal Microsoft experience". That would be either an experience never seen once on this planet, or turning the customer upside-down and shaking the wallet/loose change out of their pockets then tossing them to the curb. I guess it all depends upon whose ideal experience... MS or the consumer.
http://www.youtube.com/v/EUXnJraKM3k&hl=en
I have no doubt that if it comes to retail, MS will do the MS thing to the experience. This ought to be fun to watch...
You would enter the store and within 5 minutes everything would turn blue. The store employees would ask you to leave and enter again.
After about 3 months of the store being open, everybody who entered the store would experience a time dilation effect where everything would slow down to about 1/2 of normal speed... walking, talking, etc would be affected.
A sales associate would relentlessly follow you around the store saying things like, "I see you are looking at software. How can I help you with that?" and never stops with this behavior until you punch them out because you can't take it anymore.
A 'loss-prevention specialist' will tail your every step through the store.
The product pricing will be a mind-numbing array of different prices for each product depending upon what features you want.
The health department would shut it down because it would be so full of virii that it would be considered a public health menace.