Microsoft store coming soon

[DBSKIsMine]

Do you know if the retail versions such as home premium will have a 64-bit version available in stores? I decided not to get vista because of all the hassle it would have taken me to a get a 64-bit version of anything other than Ultimate (which I'm not shelling out $315 for).

 

[Apollo]

Do you know if the retail versions such as home premium will have a 64-bit version available in stores? I decided not to get vista because of all the hassle it would have taken me to a get a 64-bit version of anything other than Ultimate (which I'm not shelling out $315 for).

It will have 64bit. 32 and 64 will be on the same install disk. Just gotta pick and install.

 

[seven_sins]

But then again, anything is better than XP at this stage. Even Vista.

Give me a break.

 

[JB3]

Actually, if they do this store right, it will most likely increase their market share in all the fields they sell in.

MS already throws enough money at their core markets. No one still comes close to the dominance of Windows and Office. Windows Vista was a hick up, but it wasn't for lack of money, it was too much corporate oversight, and them not working so good together. When they went into making Windows 7, they changed how they usually make Windows. Because of that, they have a awesome OS on their hands.

And MS is actually happy playing no. 2 in sections that are not Windows and Office. They are really planning for the long time future.

MS has Bing, now coupled with Yahoo. Their market share in the search business now jumped from the 8% (it used to be 3% before Bing) to 25% of the search business. They are going to let Yahoo do what it does best, and sell adds etc.

Xbox 360 has been a loss leader for YEARS and now they are finally starting to see some minimal return on it. And coupled with all the new services that keep coming out with the 360, it could easily be dominant with the next gen console, or hell with the 360 still. Because Sony messed up up it's release of PS3, all the cards started aligning for MS and Nintendo.

The Zune is actually a great device. It is better than the non-ipod Touch devices, and with the Zune HD, it will simply be better than all iPod's. It is actually getting lots of hype and praise from usually hardened MS bashers. A lot of people are excited for the devices release. A lot of people wish it would be made into a phone, and it might be. Who knows. And now the Zune will tie into the 360.

360 and Zune are now one team (coupled with another team or something) so better intergration of products is happening.

Except here's the thing; the one area that matters most, tech support/repair/on-site is something that Microsoft cannot replicate. Part of the reason the Apple stores have worked so well is because people buy their computers there, get them serviced there, and buy accessories/upgrades/etc. Certainly they'll be able to do it with Zune and 360, but beyond that, they quite simply can't.

Because Microsoft does not make their computing hardware, they cannot possibly offer the same type of experience as Apple, no matter how hard they try. This is something that I don't really think MSoft understands, and it is the sole reason why these stores will fail. Regardless of what you think of Apple as a company, their retail philosophy is one that is certainly envied by many other companies, even those not in the electronics business. They've got their stores down to an art, and MSoft just won't be able to replicate it like they're trying to.

 

[Apollo]

Give me a break.

I can't even use XP anymore. It just moves so old, not all the featues I am used to using that just makes my computing experience more enjoyable.

 

[Apollo]

Except here's the thing; the one area that matters most, tech support/repair/on-site is something that Microsoft cannot replicate. Part of the reason the Apple stores have worked so well is because people buy their computers there, get them serviced there, and buy accessories/upgrades/etc. Certainly they'll be able to do it with Zune and 360, but beyond that, they quite simply can't.

Because Microsoft does not make their computing hardware, they cannot possibly offer the same type of experience as Apple, no matter how hard they try. This is something that I don't really think MSoft understands, and it is the sole reason why these stores will fail. Regardless of what you think of Apple as a company, their retail philosophy is one that is certainly envied by many other companies, even those not in the electronics business. They've got their stores down to an art, and MSoft just won't be able to replicate it like they're trying to.

Apple makes all their stuff. Everything is controlled by them, which actually makes it easier for them to make a operating system. They don't have to write for all the possible different comps it will run on. MS could never make it's own computers, all types of anti-trust lawsuits would erupt.

As for the store. It isn't that hard to make a deal with computer companies to sell their computers there and hire people who know at least the basic understanding of, say, the three major brands of windows computer makers. MS could easily replicate the services in the Apple store, but the question is if they will?

I mean, look at Geek Squad. There job is not much different from Apple's. They are there to service computers, except they have a HUGE variety they have to know about and understand. If MS is willing to do this for people, then that would be awesome for them. And I am sure it won't be hard to have the support of computer manufacturers to provide this service.

 

[JB3]

Apple makes all their stuff. Everything is controlled by them, which actually makes it easier for them to make a operating system. They don't have to write for all the possible different comps it will run on. MS could never make it's own computers, all types of anti-trust lawsuits would erupt.

As for the store. It isn't that hard to make a deal with computer companies to sell their computers there and hire people who know at least the basic understanding of, say, the three major brands of windows computer makers. MS could easily replicate the services in the Apple store, but the question is if they will?

I mean, look at Geek Squad. There job is not much different from Apple's. They are there to service computers, except they have a HUGE variety they have to know about and understand. If MS is willing to do this for people, then that would be awesome for them. And I am sure it won't be hard to have the support of computer manufacturers to provide this service.

I don't see microsoft doing this, for cost reasons mainly.

 

[Apollo]

I don't see microsoft doing this, for cost reasons mainly.

I don't think cost is something MS worries about too much.

Not the cost of the service, but how much it will be to do something.

 

[JB3]

I don't think cost is something MS worries about too much.

Not the cost of the service, but how much it will be to do something.

But its something they would have to worry about in this case. We're not just talking a few different designs, we're talking hundreds (if not thousands) of components. Geek Squad doesn't even do all of that; a lot of the stuff they either send out or they have to order parts. (which takes time)

Microsoft isn't exactly in a fantastic financial position to be launching money-losing stores.

 

[Apollo]

But its something they would have to worry about in this case. We're not just talking a few different designs, we're talking hundreds (if not thousands) of components. Geek Squad doesn't even do all of that; a lot of the stuff they either send out or they have to order parts. (which takes time)

Microsoft isn't exactly in a fantastic financial position to be launching money-losing stores.

Lol in a given day, MS makes twice what Apple does.

A good quarter for Apple is like 18 billion or something, for MS a bad quarter was 52 billion. Back when the yahoo thing was new, they were talking about MS would have to actually borrow money for the first time ever or something to pay for it.

But truthfully, they can do the same thing Geek Squad does. All that is different is the umbrella to which it is handled.

Mac people don't get instant service. They sometimes have to leave their computers at the store for a day or a week to be fixed, this is seriously hardly any different except for the scale.

And they are rolling these stores out slowly.

 

[JB3]

Lol in a given day, MS makes twice what Apple does.

A good quarter for Apple is like 18 billion or something, for MS a bad quarter was 52 billion. Back when the yahoo thing was new, they were talking about MS would have to actually borrow money for the first time ever or something to pay for it.

But truthfully, they can do the same thing Geek Squad does. All that is different is the umbrella to which it is handled.

Mac people don't get instant service. They sometimes have to leave their computers at the store for a day or a week to be fixed, this is seriously hardly any different except for the scale.

And they are rolling these stores out slowly.

Most Macs do, actually. All Apple stores have, at any given time, at least four Geniuses working in their tech center (in addition to the three or four working out front). The only time they keep the computer is if its a major repair. (and it isn't anything like the one to two weeks most OEMs have)

There's also one huge thing that Microsoft is missing; the only reason Apple has kept up with the strategy is because its profitable. All Apple stores together average around $6,000 a square foot, which is absolutely unheard of in any retail situation. Microsoft would be hard pressed to reach that without the hardware aspect. (computing hardware, not everything else) Microsoft hasn't released a ton of information as of yet, but I have a hard time believing that they'll be able to hit the numbers to make this strategy worth it.

 

[Apollo]

Most Macs do, actually. All Apple stores have, at any given time, at least four Geniuses working in their tech center (in addition to the three or four working out front). The only time they keep the computer is if its a major repair. (and it isn't anything like the one to two weeks most OEMs have)

There's also one huge thing that Microsoft is missing; the only reason Apple has kept up with the strategy is because its profitable. All Apple stores together average around $6,000 a square foot, which is absolutely unheard of in any retail situation. Microsoft would be hard pressed to reach that without the hardware aspect. (computing hardware, not everything else) Microsoft hasn't released a ton of information as of yet, but I have a hard time believing that they'll be able to hit the numbers to make this strategy worth it.

Meh, we'll have to see. It works for Best Buy and Geek Squad, no reason it can't work for Microsoft.

And Microsoft isn't going to go into this half-hearted. They most likely know how this can fail in so many ways, and I bet they aren't planning to allow it to.

It will have it's obvious growing pains, probably why they are only opening three right now, but it will most likely flourish and figure itself out.

Of course they will have a lot more people to deal with, so we'll see how they figure out how to scale. Something Apple isn't having to really worry about too much.