AfterDawn: News

Microsoft to open brick and mortar retail stores

Microsoft has announced that they will be opening brick and mortar retail stores around the United States and confirmed the appointment of David Porter as vice president of Retail Stores.

Porter, a former VP at Wal-Mart, will need to determine "the timing, locations and specific details of the stores."



The new move will help the software giant to compete with Apple, which has 251 retail stores that brought in $1.74 billion USD revenue for 2008.

Porter added the stores would give consumers better direct access to products such as the upcoming Windows 7, as well as the Zune media players and the Xbox 360 gaming console.

“This is an exciting time with our strong lineup of upcoming product releases including Windows 7 and new releases of Windows Live and Windows Mobile," Porter added.

“I am excited about helping consumers make more informed decisions about their PC and software purchases, and we’ll share learnings from our stores with our existing retail and OEM partners that are critical to our success,” he concluded.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Feb 2009 19:53

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• 14 comments

• trexxus

  With today's economy the way it is all I can do is wish them the best of luck.I believe they would be smart to open a few stores here and there and see if they have a place in the market.I'm all for rebuilding the economy but I also don't want to see people unemployed after a store opens for a year or so.

  15.2.2009 22:55 #1

• SProdigy

  Note to Microsoft: this only worked for Apple because Apple restricted their supply to online or Apple Store sales, which gave them an "exclusive" feel.
  
  Only until recently did Apple (and Dell for the same argument's case) start popping up in stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Where CAN'T you go to purchase a Xbox, Zune or Windows OS disc? Now play the same game with an Apple product, such as an iMac.
  
  I only see this boutique thing happening in large markets. 5th Ave. in NYC, or Michigan Ave. in Chicago for example. Wish them the best of luck.

  15.2.2009 23:10 #2

• kiwi1

  MS will have plenty of market room once they've stamped all the middle men out of existence.

  16.2.2009 00:11 #3

• bbugger

  While they're at it they should open some VCR stores. Are they that clueless??

  16.2.2009 01:32 #4

• Stu_dent

  Originally posted by bbugger: While they're at it they should open some VCR stores. Are they that clueless??LOL

  16.2.2009 09:42 #5

• Hopium

  i'd goto a microsoft store, it cant be any worse then a radio-shack, overpriced but guaranteed to have it when you cant wait for teh internetz

  16.2.2009 12:06 #6

• bomber991

  Originally posted by SProdigy: Note to Microsoft: this only worked for Apple because Apple restricted their supply to online or Apple Store sales, which gave them an "exclusive" feel.
  
  Only until recently did Apple (and Dell for the same argument's case) start popping up in stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Where CAN'T you go to purchase a Xbox, Zune or Windows OS disc? Now play the same game with an Apple product, such as an iMac.
  
  I only see this boutique thing happening in large markets. 5th Ave. in NYC, or Michigan Ave. in Chicago for example. Wish them the best of luck.Back in the old days BB used to carry Macs. It seems like a little bit after the imac came out was when they stopped carrying them.

  16.2.2009 12:46 #7

• SProdigy

  Originally posted by bomber991: Originally posted by SProdigy: Note to Microsoft: this only worked for Apple because Apple restricted their supply to online or Apple Store sales, which gave them an "exclusive" feel.
  
  Only until recently did Apple (and Dell for the same argument's case) start popping up in stores like Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Where CAN'T you go to purchase a Xbox, Zune or Windows OS disc? Now play the same game with an Apple product, such as an iMac.
  
  I only see this boutique thing happening in large markets. 5th Ave. in NYC, or Michigan Ave. in Chicago for example. Wish them the best of luck.I was referring to recent history. ;-) Seems as though Apple was forgotten at BB around the turn of the century.
  Back in the old days BB used to carry Macs. It seems like a little bit after the imac came out was when they stopped carrying them.

  16.2.2009 14:15 #8

• ChiefBrdy

  Apple had a niche when it first opened stores. You couldn't find it anywhere.
  
  What's the point of MS stores? MS products are in zillions of stores already.

  17.2.2009 09:25 #9

• ericg8

  It worked for Apple, because in addition to having a first-rate set of products, they are (I hate to say it) trendy and sexy. Apple stores sell a brand, a lifestyle, not a product. I love going to the local Apple store because they have something no other computer store has...smoking hot female customers.
  
  No, Microsoft will botch this like they do everything else they try to copy. Because they do not bother understanding the marketplace, and because they are always a me-too johnny-come-lately lukewarm non-contender.
  
  By the way, we aren't fooled. We know Windows 7 is just a rehash of the failed Vista, and that it runs on the same Kernel as MS operating systems of 10 years ago.

  17.2.2009 14:41 #10

• DanandJen

  "By the way, we aren't fooled. We know Windows 7 is just a rehash of the failed Vista, and that it runs on the same Kernel as MS operating systems of 10 years ago."
  
  
  Wow where to start with that statement!!! Unless you fully understand how to program and debug M$ code, then I guess you would see it as the same old kernel and a rehashed version of Windows Vista. Far from the truth though. I have been a beta tester for about 5 years, and 7 and Vista may look (appearance wise) the same, but behind the code, 7 is a much more stable and faster OS enviroment. M$ should open a store. Yes there products may be in thousands of other stores. But who wants to drive to about 6 different locales, looking to get a variety of products? NOT ME! Hell, I can't stand going to more than 2 stores for my PC component needs! And my legal obtaining of software tollerance is no less. Good for M$ for producing some more jobs in the US!
  
  MAC= moderatly affordable crap!
  
  PS: For a company that botches everything they touch, they sure do have quite a lot of OS market dominance in the world!!!

  17.2.2009 15:41 #11

• ericg8

  Originally posted by DanandJen: ...Wow where to start with that statement!!! Unless you fully understand how to program and debug M$ code, then I guess you would see it as the same old kernel and a rehashed version of Windows Vista. Far from the truth though. I have been a beta tester for about 5 years, and 7 and Vista may look (appearance wise) the same, but behind the code, 7 is a much more stable and faster OS enviroment.If you were more of a programmer and less of a test user, then you would understand that Microsoft consolidated the codebase and standardized on a single kernel back in 2001 by merging same from Windows ME and 2000 Server.
  
  Microsoft has never represented Windows 7 as anything more than a modified/corrected version of Windows Vista. They decided to do so after focus groups reacted more favorably to the product when not told that it was in fact Vista. The reason Windows 7 is faster is that Microsoft decided to remove a lot of the window dressing that make Vista look more cool, albeit at a price to performance.
  
  Originally posted by DanandJen: ...MAC= moderatly affordable crap!Actually, Macintosh OSX is built on a sound stable platform of UNIX. Perhaps you have heard IT professionals refer to this? It is truly a modern multi-processor-enabled preemptive multi-tasking operating system with protected memory, a clean concise user interface, efficient, powerful, and secure. The hardware typically beats name-brand MS-based computers in price when similarly equipped, and beats MS-based computers hands down on resale value.
  
  Interestingly, PC Magazine found that the Macbook Pro was the fastest laptop tested when running Vista. Hmmmmmm....
  
  I personally support various flavors of MS products, all virtualized on my Macintosh for convenience. But I use the Mac OS for all my non problem-related work.
  
  Good thing lots of people use Microsoft, or I wouldn't make as much money supporting the stuff!

  17.2.2009 15:59 #12

• georgeluv

  these are going to fail misearbly, i dont hate windows i just know its going to fail.
  
  windows 7? yeh right people arent falling for another re-badging of windows 2000 with more drm on it. ubuntu is taking over! paying 300 bucks for an OS is ASININE!!!
  
  Zunes? yeh right everyone and thier mom has an ipod, and soon theyll all have iphones when at&ts contract expires.
  
  Xbox360? how is your brick an mortor store going to help me with my RRODed box huh? its not even wise to purchase an xbox360 from microsoft, or anyone other than walmart or costco because they are the only ones that offer free new replacement warranty's on boxes that fail, and that would be most of them. im on my third and it loads slow, thanks Microsoft.

  18.2.2009 09:25 #13

• blivetNC

  Didn't Microsoft study Gateway's Country Store business model? Microsoft already has market penetration, they have many major retailers carrying their products alongside Apple, Dell, and the rest, what possible benefits can they reap from spending money to have another outlet, an outlet which has already been made available to the majority of consumers? Sorry, this reeks of extreme stupidity.
  

  This Space For Rent

  18.2.2009 09:53 #14