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Gadgets Microsoft Picks Arizona, California for First Retail Locations
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - July 29, 2009 11:19 AM

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24 comment(s) - last by Konenavi.. on Jul 30 at 1:43 PM

California location also has an Apple Store in the shopping center

Microsoft is getting ready to take the battle between it and Apple to retail locations. Apple has long had its retail stores in some parts of the country where customers can walk in and play with the latest Apple hardware.

Microsoft announced earlier this month that it would be launching retail stores in close proximity to Apple Stores to help promote competition and allow customers to get hands on with the latest Windows technology. The software giant has announced the location of its first two retail locations.

The new stores will be located in Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California. The two stores will be located in retail shopping centers in each city. The California shopping center is also home to an Apple Store. However, there is no competing Apple store in the Arizona location.

Microsoft corporate communications director Kim Stocks said those two areas were picked because they are "hot markets." Stocks also said that the stores would sell laptops in addition to Microsoft and third-party software, Xbox games and consoles, and Zunes. Yahoo Finance reports that sketches surfaced last week that showed a store where users could order personalized laptops, take classes, and get help from experts. Microsoft says the sketches are very early and plans for the stores aren’t finalized.

The stores aren’t expected to replace the big electronics retailers like Walmart or Best Buy according to Stocks, but the stores are intended to make money. An exact launch date for the stores wasn't offered and it remains unclear how many retail stores Microsoft will launch and where other stores will be located.

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Compete?

By chmilz on 7/29/2009 11:29:05 AM , Rating: 5

There is no competition, really. Microsoft has Windows, Office, peripherals, a game console, Zune, and tons of other cool stuff, plus interconnectivity between all of it. Apple makes a $1999 dock for the iPod.

RE: Compete?

By mfed3 on 7/29/2009 11:42:51 AM , Rating: 3

agreed. they need the good public image back. apple suxorz

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RE: Compete?

By Targon on 7/29/2009 11:54:47 AM , Rating: 4

Don't forget that Apple fans and Islamic fundamentalists have a lot in common, they are both so obsessed with what they claim to follow that they lose sight of what is really important.

Apple computers and MacOS are not any better than a good quality PC running a CLEAN install of Windows(without the crap Dell puts on their machines), or any worse. Different does not mean better.

Of course, the fact that Apple doesn't offer any systems with a quad core processor doesn't help in the multitasking department.

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RE: Compete?

By StevoLincolnite on 7/29/2009 12:56:56 PM , Rating: 4

quote:
Of course, the fact that Apple doesn't offer any systems with a quad core processor doesn't help in the multitasking department.

That's not entirely accurate.

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/fam...

They have the Mac Pro which features a Quad Core Xeon. (Mind you the price is pretty insane! - I'll stick with PC's :) )

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RE: Compete?

By rcc on 7/29/2009 2:55:30 PM , Rating: 4

Don't forget that tendency for us PC/Windows users to be bigots when it comes to other systems/software.

And I meant that in the nicest possible way, of course.

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RE: Compete?

By Pirks on 7/29/2009 4:59:27 PM , Rating: 1

Well, Targon saying that Apple doesn't sell quad core machines is waaaay beyond bigotry, you gotta admit that. Targon has serious issues with his head, to put it mildly. Reminds me of fsardis.

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RE: Compete?

By Complex Pants on 7/29/2009 11:59:49 AM , Rating: 5

I am not an apple fanboy here (just stopped using my last apple product, bye bye itunes), but to say that the microsoft store and the apple store will not compete is ridiculous. There are certain areas that the two companies don't overlap, the xbox for example, and there will not be competition. However, the Zune and the iPod are in direct competition with each other.

Microsoft has a sh*tty image right now and the store (in my mind) is to allow people to play with MS products that have been carefully groomed, just like the apple store grooms their display products. Hell, if an MS store would offer laptops that came with only windows installed on it and not all the other crap that Dell, HP, Toshiba, etc put on it, I would be thrilled.

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RE: Compete?

By 3minence on 7/29/2009 12:39:05 PM , Rating: 2

Agreed, MS does have a sh*tty image right now (but not completely undeserved). Still, Apples reality is not Microsoft's. Apple tightly controls their hardware which promotes reliability but highly limits choice. MS doesn't sell PC's so they have to write an OS and apps that run on anything from cheap IGPs with Celerons to high end quad core SLI/X-Fire gaming rigs. With Windows you get 3rd party choices for everything, with the associated variable quality in both hardware and software.

If Apple gets too big, they will attract the attention of the virus writers, the anti-monopoly organizations, and other sundry undesirables who will quickly teach Apple a painful lesson. They will find out what it's like to be Microsoft and I'm not sure they will be able to compete.

Back on topic, if this store sells high quality and eye-pleasing products they will compete quite well with Apple.

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RE: Compete?

By mmntech on 7/29/2009 12:10:19 PM , Rating: 2

Yes because all those iPhones and iPods, they were just a fad. I mean, who do you know that owns one of those.... except me and probably everyone else here. :p

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RE: Compete?

By ClownPuncher on 7/29/2009 12:51:55 PM , Rating: 2

Of course, Apple sells a couple products that are very hot commodities. OP's point was that Microsoft has alot more products they can sell in such a store, possibly driving Apple to change their retail business model for the benefit of customers.

Think of it this way too, IF the MS stores do well and Apple store continue to do well there will be innovation from both companies and prices will likely drop.

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RE: Compete?

By MScrip on 7/29/2009 6:09:31 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
OP's point was that Microsoft has alot more products they can sell in such a store

A long time ago... the Apple Stores were the only places to buy Apple products. But even though now you can buy an iPod at Wal-Mart and a Mac at Best Buy... Apple stores still get crazy traffic.

I don't see how a Microsoft store will attract that much attention. Maybe they will have dozens of XBox machines for kids to play.

The article says they will sell computers. Will they provide support for computers they sell? Microsoft only makes something like $50 from the Windows license on an HP laptop... are they gonna be responsible for replacing a burned out motherboard or other hardware failure?

Or is Microsoft a computer software company?

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RE: Compete?

By Spivonious on 7/29/2009 1:09:41 PM , Rating: 3

I don't own or use an Apple product. They are a fad. It's just that the fad hasn't died yet.

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RE: Compete?

By DOOA on 7/29/2009 4:07:44 PM , Rating: 1

I see a lot of prejudice here and no one has pointed out that our beloved Windows would not be around if it were not for competition with Apple. Remember when Gates said a GUI was a fad and would never be useful in a business environment?
Competition between Apple and Microsoft is something we need to support. It makes both companies better.

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not flagstaff, now depressed.

By dragunover on 7/29/2009 3:05:13 PM , Rating: 2

scottsdale? Seriously? Viejo doesn't sound like a too populated area either.

RE: not flagstaff, now depressed.

By Remalith on 7/29/2009 3:59:17 PM , Rating: 2

Mission Viejo is in the center of Orange County so it's likely a huge market. And double plus bonus the people in that area generally have a ton of disposable income to spend on things like computers, mp3 player, game systems, etc.

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RE: not flagstaff, now depressed.

By Konenavi on 7/29/2009 7:09:02 PM , Rating: 2

Wait wait you think that Scottsdale isn't very populated? And you live in Flagstaff? Think about all the other cities within oh say 40 miles of Scottsdale like Peoria, Glendale ,Tempe (ASU students anyone?), and Phoenix. Yeah I would say it's pretty dead around Scottsdale too.

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RE: not flagstaff, now depressed.

By jmurbank on 7/29/2009 8:02:57 PM , Rating: 2

Do not forget that Scottsdale is an up scale city compared to Flagstaff. People in Scottsdale will fuel Microsoft with money, like they do not need any. Though the economy will eventually increase by this store being added to the city.

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RE: not flagstaff, now depressed.

By Sinisteer on 7/30/2009 10:42:52 AM , Rating: 2

Scottsdale is part of Phoenix metro. That's like the 5th biggest market in the US. Scottsdale is very attractive for businesses and has one of the busiest private airports in the country.

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Xbox360 & PC Gaming

By SPARTAN VI on 7/29/2009 12:05:28 PM , Rating: 3

I hope they partition a portion of these stores for gaming; Apple cannot compete with Microsoft's gaming prowess. Obviously Xbox360 products should be present, but I'd love to see them promote PC gaming.

RE: Xbox360 & PC Gaming

By TMV192 on 7/29/2009 12:26:17 PM , Rating: 2

I'm sure they will. After Office came to Mac, games remain a major reason why MacBook Pro and Mac Pro owners install Windows on their machines. Even if it leads to more installs on Mac, than straight PC purchases, Microsoft probably makes more money per machine on Mac user buying licenses than PC buyers where the PC maker probably got a discount for the license

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McGlaun, your facts are wrong

By jmurbank on 7/30/2009 1:17:54 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
However, there is no competing Apple store in the Arizona location.

There are competing Apple stores in Scottsdale, Arizona. There is an Apple store north of Scottsdale. Stating that there is not any means you did not do any research before posting. Also there are plenty of Apple stores in Arizona.

RE: McGlaun, your facts are wrong

By Konenavi on 7/30/2009 1:43:36 PM , Rating: 2

Yes sir you do have a point. In fact there is one in the Arrowhead Mall in Peoria, about 15 minutes from my hose.

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not sure about value

By rudy on 7/29/2009 2:08:01 PM , Rating: 2

I see other odd companies like LEGO do this in hot markets too but I think for most of us we will never see a M$ store the idea is good in reality most people get no help with M$ products and most people do not have any clue how much a simple windows + office system can do. If someone was giving free classes that would help people use their computers better it could be very good for M$. On the other hand I think they could acheive good results simply by putting a sales rep in walmart,best buy or any other retailer for much less and hit a wider audience.