Nearly six years have passed since Microsoft began opening retail outlets patterned after Apple’s blockbuster retail locations. However, the now 116 Microsoft Stores are still a pale imitation to Apple’s own retail network of 460 locations, often featuring more employees than customers as the firm’s products have failed to excite and attract buyers.
This was a sad attempt to copy Apple’s success and it didn’t work. Microsoft under Ballmer tried to copy Apple in a number of ways and they all failed miserably.
Actually, with Microsoft’s new products, they can almost fill a store with their first-party gear. Hope, maybe?
When I look for fact-free articles on Microsoft, I always look to DED. He’s #1 in my heart!
Balmer & Gates, a story of how nepotism nearly sank one of the greatest companies of all time.
I speculate that if Steve had never met Bill, then he probably would have ended up the proud owner of a used car dealership somewhere outside Fargo North Dakota, benignly avoiding the responsibility of making monumental decisions that shape the commanding heights of global computing. Fortunately, for us, Apple was a worthy replacement for said commanding heights and we did not fall into apocalyptic ruin.
usage: It is easy to confuse the words founder and flounder, not only because they sound similar but also because the contexts in which they are used overlap. Founder means, in its general and extended use, ‘fail or come to nothing, sink out of sight’ ( the scheme foundered because of lack of organizational backing). Flounder, on the other hand, means ‘struggle, move clumsily, be in a state of confusion’ ( new recruits floundering about in their first week).
It will be interesting to see the effect their new product lineup has. Microsofts manufacturing partners probably are reluctant to participate.
remember, Apple started its stores as a response to general retail indifference among the big box guys in the 90s.
And now they have made a “surface book”! It looks nice enough, bit it’s still lame to copy the name!
To his credit, he did identify that early Microsoft Retail was stuck selling crappy partner product.
Oh baby, let’s go to the Microsoft Store and shop for two-inch-thick laptops full of shovelware!
AFAIK, Microsoft stores have never allowed crapware on PCs sold through the store. They only allow for a few apps, and they have to add some real value to the PC.
Microsoft stores were started for, and I assume still exist to promote Microsoft products in the best light. Half working, junky displays at Walmart, Best Buy, and other stores made the case to have their own retail. Apple had much success with their stores and Microsoft wanted that.
I hope Nadella will do better with MSFT. Recent years have been terrible no doubt.