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Microsoft are set to open an international chain if retails stores!

Microsoft to launch its own shops as it takes on Apple

Microsoft, the computer software giant, is planning to launch its own chain of branded stores in an attempt to catch up with Apple's growing dominance of the consumer electronics market.

The world's largest software company has hired David Porter, a former executive at Wal Mart, the world's biggest retailer, to lead its charge on to the high street. Microsoft said Mr Porter is already scouting for suitable locations and it plans to open a "small number" of stores soon.

Microsoft has long been rumoured to be planning its own shops as Apple's hugely successful roll-out of more than 200 branded stores is widely credited with boosting sales of its Mac, iPod and iPhone brands.

The company, which has expanded into consumer electronics with its Xbox video game console and Zune digital music player, did not say when it plans to open the shops or if there are any outlets planned in Britain.

Mr Porter said the stores were a "tremendous opportunity" for the company to create a "world-class shopping experience".



Mr Jobs will be flattered - but will the customers be there to buy?

I actually had the thought that they should do this a few months ago, damn, I wish I'd written it down and posted it to them. Here's my reasoning: They now actually have a pretty diverse, showroom-friendly, set of products and I think it could actually work:
- Zune (not as bad as you might think)
- Phones (only the best ones on display)
- Surface computing (brilliant brilliant hands-on stuff to bring people into the shops)
- Xboxes and games from floor to ceiling, perfect for messing with and easy to sell in that setup
- PCs that are actually compatible with Vista aren't THAT bad. If they chose one OEM (HP is my favourite) to do something shiny and stable enough, they might be able to shift some units.

The biggest problem I have in a non-Apple place (Dixons and Staples, I guess) is that the mindset is "oh no, don't let them TRY the computers, they might break them" and that's really unhelpful. I rarely see a PC in a shop that's intentionally unlocked and free to try. Having a place where you can just go and mess with microsoft's products and think about buying is, I think, A Very Good Thing.

Whatever the result it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

It will certainly be a good way to show off Windows 7 to the masses who wouldn't dream of installing a beta, or rely on hearsay to form an opinion.

Netizen wrote:It will certainly be a good way to show off Windows 7 to the masses who wouldn't dream of installing a beta, or rely on hearsay to form an opinion.

Or will get it preinstalled with their next PC purchase.

Nini wrote:

Netizen wrote:It will certainly be a good way to show off Windows 7 to the masses who wouldn't dream of installing a beta, or rely on hearsay to form an opinion.

Or will get it preinstalled with their next PC purchase.

Without a doubt they'll force it to be pre-installed. It guarantees increased income, but also I think manufacturers will be more happy to bundle 7 than Vista - based on the comments I've read from Beta testers.