Funny that you mention how MS is playing catch-up. I think you are partially correct, but not as much as you’d like to think you are. If you want to mention a company playing catch-up it would be wise to remember that Apple was doing that for years, and in some aspects, still is. It wasn’t until Jobs came back that Apple started to compete again on any level, and my guess is that once he is dead, there will be at least a minor slump before they can pick back up. It is the way business works, particularly in an arena like this; it is a revolving door.

As for BSOD, haven’t seen one of those in years. In fact I think the last time I saw one Apple was still trying to figure out how to make a cool operating system for people who don’t really need a computer to accomplish anything related to making money.

browsing can be equally fun, as you turn to see the familiar white tables with nothing on them, as the ms employees bring each element of their product line out for you on the table. sure the lag time between you and all the other customers might be annoying, but die hard ms customers will be murmurring how this is the most popular store in the world.

after several hours of shopping for the phenomenal zune, you go to the checkout line where several employees ask you prior to the purchase if you are certain you want to purchase something in the store. I can see a single room with one cash register at the point of purchase, and if the cashier breaks down from stress you are asked if you’d like to send a claim to Microsoft corporate headquarters. but sure enough it does go through and you are pleasantly asked for your email address, your social security number and possibly your first born son before handing your card to the cashier.

you might need to enter your card number a few times, because there is no place to swipe it.

upon leaving you might have some trouble because the wall where the door is is a giant blue wall.

Yeah, they have a 70% gross margin because they rip off their customers with outrageous pricing on their non-subsidized products. It’s almost as if they have no confidence in the better product winning the volume. They have to go for gross margin on each product because they accept that they can’t compete and win on volume.

Hey Apple, grow up, and accept that a the vast majority of computers are purchased for business related purposes, or at least that folks want them to be compatible with their business related computers. Stop focusing solely on tweens and cool and focus on the end user.

Then you won’t have to worry about MS building its stores next to yours, or what kind of commericials they air. For the record, as a business person, I always thought there “I’m a MAC” commercials were silly and missed the point.

Iphone is cool, though!

So true…. it’s like apple fanboyz are sooooooo pissed that MS is basically forcing Apple to lower their ridiculous pricing on MACs. LOL! I’ve been laughing at all the outrage since the conference where this anecdote was told.

Look, the business world uses PCs so, so do people who work for businesses. MS won that war long ago. Heck MS even makes the only decent office suite you can buy for a MAC (or at least one that is 100% compatible with the software that most people use).

And let’s face it, the Xbox is the most kick but gaming system out there.

The point is that Apple doesn’t even deign to compete in many areas where MS dominates. I know Apple fanboyz hate to admit that, but it’s true. Give Apple its due — it does SOME things exceptional well. But MS does more. And well, too.

Apple Iphone Ipod iTouch iTunes App Store

Win for Apple too.

Zune HD probably a Zune HD Phone Xbox 360/Xbox 720 and Natal Natal for Windows Windows 7 hopefully WM7 integrate Zune Marketplace with Xbox Live Marketplace more integration between gaming, mobile, and music markets.

Win for Microsoft in 2010 and going forward?

Me thinks.

Microsoft is not trying to be like Apple. That would be like saying the NFL is trying to be more like MLS. Sure, YOU might love soccer, and hate American football, but that doesn’t mean anybody else cares. Microsoft is just trying to sell as much product as possible.

If Microsoft wanted to be like Apple, they would have started an ad campaign bragging about how Windows 7 now can copy text from here, and paste it to there! Voila!

SUCK IT

That link is hilarious. Apple’s 70 percent gross margin is in trouble…

This blog is full of opinion pieces. No actual journalism takes place.

wait for the hero or the gsm palm pre.

Check this out: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10288022-37.html

Microsoft is still the 900 pound gorilla in the room and Apple is still the pimple on its butt.

Market share still means something. You can’t dismiss it simply because you have chosen to be Apple centric in your life.

I agree with that. Plus Microsoft have an OS that runs on everything from Large servers to small hand held devices.

The problem is that the just don’t know how to market it, and they are deeply mired in the “good enough” syndrome. Nothing coming from them is amazing and jaw dropping. Its just Good Enough.

At this time, they have nothing to sell in these stores.

My only guess is that:

1) they believe they can make a go in the economic conditions where recovery is expected, and fill a void left by the Circuit City bankruptcy

2) They see the principal hardware vendors sneaking more Linux onto machines, and they see Apple eating into their market share and have decided to significantly change their game plan (and it would be highly significant if they did)

3) they have been watching their own TV ads, and believe an upscale store near apple would bring in lots of shoppers. http://tinyurl.com/kk2uyx Apparently those ads are effective.

But it does look desperate.

Get a deal with Dell and HP to setup trail stations or places where customers can get actual demos and play with stuff with trained staff and not just sales people at Best Buy who know nothing.

There is a lot they could do with these stores even just being a software company at heart. Opening up right next to Apple stores or near them is a good idea. Why no complaints when Walmart opens up near a Kmart or Target? Or when Starbucks opens right next to Dunkin Donuts? What about when Toyota opens a dealer right next to Ford? No one knows what Microsoft’s plans are for these stores, so speculation full of hate and bias is pretty uncalled for IMO.

Microsoft is again entering a business just because Apple or Google is in it.

Like Justin said, I love the pic. BTW, I went there for the first time two nights ago @ 2 o’clock in the morning. It’s nice and spacious.

How many times have you seen a Home Depot built across from a Lowes?