Microsoft Store

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Microsoft opened their first retail store on October 22, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The store's opening coincided with the release of Windows 7 and is designed to compete with rival Apple stores.http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_az_microsoft_store_opening.html
Hundreds of people waited for up to twelve hours to try and snag giveaways, gift bags and specials. Employees cheered for customers who entered the store, greeting them with high-fives while jumping up and down. A video of the celebration quickly spread on YouTube.http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_az_microsoft_store_opening.html
A second store will open in Orange County, California at The Shops at Mission Viejo on October 29, 2009.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2010095393_microsoftstoreopensintheoconoct29.html
Fast Facts
1. First Store Opened: October 22, 2009.
2. First Store Location: Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, Scottsdale, Arizona
3. Second Store Opening: October 29, 2009
4. Second Store Location: The Shops at Mission Viejo, Orange County, California
Comparisons to Apple Store

With the first opening of the Microsoft Store, comparisons were quickly made to the Apple Store. Both stores feature notebooks on wooden rectangular tables and offer a help desk and accessories for sale. The Microsoft Store was built to compete with the Apple Store.
Related Pages on Mahalo

Microsoft | Apple Store | Software Downloads | Microsoft Windows Vista | Microsoft Office | Fable | Gears of War | Halo 3 | Microsoft Windows 7 | Microsoft Songsmith

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Microsoft Store Opening Video

The Microsoft Store opened on October 22, 2009. Employees greeted customers - who had waited for up to twelve hours - with cheers and high fives.

Comments (18)

ml962 added a comment October 22, 2009 10:17 PM
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What do you think of the celebration? Looks a little forced but I am excited to check out the store. What have you heard about Windows 7 so far?

jasoncalacanis added a comment October 22, 2009 10:18 PM
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This store look oddly familiar... I hear that they hired the Apple Store creator. I'm totally excited to have one of these next to every Apple store so I can see a RANGE of products (i.e. monitors, mp3 players, etc) instead of Apple's belief that the only monitor you could ever want is theirs.

What do you think? Would you go to the Microsoft store? (please say if you're a Mac or Windows user)

jbmcconnell added a comment October 22, 2009 10:25 PM
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I think it's great for consumers and will push Apple to be better as well. I look forward to a store opening in Atlanta. I use Windows.

kevitivity added a comment October 22, 2009 10:26 PM
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There is something very odd and creepy about all the forced excitement.

rslakinski added a comment October 22, 2009 10:36 PM
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this is so sad... can they even try to be original? why would I want to buy into a company that is always one or more steps behind their competitor? I'm a mac user

tawni added a comment October 22, 2009 10:37 PM
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I live about 2 hours from the high end shopping mall in Scottsdale where this video was taken. I use both Windows and Mac but there is no way I'll be going there. I'll stick with newegg.

dholowiski added a comment October 22, 2009 10:38 PM
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Well I think it will be clear from people's answers wether they are a windows or mac user (I'm both but guess which is may favourite) - this is obviously a last ditch effort by an increasingly irrelevant OS company to copy the competition. It seemed a little bit creepy to me... if I was a customer and there were hundreds of screaming microsoft employees when I came in the store I'd leave running! Honestly, they had to give away crap to get a lineup... when apple releases a new iphone people get in line for hours, happily, just for the privilege of spending 3 or 4 hundred dollars, and signing a two year contract.

I'm sorry but Microsoft is not pushing Apple to do anything. Who copied who's store? And did you see the laptops on the tables there - who is copying who again?

emilysangk added a comment October 22, 2009 10:40 PM
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I'd go to the store. And while it looks similar, it will probably be less intimidating (at least for me) than going in to the Apple Store especially when you don't know anything about Apple. At least based on my experiences. I use Windows but also an iPhone.

Show 8 more comments...

mgrpowers added a comment October 22, 2009 10:45 PM
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Jason, I am a pc and mac user. If they have a store nearby (San Jose) I would gladly go as an alternative to Frys where I need to take a few aspirin before I go.

darthmega added a comment October 22, 2009 10:55 PM
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Wonder if they'll have the BSOD on their videowall once in a while

wcr added a comment October 22, 2009 10:59 PM
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I'll check out the store the next time I'm down by the Scottsdale Fashion Square. I'm not sure I'll go out of my way to shop there.

sean percival added a comment October 23, 2009 12:24 AM
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finally a toy store for me, the pc :)

nathanholtz added a comment October 23, 2009 12:24 AM
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Personally I am a Windows user. I have used OS X and various flavors of linux. I would definitely go to a Microsoft store assuming that they have enough weight to pull quality employees that know the products better than the typical big box retailer and similar prices.

kefoster added a comment October 23, 2009 03:13 AM
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Did you see the suits at the end of the video. They were solemnly clapping. I wonder if Randolph or Mortimer Duke won the bet.

johnhaden added a comment October 23, 2009 02:28 PM
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I like the idea... and do believe that Microsoft truly has great products i'm a mac and a PC user. But dude..... they totally bit on apple's steez on this one.... MS has bookoo bucks man.... they could have totally done something revolutionary with their store concept... instead they totally ripped off Apple... giving fuel for Apple in yet another future commercial no doubt ! IMHO Microsoft #creativityfail

lisaamorao added a comment October 23, 2009 07:37 PM
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I can't decide which comment to make:

1) "...waited for up to 12 hours to try and snag giveaways, gift bags and specials." If this was an Apple store, it would be "...waited for up to 12 hours to buy products at premium prices, that will most certainly be phased out in 12 months or less."

2) "...high-fives while jumping up and down." I take it they were personally trained by Steve Ballmer himself during his developers dance routine.

3) "...quickly spread on YouTube." Video created by user: MicrosoftStore.

That said, nice store...can't wait to see it next to an Apple store in the near future.

(Apple user)

baroncmiller added a comment October 23, 2009 08:46 PM
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This is an apple-looking Radio Shack. Am I missing something? Is there enough margin in electronics for Microsoft to play and win?

directtv added a comment October 31, 2009 04:25 AM
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Microsoft Store on Twitter Powered by Twitter
- RT @rule29: Just went to 1 of the 2 Microsoft stores in US, the banner says be original, and all I see is Mac Store http://yfrog.com/3day4j
  @jennsutherland | November 08, 2009 06:32 PM
- Just went to 1 of the 2 Microsoft stores in the country, the banner says be original, and all I see is Mac Store http://yfrog.com/3day4j
  @rule29 | November 08, 2009 06:05 PM
- went to the microsoft store...thought it was kind of boring
  @mikebobio | November 08, 2009 04:31 PM
- And @bbisbee ... See my "Why open a Microsoft store in O.C.?" http://j.mp/1BPUO9
  @jonlan | November 08, 2009 03:40 PM
- Microsoft Store Slow to Deliver Windows 7 http://bit.ly/2fR6Rv
  @kieranmansfield | November 08, 2009 02:53 PM
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Questions and Answers About Microsoft Store | View All | Ask a Question

Should Microsoft open a retail store? (3 Answers)
I don't think opening a retail store would ever help the company, especially at this time. Who would go and buy there? Any software almost always have a trial period ... read more

Should I use Microsoft Phishing Filter? (1 Answer)
It won't hurt; however, it does slow things down a bit. I use Firefox myself with NoScript. So most of the phishing is done through cross site scripting attacks. The ... read more

Why is Microsoft increasing is debt balance? (1 Answer)
I think it makes sense to increase your debt load if you expect the return on your debt will earn more than the interest rate you are paying out. Microsoft ... read more

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Microsoft Store Blogs and Commentaries
- Trevin Chow: Introducing the Microsoft Store US (November 13, 2008)