Dumb Idea of the Day Microsoft to go Bricks and Mortar Retail Monday, February 16th, 2009
In this century and in this economy what a shockingly bad business idea.
It would appear Microsoft is planning to sell computers (what an original concept) at their own retail outlets.
Apple who Microsoft are trying to emulate here have retail stores because they develop their own hardware and software and have exclusivity on both.
I find it really odd that Microsoft are laying off 5000 staff and yet expanding into retail for what can only be prestige or pseudo marketing reasoning.
What are they going to do? Convince the public on Windows Vista, individually one at a time.
If we managed the last 20 years without a Microsoft Store why do we need one now? If this is such a good idea why didn’t anyone at Microsoft implement this before.
Apple has the Genius bar in their stores where you can go talk to an Apple expert. I wonder what Microsoft’s equivalent will be called.
My money is on the Microsoft Magicians.
I think BillG needs to stop unleashing mosquitoes on unsuspecting TED delegates and start asking what on earth Redmond is playing at.
