Microsoft's store opening garners a crowd
Apparently it's not only Apple that knows how to draw people in for a store opening.
Microsoft managed to draw more than 1,000 people to its Mission Viejo, Calif., store opening, although some were drawn less by Windows 7 and more by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber (above).
(Credit: Microsoft)Thursday's opening of a Microsoft Store in Mission Viejo, Calif., drew some 1,000 people, according to the Orange County Register. The store is Microsoft's second, after a Scottsdale, Ariz., outlet that opened last week.
Aliso Viejo resident Stefanie Tran waited almost a full day for the opening, according to the paper, although that was mainly to score tickets to a performance by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber at 5 p.m. Thursday. Tickets were given to those first in line at the store.
Beyond the occasional pop star, the store features a video wall, several Surface tabletop computers, as well as the ability to buy Microsoft Signature PCs--computers from Sony, Dell, HP, and others that feature a clean desktop, no "crapware," as well as the complete collection of Windows Live software.
Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner, who oversees the retail effort, was among those on hand for Thursday's opening.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina. 
When you are poking fun at the Apple employees, keep in mind, that 99% of all Microsoft advertisements are created on a Mac.
The world is big and both systems have place in it.
if I want to receive customer service and knowledgable staff who want my business for Apple products, I'll go to The Mac Store chain instead. There's a HUGE difference in customer service.
If I want to read childish and inane comments, I'll just read yours, THS.
MS hires an ad agency to advertise MS products. MS doesn't tell them what kind of software to use to produce those ads nor could they. If it is 99%, I want to see the actual numbers and research so I can KNOW that this is true and not some number grabbed out of the air.
Apple runs their own stores and provides their employees with the tools needed to do their jobs and run their stores. It's their choice of what kind of hardware and software to give their employees to use. That's quite different than hiring a third party company.
It would be like DeWalt building a hardware store that sells only DeWalt. They hire a construction company to build the store but they can't tell the construction company to not use Makita tools to build it. But once it's built, if they outfit their employees with Makita drills in order to do their job that would show a lack of trust in their own products.
Unless you have evidence of THS being bought off or paid to post, then that's just speculation without any truth behind it.
THS has accused me of being paid by Microsoft when it's clear (at least to my bank account) that this is not the case. I called THS on it to provide the evidence- they haven't. To be fair, I would have to ask you to provide the same evidence that THS is being paid to post here.
Ugh! Sometimes it's just so hard to defend Microsoft. The company is like that friend you have to keep reminding others "is really a good guy."
**grins**
As foe buying a "clean" computer...I got one. No bloatware, no crapware, no problems, nice, clean, and fast.
It's a Mac. :D
I suppose this is just another thing that the MSFT store 'copied' from Apple?
An interview locally done at the Arizona store opening indicated some of the people there were only in line to get the goodies and were intending to sell them on eBay before the day was out.
That's just sad people would wait in line to do that.
I don't see any problem with thanking people who are obviously enthusiastic about Microsoft.
People are obviously excited about it regardless of the free stuff. I don't see why there is so much hate.
The big Softie will burn you ANY PC game in their catalog while you shop and print all the inserts too.
No boxes to stock !
Having QuickSand problems too...Sux to be Apple lately.
stupid comment! How many people did download online? ezzz! clean! I got 5 computers installed with win7. Bloatware??
And please note that while Apple does things well, they are really no more original than Microsoft. What "New" never before-seen technology have they invented? PMPs were available long before the Ipod. Tablet PC's with touchscreens have been available for years and Apple is just releasing one. Guess that makes them a copycat. Smartphones, Laptops, All-in-Ones, Touchscreen Displays.... Apple did well on their own version, but did they invent them?
Oh and as for the free stuff, Apple is just as guilty when their stores opened. It's called Marketing and is a side-effect of Capitalism. If you think its wrong, I think there are a few Communist countries you can move too. There they can tell you what to buy, how much it will cost and where to buy it.
there are no Microsoft stores outside of the US
- by myles taylor October 30, 2009 10:43 PM PDT
- I'm curious as to how many people would have been there without the celebrity.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(38 Comments)I still don't get the appeal over a Microsoft store vs Best Buy or some resellers. Microsoft is stabbing all the people who have been outlets for their products in the back.