The PasteBoard

I've seen this from a few sources such as TUAW, AppleInsider and the Macalope so I thought I would go and do a quick bit of research for a less partisan view so I promptly checked out the blog of Paul Thurrott, a well known Microsoft follower (some call him other names but I won't stoop that low) and not a sausage. Kinda surprised at that so I did the Google thing and came up with some other alternatives. The New York Times and PC Mag seemed likely sources amongst others.

So is this true and more accurately is it a good thing for both Microsoft as a company and us as consumers? Microsoft have two main markets they want to aim at. The general domestic/consumer and the business community which is particularly Microsoft's bread and butter. We here in the BMG have Microsoft products both in server and client forms. So does this have a particular impact on our business if this were to happen?

Nope. Not one bit.

It really is largely irrelevant. So what's the point? That is why I decided to have a wee delve and see what the craic was.

There seems to be a fairly mixed reaction and to be honest some of the opinions left me back to the position I originally started with which was my own initial reaction to it all.

So, first reaction was that this was just another Apple MeMe and to be honest was a bit brassed off at the whole, here we go on the imitation path again. However, I did think about it some more and tried to be a tad more objective than the old knee jerk reaction.

The economy is going down the crapper, of that there is no doubt and while some may doubt the sanity of Microsoft going into this venture at this time I for one welcome it from a purely economic point of view. Shopping Centre Managers particularly across the USA will be breathing a sigh of relief and hoping that Microsoft will fire a store their way. As well as that they will of course be employing people which will pump lots of Redmond's millions into local economies in the form of salaries. There is nothing negative in any of that.

However, Microsoft are not a charity, that much is certain, so they will be doing this purely from the perspective advancing their business. I still foresee problems as well as opportunities.

The opportunities are a way in which Microsoft can give a more positive spin on their product line particularly for domestic consumers. Like I said before, this really is going to be largely irrelevant to the business community. Microsoft really does need to get a positive message to the ordinary man and woman in the street after the perception people now have of Windows Vista. The current message is a negative one whether you think Vista is great or not. Apple have played a part in that but Microsoft have shot themselves so often in the foot over the last number of years the only way they can correct this is by being more proactive about it.

So what is going to be in his store? Why Microsoft products of course! All flavours of Windows but do they do the enterprise server stuff in there as well? Is that sexy enough for a retail store? Microsoft also do other software products with the obvious Microsoft Office springing to mind. Again, is that sexy enough for a retail store? Surely that smacks more of, well I use that in work and I really don't want to be reminded of having to do a spreadsheet. They are also big into the gaming market and have a good range of product even for Macs with the wonderful Age of Empires I enjoy so much. They also produce some hardware the most simple being mice and keyboards but remember they also have Xboxes and all their related devices and games and then their is the Zune. Their own retail experience makes the sell on that more isolated and less comparisons to be had with other products, even those that are supposed to be more Windows friendly.

The other advantage here is that with future consumer orientated products they have a better opportunity to get the message out the door.

That's as far as it goes. The main issue is that is there an inherent impetus that would make you and me go into a Microsoft Store? Microsoft lacks the "cool factor", whatever that is. Are they really going to try and emulate the Apple buying experience to the point of having the Apple Genius in their own Genius Bar equivalent? If so, I seriously pity the poor saps that will have that role.

Hi Mr Guru/Wizard or Whatever, my computer is riddled with viruses and spyware, Windows takes half an hour to start up, I get this really strange pop up every time I start up the computer and something called the system registry seems to require a bit of work, what do you think mate?

Good luck with that.

What hardware are they going to use to show off the Windows ecosystem? Whatever they choose it will annoy all the other hardware manufacturers. There is a no win situation here. Some hardware vendor is going to be annoyed. People don't want to see a word processor in a retail experience, they want the sexy stuff so Microsoft needs to have the sexy stuff in showing how your digital pictures and videos can be used to their best effect. The comparisons with iLife are obvious but I have seen nothing that merges and works together as well in the Windows world.

With Xbox they stand a chance of doing something interesting and in there I think they have the best chance of showing something interesting.

The Zune can get a better leg up but it seriously lacks the same third part economy that the iPod has and that will be the weakest link.

Is Microsoft's Windows Mobile going to blow the opposition away? That is a really big stretch.

Ultimately they have so many difficulties to overcome it really is a daunting task and as it stands now I am not sure that they have the product line that will make it the same standard of success that Apple have made and that is where they are always going to be compared. Will these stores increase profits and bring in new customers.

It is when these stores have been around for at least two years and this sort of information is known will we be able to declare the Microsoft Store a success or not. At best it will keep the status quo and provide the outlets that are so badly disappearing with Circuit City and Best Buy entering hard times or receivership.

Give me a shout about this in a couple of years and let's see how this all pans out.