Appletell

Computers.  Displays.  Cell phones.  Music players.  Online music.  Storage.  Networking.  Apple is already in a ton of markets, many of which, unfortunately, are tightly tied together.  However, Apple is still a relatively young company and can branch out so much more.  The questions is, if at all, where?  Will they enter the digital camera market?  The gaming market?  The GPS and auto market?  Or maybe even video cameras?  It could be any of the above, especially given the fact that Apple has applied for so many patents lately.  It will be interesting to find out, but heres my thoughts:

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With recent news of Microsoft opening up retail stores, it got me thinking.  Why?  Microsoft already has its OS available in almost every technology retail store there is, and you can get a Xbox 360 or Zune in almost all of these places, too.  Sure, it would be great to specifically promote your own brand and give consumers another store to shop at, but would it just fight for sales with the many stores that already sell Microsoft products?  If you ask me, Microsoft doesn’t really even make enough products themselves to make the store interesting enough.  They have the Zune, 360, their OS, and some peripherals, but how interesting could a store with just this really become (unless they have 360 game competitions, that is)?  All I could see these stores really being good for is maybe a cheaper alternative to Best Buy’s Geek Squad.  Maybe I’m missing something, but I just don’t think a Microsoft store could create quite the community the Apple stores are so famous for.

Apple stores offer an experience like no other.  They are full of life, learning, and, of course, awesome products.  If you ask me, Apple stores aren’t just stores.  With the Genius Bar, One on One Lessons, and daily help sessions, they are full of activity other than just buying.  They don’t pressure you to buy products, they make you WANT to buy the product.  They make people like me and you get excited about visiting them and cause you to want to come back.  I just can’t see a Microsoft store doing this.  I don’t know why, it just seems like it would be sort of dull.

Do you think a store made by Microsoft is just what they need to get back on track after the Vista disappointment, or would it be a waste of money?