Microsoft Store looked copied, Tech guys are
better dressed and shaved, but Surface is NO iPad or Kindle
So, let me start with my background. I am a
Microsoft tech guy who owns everything Microsoft except Apple iPhone and iPad. So
besides iPhone and iPad, anything Microsoft release I tried to get my hands on
it.
On Oct 26, Microsoft announced Surface
tablet. Microsoft also announced opening of its Microsoft
stores all over the US and yesterday, I had a chance to visit the Christiana Mall,
Delaware Microsoft Store and picked up the new Surface RT Tablet.
Let's start with the store.
I loved Microsoft's new logo. It's all colorful light
up logo. Very nice!
“New Microsoft Store Logo looks very cool!”
Store looks very clean and modern, similar to
Apple. I didn't see anything special that is not like Apple stores. Bamn! I think it is a big mistake to copy Microsoft Store off of Apple Store. That shows how much creativity Microsoft folks really have. If I was
Microsoft, I would have come with some better designs and ideas.
Store wasn't quite packed as I expected. It looked busy but there were not too many customers like I would usually see at an Apple Store.
OK, here is something different. Next to the
Microsoft store, Apple is (covered) building its new Apple Store. I heard that
Apple's new stores will be totally different. What does that mean? Will Apple
make Microsoft store look old and cold?
Anyway, I got a warm welcome by a tech
guy or should I call it a sales guy. I didn't see a “Genius Bar” so that was a
good news. Apple calls its tech guys geniuses. Well, if they were really geniuses, there
won't be working at a store. The tech guy was good. He was smart enough to slip
in his survey while talking to me about new surface and setting it up like –
Are you married? Do you have any kids? Have you used Windows 8 before? How much
do you know about Surface?
“Microsoft Store looks a copy of an Apple Store.”
Purchasing and setting up the Surface Tablet took about 10 minutes
and I was able to use my existing Windows 8 account and got my all settings on
Surface tablet.
Overall, Store and the buying process was
smooth.
I asked about Windows 8 Pro but that wasn't
available at the time. The guy replied, “It will be coming in next 3 to 6
months”.
I came home and my son asked, what is this? I
said, “this is new tablet similar to iPad but from Microsoft”.
I opened my new toy and this is the reaction I
got.
“Is this Kindle”
“This is wired looking”
“This is not balanced in vertical and horizontal
views”
“This is too bulky”
“Oh, this looks like a kindle laptop”.
I gave it to my son to play with it. He
is used to Windows 8 so he knows what he is doing.
Obviously, Surface is NO iPad. Surface is no
Kindle either but both iPad and Kindle has become a household name and Microsoft
may be too little too late in the game. The game I am talking about the home
users, the kids and everybody else but tech and business guys.
“Surface is NO iPad or Kindle.”
After that, I started using it and got bored
very quickly.
I do not like it using as a tablet. It does not
look like tablet. To be frank, it is too bulky and unfriendly to hold as a
Tablet. I remember, Apple CEO Tim Cook said,
Surface is a compromised and confused product. I kind of agree with him.
Microsoft may be thinking to push it to home users but “Good Luck”. I
personally don't see it being used and/or liked by an average mom or a 10 year
old.
“Microsoft is too late in the Tablets game.”
While Windows 8 as an operating system make it
familiar and Office documents and Outlook makes it more usable for business
users but it will have hard time flying in the households.
If you want to learn more about Surface Tablet,
here are detailed
specs.
After Microsoft store visit, I went to the Apple Store. As expected, it was packed. I asked for an iPhone 5 but they still don't have it.