My Microsoft Store and Surface Experience

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.

2 Comments

Join the conversation! Your thoughts help the community grow.

Mahesh Chand14y ago
:) Well, we are not here to help Surface sales guy. Are we? Our goal is talk about technology and what we think about it. No matter what product and what company
Suthish Nair14y ago
good blog.. but this review not helpful for a surface sales guy..