Hands-On with the All-New Microsoft Retail Experience

By Monica Vila

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of visiting the Microsoft store at the Time Warner Center in New York City. I was there with a team of bloggers who were specifically invited to experience first-hand Microsoft’s new approach to retailing.

From day one, visiting a Microsoft store has always been great way to get hands-on with Xbox, as well as PCs and laptops from third party manufacturers such as HP, Dell, Acer and Lenovo. But they have now been joined by a growing array of mobile devices, including Windows Phones and the ground-breaking family of Surface tablets.

Microsoft stores have always encouraged relaxed browsing, backed up by a courteous and knowledgeable staff that is always on hand when you need a little help. One of the strengths of the app-driven, touchscreen world that we now live in is the opportunity to experiment and get an instant feel for how responsive and user-friendly each device can be. This immersive approach is at the heart of the new Microsoft retail experience.

While I was at the Time Warner Center, I had the opportunity to check out Surface Pro 3, which combines the power and performance of a laptop with the convenience and portability of a classic tablet. One criticism of tablets is that they are not good devices for traditional work tasks but Surface Pro 3 comes with Windows 8.1 Pro, which means you can install all your favorite desktop software, including the full Microsoft Office Suite.

Of course a visit to a Microsoft store wouldn’t be complete without a few minutes in front of an Xbox One. At the Time Warner Center, I was able to experience the uncanny realism of Forza Horizon 2 and Madden NFL 15 – just two of the hundreds of single and multiplayer games that are available for this latest generation console.

Microsoft has about 100 retail experience outlets in North America, including about 70 walk-in stores. These will joined next year by a flagship store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. As well as browsing the latest desktop and mobile devices, customers can schedule a Personal Training session or meet one-on-one with an Answer Desk expert to get solutions to specific problems.

If you haven’t been to a Microsoft store yet, be sure to check it out. Whether you are a die-hard techie or you’re just looking for a little advice, you won’t be disappointed!

I received a fee for participating in a promotional program for Microsoft. All opinions are my own.

Comments:

  1. Thanks to my father who stated to me on the topic of this web site,
    this webpage is genuinely awesome.

  2. Greetings! Very useful advice within this article!
    It is the little changes that make the greatest changes.
    Thanks a lot for sharing!

  3. Hello, after reading this awesome piece of writing i am too happy to share my
    know-how here with friends.

  4. Whats up this is kinda of off topic but I was wanting to know if
    blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML.
    I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding skills
    so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly
    appreciated!

  5. Why viewers still make use of to read news papers when in this
    technological world the whole thing is existing on net?

  6. you’re truly a good webmaster. The site loading speed is incredible.
    It sort of feels that you’re doing any unique trick. Also, The contents are
    masterwork. you have done a magnificent activity on this topic!

  7. Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after
    I clicked submit my comment didn’t show up. Grrrr…

    well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway,
    just wanted to say wonderful blog!

  8. Howdy are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own.
    Do you require any html coding expertise to make your own blog?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  9. When someone writes an paragraph he/she maintains the image of a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
    So that’s why this paragraph is great. Thanks!

  10. Hi i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere,
    when i read this piece of writing i thought i could also make comment due to
    this brilliant paragraph.

  11. This is my first time go to see at here and i am genuinely impressed to
    read everthing at one place.

  12. Hi, i read your blog occasionally and i own a similar one and i
    was just curious if you get a lot of spam feedback?
    If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can suggest?
    I get so much lately it’s driving me insane so any assistance is
    very much appreciated.

  13. Your style is very unique in comparison to other people I’ve read stuff from.
    I appreciate you for posting when you have
    the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this blog.

  14. Hello there I am so glad I found your website, I really found you
    by mistake, while I was searching on Aol for something else,
    Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a marvelous post and a all
    round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to
    browse it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have
    time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome work.

  15. What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely helpful and it
    has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me.

    Great job.

  16. Wonderful blog! I found it while searching on Yahoo News.
    Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo
    News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
    Appreciate it

  17. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly
    donate to this outstanding blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your
    RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will talk about this site with my Facebook group.
    Talk soon!

  18. I really love your site.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you develop this
    web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m attempting to create my very own website and would love to
    learn where you got this from or exactly what the theme is called.
    Cheers!

  19. This paragraph offers clear idea in support of the new visitors of blogging, that really how
    to do blogging and site-building.

  20. I think this is one of the most important information for me.

    And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The site style is ideal, the articles is really nice : D.
    Good job, cheers

  21. I like the helpful information you supply in your articles.
    I will bookmark your weblog and check once more right
    here frequently. I’m somewhat sure I’ll learn lots of new stuff right
    here! Good luck for the next!

  22. For the reason that the admin of this website is working, no
    question very soon it will be well-known, due to its quality contents.

  23. Hello! I’ve been following your site for a long time now and finally
    got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Texas!
    Just wanted to mention keep up the fantastic work!

  24. It’s perfect time to make a few plans for the long run and
    it’s time to be happy. I have learn this post and if I may just
    I want to suggest you some interesting things or advice.

    Perhaps you can write subsequent articles regarding this article.
    I desire to read even more things about it!

  25. Hi there would you mind letting me know which hosting
    company you’re working with? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers
    and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
    Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at
    a reasonable price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

  26. Hello this is kind of of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors
    or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get guidance from someone
    with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!

  27. Hi there terrific blog! Does running a blog like this require a great deal of work?
    I’ve absolutely no knowledge of programming but I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyhow, should you
    have any ideas or techniques for new blog owners please share.
    I understand this is off topic however I just wanted to ask.
    Thanks a lot!

  28. If some one wishes to be updated with most up-to-date technologies therefore he must be pay a visit this web site and be up to date
    every day.

  29. Attractive component of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and
    in accession capital to claim that I get in fact loved
    account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing
    in your augment or even I achievement you get entry to constantly fast.

  30. Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
    There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your
    content. Please let me know. Many thanks

  31. Do you have a spam problem on this blog; I also am a blogger,
    and I was wanting to know your situation; we have developed some nice practices and we are looking to swap strategies
    with other folks, please shoot me an email if interested.

  32. I visited multiple websites except the audio quality for audio songs existing at this web site is genuinely marvelous.

  33. I will immediately take hold of your rss as I
    can’t in finding your email subscription hyperlink
    or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please allow me
    recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.

  34. Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to protect against hackers?
    I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any recommendations?

  35. Simply want to say your article is as amazing. The clearness for your post is simply nice and i can assume you’re an expert in this subject.
    Fine along with your permission allow me to snatch your RSS feed to
    keep updated with drawing close post. Thanks one million and please
    continue the gratifying work.

  36. I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with
    the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
    Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see
    a nice blog like this one these days.

  37. Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
    you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site
    is excellent, as well as the content!

  38. It’s perfect time to make some plans for the future and
    it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few
    interesting things or tips. Perhaps you can write next
    articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things
    about it!

  39. Wonderful site you have here but I was wondering if you
    knew of any community forums that cover the same
    topics talked about in this article? I’d really love to be a part of community
    where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable individuals that share
    the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me
    know. Kudos!

  40. Hey! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask.
    Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest
    writing a blog post or vice-versa? My site discusses a lot
    of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other.
    If you might be interested feel free to send me an email.

    I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by the way!

  41. With havin so much written content do you ever run into any
    issues of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced
    but it appears a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my permission. Do you know any ways
    to help reduce content from being stolen? I’d really
    appreciate it.

  42. You really make it seem really easy together with your presentation but I in finding this topic to be actually one
    thing that I think I might by no means understand. It
    sort of feels too complicated and extremely large for me.
    I’m having a look forward on your next put up, I will try to get the dangle of it!

  43. I have learn a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for
    revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to make any
    such great informative website.

  44. Animal Porn Me. Stream high-quality videos for free, enjoy our
    daily updates, do whatever. There’s a countless number of hot videos featuring raw animal fucking.
    here zoo, If you love zoo sex, bestiality and zoophile sluts – you’re going to love your stay on our animal sex tube.
    All the forbidden/taboo clips have never been more.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *