The Mac Observer

Saks Teams with Microsoft for Holiday Display

November 25th, 2009 at 8:40 AM - News by Jeff Gamet

Microsoft teamed up with Saks Fifth Avenue for the upscale New York retailer's annual holiday display. Windows 7 is being used to drive displays showing off the annual Saks children's Christmas book, and holiday tweets, too.

Along with the window display, Microsoft set up in-store lounges where shoppers can check out Windows 7 and get their Windows hardware and software questions answered.

Microsoft's in-store lounge

Microsoft is using the annual holiday window display and lounges to help promote the recent launch of Windows 7 during the busiest shopping time of the year.

While Microsoft's team up with Saks could help foster some good will for Windows 7, the company also unintentionally created tech war thanks to the live Twitter stream showing in store's display windows.

Any tweet including the #holidaywindows hash tag will appear in the stream, and the feed has already become a Mac versus Windows battleground. Tweets with messages such as "Get the Apple Mac and Have a wonderful holiday season," "Windows 7: Welcome to the 1990s," and "We also love our Macs in the UK" have been appearing in the stream.

Windows users are firing back with their own holiday wishes, too, with comments like "Windows has 90% of the Market, Macs about 4% shows you just how good Windows is and Windows 7 is the best."

Emotions tend to run hot during the holiday season, but it's a good bet that Microsoft and Saks didn't expect that to overflow into a live platform war in the display windows.

3 Observer Comments

Looks like Microsoft and Saks underestimated just how far Mac and Windows users will go to promote their platform of choice. I’m wondering if Saks will cut the Twitter feed if the OS war continues.

   Actions Bosco (Brad Hutchings) said on November 25th, 2009 at 10:21 AM (Edited: 04/13/2010 11:19 AM):

What a great use of Twitter! But come on Jeff! Any article that brings Saks and Microsoft together needs a quote from or at least a mention of Ballmer.

But come on Jeff! Any article that brings Saks and Microsoft together needs a quote from or at least a mention of Ballmer.

Ha! Yeah, that was our bad, Bosco. smile

And I agree that this is a super awesome use of Twitter.

Login. Need an account? Register here.



Auto-login on future visits

Show my name in the online users list

Forgot your password?


Commenting is not available in this section entry.
 

Recent Headlines - Updated September 9th

Wed, 4:51 PM
Product News - Apple Releases iPhone Configuration Utility 3.1
3:55 PM
Tips - iOS 4.1: Digging Past The Release Notes
3:44 PM
Product News - iMovie 1.1 Adds 4th Gen iPod touch Support
3:07 PM
How-To - Up and Running with Game Center
1:01 PM
Product News - Apple Releases iOS 4.1
11:32 AM
News - Oracle Calls HP Lawsuit “Vindictive”
10:56 AM
News - iFixit Guts 4th Gen iPod shuffle
10:37 AM
TMO Appearances - Ted Landau Discusses iPods, Apple TV, Ping on MacNotables
10:05 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Forum Poll: When Will You Install iOS 4.1?
9:38 AM
Apple Stock Watch - Analyst: iPad Sales Could Top 28M in 2011
9:02 AM
Product News - MobileMe iDisk Update Improves Keynote Support
8:47 AM
Product News - Find My iPhone Adds New iPod touch Support
 

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Read TMO on Kindle

  • TMO on Twitter!

Apple Stock Quote

  • AAPL: $262.92. Change: 0.00.
  • (Prices delayed up to 20 minutes.)
  • Discuss in our Apple Finance Board

Hot Topics

TMO Express

Join the TMO Express Daily Newsletter to get the latest Mac headlines in your e-mail every weekday. Find out more!

Top Deals From DealBrothers.com

Recent Features

Support The Mac Observer

We noticed you may be running AdBlock on your computer. It takes real money to run this site and to deliver the news, tips, and opinions you love to read.

If you wish to block the ads that pay for the creation of our content, we ask that you instead support TMO Directly, either with a $5 monthly recurring contribution, or a one-time donation of any amount of your choice. Thanks!

Subscribe with Paypal Donate with Paypal