Updated 12-09

Even though my retail years are probably behind me I still look at displays with a critical eye.

This was the scene at my local Target store and I'm going to make notes about how Apple designs it's displays verses Microsoft.

Anyone who has looked at Apple's products knows that presentation is important. This extends into its retail displays as well. When you're in a retailer that is outside of your direct control such as what we have pictured here one needs to take pains to make certain 'you' are displayed neatly, symmetrically and in a way that isn't cluttered.

Take the Zune display on the left, uncluttered certainly, but there is no symmetry, and it has no forgone 'facing' that keeps it neat. Basically it requires that the store employees maintain it several times a day for it to look good. Those are aspects that are very rarely found in most retailers, let alone a discounter. The information packets are gone, an empty acrylic stand sits behind the askew display which is _also_ missing it's 'insert'. It sits atop a tattered black PVC shelf liner that shows dust terribly. Basically this is a CHEAP display and it shows. It speaks volumes, silently, as to what value is found in the product.

The Apple display on the other paw is neat, uncluttered and symmetrical. Other than an occasional dusting of the acrylic cover the display needs no maintenance to keep it 'speaking' well to all that pass it.

The last item is placement. Customers commonly walk through a store 'counter clockwise' in the US. The Apple display sits on the gondola end that faces the main walkway that can be seen as people walk through, the Zune display is on the back, next to a clearance end cap. Is Microsoft not willing to pay for better placement?

Hopefully for MS, their display design in their new shopping mall stores will have a LOT more forethought 'cause if this is their idea as to how to run retail their own stores are going to flounder.

Marked mature for a nearly naked Zune display.

Update: Well no reason to worry about the Zune display. Target appears to have dropped the product in favour of the Sony electronic book readers. Plus my heartfelt statement that MS's stores will have to be better was proven, though not as I expected. Having looked at one, it largely appears they copied pretty freely from Apple's stores instead of creating their own retail identity :/