The Economy: PERSONAL OBSERVATION

[nadinbrzezinski]

so I went over to the mall today, mostly I wanted to check the NEW Microsoft store, four store fronts from the Mac store... and yes you can see how much Microsoft ahem borrowed from Mac... that said, here is what matters. People I have not seen that mall that full in a while. Finding parking was not easy...

Oh and before somebody says it, well people were just looking around... nope, people were walking around with bags... and that includes coming out of the TWO, or is it three (Sony Store is also at the same mall) electronics stores.

No, they did not have special sales, so I'd say that at least locally this is definitely starting to show signs of life. Realize this is my observation from my LOCAL mall... but if what I saw today holds... well people ARE starting to consume. Oh and speaking of consumption, Microsoft is releasing a new gaming rig... you heard it here fist. I could have picked a free T-Shirt, but did not want to wait, truly... I have discovered I don't have patience no more.

[SunsetDreams]

1. That's great to hear, ty for sharing nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Oh you welcome

I was actually surprised, pleasantly surprised.

[bluestateguy]

3. I do think consumers are coming back

But jobs are coming back painfully slowly.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. They are actually connected to a point

but what can I say?

But part of the problem is that many of those jobs will not truly come back until we have a policy change and I ain't holding my breath on that one...

[napi21]

5. Buesnisss willnot hire until consumption returns & demands it.

I think businesses are still afraid of a double dip recession & they don't want to hire untill they don't have any choice.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Why they depend on each other.

[Mimosa]

7. I hope Microssoft storefronts pose a competitive threat to Apple

Mac prices are too high considering they are using slave labour to assemble products.

I've always used Mac, and don't know PC. I wouldn't mind switching but the mac interface is easier for me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. I hope you understand that

Microsoft uses the exact same slave labor. So it don't matter if this the EEPC that you can buy at MS storefront for 499 or the IPAD four store front down, for 499... they are at times produced in the same factory Don't get me started on the X-Box, or the keyboards, made at the same factories.

Here is the deal, both Microsoft AND Mac are distributors... PERIOD.

Leave the brand loyalty, and realize that ugly reality.

Oh and I will say this about MS... they need to get a little creative. When even the T-Shirts and name tags are the same...

[Mimosa]

9. Thanks for the info

I've never bought any I-phones, I-pods or gadgets. Just laptops. :)

And i wish I could buy products made by working people in America, even if they cost more at first. ;)

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. They were at one time

I got an IPOD that I use as a book reader, music (rarely), and chiefly an organizer to keep me on task.

We have a macbook, since I needed to replace my lappie when Windows Vista was all the "rage," and after a few months of fighting and downgrading the Gaming Rig, I decided I did not want to fight the OS. We all agree Vista is buggy as hell. For reasons that have to do with where I travel from time to time we also got a netbook, a cheap netbook... it is a safety matter. The Mac is a risk in certain quarters of the world. Windows 7 is behaving, but I'd be happy as a clam using a linux box too. See how loyal I am, NOT.

I stopped being loyal a while ago, and the more I read into globalization, the sicker it gets.

The Gap hires the same factory as I don't Hilfinger, to get the same item of clothing out for two different markets. So they literally share the workers in two different shifts.

The one that got me going was the following, fourteen year old kids in the Philippines that build drives for Sea Gate. Well it is a high tech job, more or less, requiring a clean room and everything. The kids will never learn how to write, do math, or use a computer.

That is putting the class issue in full force.

Suffice it to say the price of labor is NOT the reason they leave... that's the excuse. The reason is all the externalities companies are able to ignore, such as environmental laws.

There are many articles in both scholarly and non scholarly journals on this. And it is sick.

[Knight Hawk]

11. Shopping or shop lifting?

What were they using for money? Almost everyone I know here in central Florida is hurting ??????????//

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. They were spending money

and not just at the cheap stores either... Macy's, Nordstroms... (which was full by the way, to my surprise)... Sony, Mac, Microsoft, were packed, and people were walking out with fancy logo bags (I am bad, these days I refuse the fancy bags, don't care where)

Recovery will be spotty in some places, while others emerge faster.

[Jkid]

13. The new gaming rig you mentioned by Microsoft is acutally a remodel of the Xbox 360

It's called the Xbox 360 S

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. No, it was one were you are the controller

think of the WII, perhaps that is why I wasn't too impressed. Yes, it is cool that the camera tracks you and that you can control game play that way. Hey, I admit it, will get Junior OFF the couch... but not impressed enough to wait to get a commercial to wear... aka the T-SHIRT. Have I become way too cynical?

X.Box Kinetic was the name of it... and I stood in line for ten minutes and then went fuck it!

Of course in the cyberpunk world and big brother... don't want to even think about it.

Oh and here is the linky to the obligatory news release

http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2010/jun10/06-14E3UmbrellaPR.mspx