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WSJ Personal Technology columnist Walt Mossberg weighs in on Microsoft Signature.
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We'll be back to thank you very much but right now the Walt Mossberg who's actually giving people -- reason to jump for joy today which is why we like to have -- dot.
He says that gives -- Microsoft signature series could create a better experience for PC users and that's in his column today in the journal and he joins us now from DC all things digital always good to see you.
-- double take -- you know it's like Microsoft going apple but with their stores but explain to us 'cause I don't think everybody knows what Microsoft signature it is.
What think almost -- He knows and Connell one and depth and by the way I think just not talking about Greek banks makes me and it I think -- jump for joy -- -- -- -- So here's the deal and this is not a new product I often do new products but this is not new it's just.
Practically unknown.
And what it is is.
You know for years.
Its senior senior people at Microsoft have been really.
Kind of annoyed at their hardware partners.
HP's the Sony's the Samsung's the Acer's.
The -- everybody because they tend in -- opinion of the Microsoft.
Folks they tend not to present windows in the best slight -- clutter the desktop.
With what I like to call crap blitz you know.
All kinds of icons for things you may not want you may not need -- -- just adds some -- utilities that duplicate what's in windows.
And the net result is that kind of bogs down the machine in and so forth.
So Microsoft has a chain of stores that are kind of like apple stores and -- like you to say that but they are kind of like apple stores and there or only sixteen of them they're mostly.
Not entirely but mostly in the west.
And that means that for large parts of country people of never seen one -- -- one but if you do go on one.
They sell a wide variety PCs.
-- -- all these different companies but there's a difference.
They have modified the PC not the hardware but the software they have a team of engineers and they created something called signature.
Which is a combination of a clean desk top -- at a clean start menu taskbar all those things -- -- lots of settings that they change.
To make the thing easier to navigate.
Much cleaner take away duplication and increase the speed of the machine okay and without without charging more.
-- question I have about it and sat out of PCN.
I guess it depends who made it but because I know your columns and HP you know they're pretty good even without this but is this worth it for somebody.
Well doesn't cost you anymore so if you go until Microsoft's during her look of for a new PC.
You really paying about the same as you'd pay at Best Buy -- Some other store where these things are so but you're getting a much cleaner experience now if you prefer.
What.
Sony or Samsung or somebody is put on the machine the things that -- -- doesn't like.
And that I don't like a lot of people don't like what many should -- -- -- best five that you combine at the -- up store.
Or they're online store get this signature treatment.
And not paying more.
There's a second aspect to this which -- you can take your own current PC your Windows 7 PC.
Bring it into -- Microsoft store if you live near one.
And -- they will charge you 99 dollars to turned it into -- signature.
Version of your machine this clean it up -- right speeded up an aunt and all of that is that worth it.
I think it depends -- mean for a lot of people who were annoyed -- -- -- feel with starts up too slowly.
Stuff like that maybe a hundred dollars could be worth -- are but the but the main point is the new PCs they sell.
There's no price premium on them -- that is a good point and it's also the point the not a lot of people.
Knew about this but they will now that it's been in Walt column in the journal thanks for coming -- as always.
