[dandelany]

So the author walked into a Microsoft store and asked about their competitor's product, and the retail employees didn't have much to say... And this is news? You don't think I'd get a similar response if I walked into a Reebok store and asked them about the new Nike Air Jordans?

[aasarava]

I think the point is more that Apple understands that its retail employees are the public face of Apple. They are, figuratively, part of the PR department. So they train their "geniuses" to always be friendly and helpful.

Microsoft on the other hand may not understand this (though it's just a sample size of one.) In any case, this store manager lost a great opportunity to show his store to a journalist and get some press.