Microsoft Visitor Center

15010 NE 36th St, Redmond, WA 98052, USA

Related:	monrovia movie theater
Address:	15010 NE 36th St, Redmond, WA 98052, USA
Phone:	+1 425-703-6214
Site:	microsoft.com
Rating:	4.4
Working:	11AM–7PM 9AM–4PM 9AM–3:30PM 9AM–7PM 9AM–7PM Closed Closed

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 9

Shaun Wilson

Ive been here many times, as I lead tour groups. They are always disappointed. Then again, why does Microsoft need a visitors center when everyone already knows about them?! So, its a nice gesture - at best. Here is a basic rundown of what to expect: There is a quick museum style window with a timeline of a few items including the atari and VHS stuff. Then there is a posterboard type picture of the original Microsoft guys - Gates is so young! Then a pic of them as a team now. There are interesting facts about each person. Then you proceed to a bank of laptops for use, Ive done a few emails there, but it seems that often a compute isnt connected to the internet and you have to go to another one (if available). Then there is a small group of phones and mp3 players etc, and a few video game consoles where games can be played (that seems to be where all the students end up until its time to go). There are a few other displays that have some interesting features to them, but nothing mind-blowing or amazing like one would expect from Microsoft. Across the hall is a tourist/trinket store where you can buy your shirt/pens/waterbottle etc. Thats it. What I wish is that they at least had a cool Microsoft displayed somewhere in front of the building or something. My groups always want to take a group photo at Microsoft, but there arent any decent places to do this that actually have Microsoft displayed where we can all gather around it, smile and show our friends/family back home where we were. Anyway, I dont fault MS for a lame visitors center. They dont need it. I appreciate at least that they have something - and if they charged for it they would definitely need it to be a lot more interactive and interesting. Its about what Id expect for something free and unnecessary for their business success.

Jared R

Honestly, it left much to be desired. The small section that goes over the history and future of Microsoft is cool in some ways, but not as impressive as it could be. It, in many ways, feels like an afterthought. The store right next to the visitor center has decent pricing on a lot of different Microsoft swag, such as shirts, backpacks, pencils, mugs and anything else you can plaster a logo on. My biggest issue and concern is they show off a lot of cool hardware/software in the visitor center, yet non-employees arent able to buy either. No Surface, No Xbox, No Phones, No Windows, No Office and No Games. While I understand to an extent not offering a huge variety, it would have been nice to have the option of buying at least hardware there. Employee remarked, "Youll have to go the Microsoft Store in downtown Bellevue." The area itself is pretty cool as a fan, but is very small and I cant picture myself being there longer than 20-30 minutes. For being such a big mark on the technology industry and Bellevue/Redmond itself, it would have been cool to see more history & insight into the tech giant. You can do better Microsoft.

Gio Zanecchia

If we didnt have GPS we would have never found this Visitor Center and Retail store. No signs except the cryptic "Building 92" and you see microsoft employees entering with a card swipe -- not inviting to the public at all. Inside the center is not much more than a Best Buy -- some of the nicer laptops and cell phones with windows 7... so what? Best part of the room was a projector setup that you can use the Kinect to do a bowling game. Generally the execution I thought was pretty poor -- no glimpses of the future. Retail shop is equally lame - lots of silly trinkets (pens, access card holders, lanyards) some shirts and laptop bags, when we tried to walk into the place where they sell software, the security guard told us it was only for full-time employees. WTF. Makes an Apple store anywhere look like a dream.

Gerald Holt

This is a review of the visitor center not Microsoft products or the organization. Microsoft missed an opportunity by putting very little thought into it. The center is not inspiring at all. They have a clever display paralleling old hardware with current software e.g. Huge video camera was replaced with Moviemaker and a typewriter was replaced with MS Office. MS has several products out to test drive, but there is little guidance to use the product and no one standing by to help. This could be a very cool experience, but right now it is not. Use a GPS or preprinted directions. There are no signs to help you navigate to the center underscoring that the center is off very low priority.

Samuel McNeil

If I had a nickel for every hour Ive wasted in the last 4 years with Vista problems Id be wealthier than Bill Gates. Microsoft reality - - Use their products and you will have constant problems. - They make up for having lousy products by having customer service people not speak English, and they try to pawn you off on someone else because they have no clue how to fix even basic problems. - Good news - by using Microsoft, one is forced to hone their troubleshooting skills because a Vista computer wont work unless the user knows how to fix its constant problems. Microsoft - a dishonest, unethical, untrustworthy and incompetent company. Go Google!! Go Apple!!

Patricia Griffith

The worse customer service ever. Even after paying for technical support. Calls transferred. Calls dropped. Promised call backs never happen. Hours and hours and hours of high frustration. Now my new lap top does not even work at all. Cannot even start it. They are all very polite. Nice. Sorry for the aggravation. And then transfer me again. Somebody better start caring about customer support and customer service. I will be buying a MAC - tonight. I will not take this any more.

Debra Whitesell

We were so close to Microsoft in our travels and had to make a bit of a detour to visit the famous Microsoft that we all know so well. It is huge and beautiful and it was unfortunate other than a few dedicated employees going to work, the visitor Center was closed as it was a Sunday. We still walked around, took photos and were genuinely tickled to have actually been there. Seattle is on our bucket list again and we will make sure we venture out to Microsoft on a day its open.

Rachel Kariuki

Anyone can visit the visitor center anytime. They have parking available for visitors although this can be a challenge if you visit during busy hours. The visitor center involves a display of most of their products. My favourite part was the store that had branded items. You need to dedicate at least 2 hours if you want to test and use most of their products and still shop at the store the lines can be long. Make sure you carry an ID or a passport it is required upon entry.

Kristan Smith

There is a large underground garage with a short walk to the visitor centre. The open air lot in front of the building gets busy quickly. The centre showcases Microsoft products, both hardware and software. Its a fun place, ensure you have photo ID for entry. We spent a good couple of hours reading the history of the company and playing with the equipment. It would nice if there was more equipment to use. Also there is a large Microsoft Company Store in the building.