The Microsoft Store: The Apple Store’s New Neighbor

There’s something about the Apple store that draws you in. Could it be the giant apple, the shinny aluminum structure, or the light from the enormous iMac screens? I like to think of the Apple store as a modern day toy store where grownups go to play with Apples new “toys”. You see, the Apple store plays on your subconscious inner child, telling it “COME PLAY WITH ME.” With power like that, it’s no surprise that Microsoft has decided to set up the first of it’s retail stores right next to existing apple stores this fall.

Kevin Turner, Microsoft’s Chief Operating Officer, told partners the news during his Worldwide Partner Conference keynote on July 15. A number of attendees tweeted Turner’s words immediately.
Microsoft officials announced back in February that Microsoft was planning to open retail stores and just recently we heard some details. For example, the Microsoft stores will not be clones of the apple store; instead, the stores will try to showcase new innovations from Microsoft. Microsoft officials said the stores would be more about building Microsoft’s consumer brand than distribution.

Microsoft hired David Porter, a former Dreamworks Animation and Wal-mart exec, as Corporate Vice President of Retail Stores earlier this year. Will hiring a guy from Wal-mart spell success? We will soon find out, however one things for sure, I doubt they will have “Always Low Prices”.

Microsoft is set to make Windows 7 generally available on October 22. With an October launch date I could foresee Microsoft launching the stores at the same time, however no official details are available at this time.

Will the Microsoft store have the same appeal as the Apple store? Let us know in the comments below.

[tags] apple, Apple store, computers, iPhone, ipod, Microsoft, Microsoft store, Retail Company, Tech, technology, windows 7[/tags]