Microsoft to open retail stores

In what seems like a pretty clear attempt to mimic Apple, Microsoft announced that it will open a chain of retail stores.

There’s very little information on the stores themselves, as the press release is focused on the appointment of retail veteran David Porter to the program. Porter was the former head of worldwide product distribution for DreamWorks Animation SKG and spent 25 years at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. He’ll serve as Corporate Vice President of Retail Stores for Microsoft.

Rumors of a Microsoft store surfaced last year, and in January the company offered a look at a fake retail location housed in its Redmond, Wash., headquarters. The 20,000-square-foot "Retail Experience Center" (pictured below) is filled with interactive parts and gadgets to play with. The model "serves as a center of innovation for how Microsoft and the retail industry can address rising consumer expectations and competitive pressures during today’s challenging economic conditions," the company said at the time.

Microsoft’s real retail stores will probably be similar, and with the presence of Xbox 360s, Zunes and Games for Windows, they could even be more fun than Apple’s outlets.

Among the details missing from Microsoft’s press release are locations, opening dates and how much of Microsoft’s product line will be sold in the stores. For now, have a laugh by checking out PC World’s "10 Ways Microsoft’s Retail Stores Will Differ From Apple Stores," such as "six different entrances" named after the many flavors of Windows 7 (Basic, Premium, etc.).