Microsoft to open retail outlets

Sources close to Fudzilla stated Microsoft indeed does want to forge a stronger bond with their retail consumers. Much like Apple has done with their Apple Retail Stores, Microsoft seems as though it will be following the same pattern.

Anyone not familiar with the Apple outlets: they essentially offer a more personalized experience, giving you the most accurate and expert information for whatever product you need assistance with. Occasionally presentations and workshops are featured as well. Essentially, it's a forum for Apple to show off their stuff, and not just products. It's effective, kind of like technical support without all the annoyances of phoning fifty different lines or waiting a day or two on an e-mail response while your main computer is busted.

Courtesy of Fudzilla:

"We can only guess that the shop will be filled with lot of software but it’s likely to include some peripheral stuff such are keyboards and mice as well as some MP3 Zune players. You can count on some computers but the last paragraph is something we suspect not something that has been confirmed."

In my humble opinion, this is a good move. Microsoft needs this. The reason Apple is as successful as it is is because it's run by people. I may not agree with everything Apple says and does, but, it's pretty hard to deny it's a more personable company. So, something like this can only be good for Microsoft, helping to lessen that hardened business image.