I’ve been wrong before, but my gut is telling me that Microsoft’s physical stores are going to end badly. Though I confess to being somewhat ignorant here: I’m not sure why it’s being done at all, but now seems like a pretty bad time to launch a brick-and-mortar store, particularly when you’re selling things found in every computer store in the country.
Having lived through Digital trying physical computer stores I tend to have some concerns myself. And then there is this tongue in cheek look at the differences between Apple and Microsoft stores – http://www.pcworld.com/article/159521/10_ways_microsofts_retail_stores_will_differ_from_apple_stores.html
At least Microsoft has hired someone with serious retail background to run this operation. So I guess we’ll see.