Microsoft Opens First New Retail Store in Scottsdale, Arizona
Corresponding with today's launch of Windows 7, Microsoft opened the first of its new retail stores today in Scottsdale, Arizona. Reports that Microsoft has drawn heavily on Apple's retail store concepts appear to be accurate, with the store featuring wood floors and tables, a relatively sparse layout designed to accommodate large crowds, and an "Answer Bar" to provide support for Windows users.
A video of the grand opening reveals additional similarities to Apple's model, with Microsoft retail employees wearing t-shirts in various bold colors lining up and cheering as customers enter the store for the first time.
Microsoft has announced that it is
targeting Apple's retail stores with its new venture, planning to open many of the new stores in close proximity to existing Apple stores. A second store is scheduled to open in Mission Viejo, California next week Thursday, with more locations in the works.
The company hired former Apple real estate chief George Blankenship as a consultant to assist with planning for its retail store initiative and has also attempted to poach Apple's own store employees in order to hit the ground running with experienced staff members already in place.
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iPad mini with OLED display and A20 Pro chip
iMac with M6 chip
14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 chip
14-inch MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen
16-inch MacBook Pro with OLED...
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Below, we've rounded up what's still coming, along with one date in particular that's worth watching if you're a holiday...
Apple today announced that its Festival Place store in Basingstoke, England will be permanently closing on Saturday, November 21.
Apple Festival Place
Apple had already announced that the store would be closing in November, but it had not provided the public with a specific date until now.
Apple's store inside the Festival Place shopping center opened in 2011, so it had a 15-year run....
