First two Microsoft stores pretty close to Apple counterparts
On Tuesday, CNET announced that the first two Microsoft stores would be located in Mission Viejo, Calif. and Scottsdale, Ariz. The California store will be in The Shops at Mission Viejo, a complex that already has an Apple Store. The Arizona store, according to the Associated Press, will be located in Scottsdale Fashion Square (shown at right), a little less than nine miles from Scottsdale Quarter, where Apple opened its fifth Phoenix-metro store last month.
"Hurray," I thought sarcastically after hearing about the Scottsdale store. "Just what I always wanted in my city -- a Microsoft store."
It's not surprising why these two locations were chosen. There's a lot of money in both areas, and a lot of existing Apple stores. It would be a notch in Microsoft's belt to draw traffic away from these highly penetrated areas.
I've already told my fellow TUAW comrades that I'm willing to brave visiting the store when it opens, just to see how it compares to its Apple counterparts. I've already asked for hazard pay. But, after, I think I may just need to stop by my local Apple store to appreciate the guys who drove Microsoft to do this in the first place.
