Microsoft opens its first retail store, more to come

Microsoft opened the doors to its first retail store in Scottsdale, Arizona on Thursday, the same day it released its much-talked about, Windows 7.

Microsoft employees cheer during the grand opening of the first retail store in Scottsdale, Arizona October 22, 2009. The first store also launched the new Windows 7 in its most important release for more than a decade, aiming to win back customers after the disappointing Vista and strengthen its grip on the PC market. (REUTERS / Joshua Lott)

So what does it look like inside?

The store itself bears similarities to that of Apples, with its relatively sparse layout and an "Answer Bar" to provide support for Windows users. Microsoft retail store employees wear bright colored shirts which are the colors of the Windows logo; red, yellow, green and blue.

Microsoft is taking their new retail stores very seriously and even 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.

Watch below a video of the Microsoft retail store as it opened up to see what it looks like:

A second store is scheduled to open in Mission Viejo, California next week Thursday, with more locations in the works.