It looks like Microsoft is getting ready to take the retail plunge:

Without detailing the plans, Microsoft said it has hired David Porter, a 25-year Wal-Mart veteran, to lead the effort. Sources say that Porter's mission will be to develop the company's retail plans and that the effort is likely to start small with just a few locations.

In general, this sounds like a good idea - especially given the success Apple has had with it. However, Apple has one huge advantage: they own the entire hardware ecosystem, and that makes their stores much more of a destination - the genius bar being the obvious example.

I'm not at all sure what Microsoft can do there. They could focus on the consumer end (Zunes, XBoxes) - the success of the XBox might make it easier to make a real effort on Zune promotion, for instance. The obvious question to me though, is this: would Microsoft consider entering the Windows OEM market themselves?

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