Microsoft to close all retail stores, forever

"Microsoft designed its retail stores to be cool like Apple's."
"It didn't work."

o *Microsoft's new approach to retail stores: Closing them forever*
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/06/microsofts-new-approach-to-retail-stores-closing-them-forever/

"The company announced the closure today, amusingly, as the Microsoft
Store taking "a new approach to retail," by which it means "not actually
operating retail stores."
--
Although four locations, in London, New York City, Sydney, and Microsoft's
Redmond, Washington, campus¡Xwill remain open, they will become "experience
centers," where one can see, touch, and play with Microsoft products but
not actually purchase any.

"Microsoft Corp. was never going to rival Apple Inc. in retail"

o Microsoft Stores Never Really Made Sense Anyway
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-06-26/coronavirus-microsoft-closing-its-stores-for-good-is-smart-move

"In 2009, Microsoft started its retail store chain in an obvious quest to
follow up on Apple's retail magic. The company eventually built out some 83
stores in total, compared to Apple¢s 510 locations today. But from the
beginning it seemed like the Microsoft Store concept was an inferior
copycat"

"Hardware isn't Microsoft's future anyway - it's all about software and
services."
--
"It would be wise to focus on its core strengths and not be distracted by
something that is obviously not working."