In a move that takes inspiration from Apple and Sony, Microsoft recently announced that it'll open its own retail stores "to create a better PC and Microsoft retail purchase experience for consumers worldwide." The software giant looks very serious on this front, that's why it has already appointed David Porter as corporate vice president of Retail Stores who is joining Microsoft from DreamWorks Animation SKG, where he was head of worldwide product distribution. No word on when the first store will be opened or what's gonna be on the shelves, but looks like the main reason why MS is pushing so hard is "to create deeper engagement with consumers and continue to learn firsthand about what they want and how they buy."