Leaked docs provide a hint of how the Microsoft Retail stores could look

Microsoft is expected to launch a chain of retail stores in the not-too-distant future. If I had to guess, I'd say the stores will probably look like a software-heavy cross between a Best Buy and an Apple store. But the folks at Gizmodo got their hands on a leaked PowerPoint presentation that includes a number of concept designs for the store. Some of these concepts may eventually be included in the actual stores, while others may be nothing other than big ideas that'll be ready for the public around the same time as Duke Nukem Forever.

The documents depict a store that will focus on Microsoft hardware like the Xbox 360 and Surface tables, as well as software including Windows 7 and Windows Mobile. There's also a heavy emphasis in the slides on PCTV,which is a clever way of re-branding Windows Media Center as a primarily TV-focused interactive media component of Windows 7.

Microsoft has kind of downplayed Windows Media Center features over the last few years. I'm guessing that's because PC users flocked to internet video sites that let you watch media in a web browser, making the concept of a full-screen interface for local and internet media, as well as live TV from a TV tuner more of a niche product.

I'm hoping that the focus on PCTV in these slides means that Microsoft plans to add new internet content to Windows Media Center to make it a viable alternative to firing up the web browser. In fact, some of the slides show an Internet TV screen complete with Hulu. Right now there is no official Hulu plugin for Windows Media Center.

Tags: concept, microsoft-store