Nearly six years have passed since Microsoft began opening retail outlets patterned after Apple’s blockbuster retail locations. However, the now 116 Microsoft Stores are still a pale imitation to Apple’s own retail network of 460 locations, often featuring more employees than customers as the firm’s products have failed to excite and attract buyers.

This was a sad attempt to copy Apple’s success and it didn’t work. Microsoft under Ballmer tried to copy Apple in a number of ways and they all failed miserably.