We talked with a wide range of shoppers outside the Apple and Sony stores at Seattle's University Village this afternoon to gauge the reaction to Microsoft's announcement that it will open its own stores. The question: Would you shop at a Microsoft store? Here's a sampling of the responses.

Siafe Hage, consultant, Grosse Point, Mich.. "Sure, I would. I mean it is a store just like any other. If it is good enough, I will definitely utilize their services. But I don't have an opinion one way or the other, per se, you know: 'Oh, the evil empire.' It is just another opportunity (for a company) to make money in this economy."

Jessie Gifford, graphic designer, Seattle. "Boo, Microsoft. I would not shop there. I am a hard-core Apple girl. I have been in graphic design for a lot of years, so much superior product. And even though I am from Seattle, I love Apple products. And I think it is just a cheap way to rip off on Apple's success and I don't appreciate it. Come up with your own idea."

Meryl Stafford, UW student, Seattle. "No, I like Apple and Mac better. It is easier. I have VMware and (Bootcamp) on my computer so honestly the only reason I use (Windows) is to use Netflix because it didn't use to work on Safari."

 

Richard Brown, software designer, Seattle:. "I would consider it, yeah. It is for the same reason that I come to an Apple store, if I am looking for an Apple product ... I would expect availability. I would like to have the product in stock. The Apple store doesn't give any discount on pricing, but then again neither do other retail stores. I wouldn't expect a Microsoft store necessarily to give any discounts on pricing. So I might shop around for price. But I definitely would go in for the availability. That is what would probably get me to go in more than anything else."
 

Richard Luce, retail store manager, Seattle: "Probably not. Because it is so easily available everywhere else. For Apple you have to usually go to an authorized Apple store or an Apple store themselves. So it is not quite as in-demand, I guess you can say."

 

Jennifer Schechter, UW grad student, Seattle. "I would because even though I have a Mac, I still use Microsoft Office, so presumably I would need to go to a store for something. I would be open to it."

 Related post: Paul Andrews: Apple isn't the real reason Microsoft needs stores.