“So Microsoft Corp. plans to roll out a few retail stores in the years ahead,” John C. Dvorak writes for MarketWatch.

“Microsoft cannot make money with these stores, which obviously will be used for promotion and branding. We have watched ComputerLand, the Byte Shop and software-oriented chains such as Egghead all die along with the others mentioned above,” Dvorak writes. “It’s not a viable business. I’m not even sure the Apple stores will be around more than a few more years. They do well because they are event-driven, a place where there is a lot of action. But this sort of thing wanes.”

MacDailyNews Take: “I’m not even sure the Apple stores will be around more than a few more years.” Define “few.” Nonetheless, iCal’ed for future deployment. And, the Apple Retail Stores are not “event-driven.” Among other things, Dvorak ignores the ongoing educational opportunities that are routinely offered for free to Mac users. Of course, he just inserted that bit about Apple stores because John Dvorak is a hit whore who admits that he intentionally baits Mac users.

UPDATE: 2/15, 7:15am ET: Ye old bloated gas bag has, without notice, changed his ludicrous sentence, “They do well because they are event-driven, a place where there is a lot of action” to “They do well because they are places where there is a lot of action.” If even Dvorak figured it was stupid…

Dvorak continues, “For now, it is working. I cannot see anything close to this sort of success with a Microsoft store. I mean, what will they have? Boxes and boxes of Windows Vista? A display for Microsoft Office? What would be remotely interesting?”

“Microsoft does have some jazzy computer mice and advanced keyboards it can sell. There is the Zune, of course… There is Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and all the games that go with it. This store may just be in existence to promote the platform,” Dvorak writes. “That said, I have always suspected that Microsoft would someday bring out a branded computer. This may be a prelude to that event… This simply does not look like a good idea.”

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: If Dvorak thinks it’s a bad idea, too, then maybe we (and nearly everyone else on the planet) were wrong about Microsoft retail stores.

The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a “mouse.” There is no evidence that people want to use these things. I don’t want one of these new fangled devices. – John Dvorak, 1984