Microsoft Stores coming to a mall near you, might have a big SMILEY face on the front.

It is official. Microsoft, who couldn't help but continue to rip off the already successful Apple branding (that we've already talked about here), has decided to open retail stores. After reading a lot of information on my blogs about it, I found the Microsoft Press Release about the guy who is in charge of the whole deal.

While people have been citing that he comes from DreamWorks (relatively cool, hip company), it turns out that he has only been there since 2007, a stint that follows 25 years at WalMart.

Here is the sentence from the press release:

"Before joining DreamWorks Animation in 2007, Porter spent 25 years at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in roles of increasing responsibility and seniority in store operations, merchandising and information technology. In his last role at Wal-Mart, Porter was vice president and general merchandise manager of Entertainment, where he served as a strategic point of influence throughout the Wal-Mart business."

Now, what is interesting about this, is that thinking back through WalMart history, if he left in 2007, he missed both the iPhone-in-Walmart launch (some good Apple design mixed in there) and more importantly, the large electronics section redesign that occurred in 2008.

So what part of WalMart merchandising did this chap contribute to? I remember lots of big yellow smiley faces, and rolling back prices.

What is he going to be bringing to the Microsoft stores again? Ignoring all the other differences between Apple and potential microsoft stores (ya know, that whole software vs. hardware thing -- whose computers are going go live in the store), I think we can expect another sorry following to an Apple initiative.