When Microsoft announced earlier this week that it plans to open a small number of retail stores, analysts wondered whether Microsoft could really obtain the same amount of commercial success as Apple did with its Apple Stores back in 2001.

First, market analysts stated that a great part of Microsoft’s products are software and software-related, meaning that a retail store might not bring too much of an improvement in this area. Still, it is worth mentioning that the company based in Redmond, Washington has been focusing on hardware products during the last few years, too.

This way, displaying its peripherals, from low-end devices to the Razer-powered Habu mouse, letting users play for a minute with an Xbox 360 gaming console and highlighting a Windows 7-powered PC with a touchscreen might represent important opportunities for the company to increase its popularity.

Of course, selling a couple of Xbox consoles and a few mice won’t count too much for a giant like Microsoft. This is why analysts predict that the company is actually planning to improve its customer perception, rather than its sales figures.

It is a known fact that the Redmond giant has lost some of people’s interest during the last few years, with some users even mocking up the company for the endless problems and glitches with its software products. However, according to the analysts, Microsoft is trying to revive its image of a visionary company, as the release of Windows 7 and the launch of a cloud-based sync service for Windows Mobile might make it popular once again.

Moreover, some market researchers stated that Microsoft would not be able to rely on its retail stores too much, since the company has important distribution contracts with PC manufacturers. This way, a good part of Microsoft’s commercial success always depends on whether OEMs buy the company’s software for their products.