Microsoft's newest flagship store takes on the Big Apple (pictures)
The tech giant wants to bring a little Fifth Avenue class to its latest store.
Under wraps
The interior of the new shop has been hidden while construction's been taking place. But this shot of the entrance gives a sense of the "culture wall," which the company says will feature evening displays of digital works by local artists.
First stop: The entertainment zone
A trademark of nearly every Microsoft store is an area carved out in the front to show off the latest entertainment offering from the Xbox One video game console. The new store's entertainment area will debut with a setup from Rock Band 4.
A space befitting the Big Apple
Microsoft's newest store is also its largest. It's the first with two floors, and it features a distinct 30-foot wall of display monitors. Two more rows of displays flank this centerpiece.
Hot products, front and center
The first two tables you encounter when you walk in show off Microsoft's two most interesting new products: The Surface Book laptop-tablet hybrid and the Surface Pro 4 tablet. The company's homegrown products are front and center in the store, though you can see offerings from its manufacturing partners as you walk further in.
HoloLens: Look, but don't touch
On display is a prototype HoloLens headset. Unfortunately, it's behind glass and consumers won't be able to try it out.
That's one big display
If you're interested in Microsoft's giant Surface Hub touchscreen display, the store has two of them. The product isn't really for general consumers though. It's meant more for businesses looking for a way to spice up their presentations and meetings with a little technology.
The fun stuff
The upstairs of Microsoft's store features a dedicated section for its Xbox games. On display when we visited were sets from Lego's Dimensions line of video games and action figures. Alongside was a display for Halo 5, which launches Tuesday.
A learning space
The second floor also features two areas for different workshops and classes.
More upstairs
The store's retail space takes up only two floors, but Microsoft has also set up a Dell experience area for business customers to go up and check out the latest and greatest from Microsoft's partner.