So about those Microsoft stores — you know, the one’s that’ll be next to Apple in some locations, with giant wall-sized screens. We knew Microsoft was hiring, ‘Guru Bar’ staff, but apparently they’re also poaching top Apple Store managers.

And here’s why I’m perfectly OK with that: Redmond is offering them “significant raises”, and encouraging them to bring their former colleagues, especially top sales people, on board.

Working in retail often sucks: the pay, the mall wandering zombies, the stupid parents who think their devil-spawn destroying displays is “cute”. So I’m all for better pay, and working with people you like. It’ll be interesting to see how these Microsoft stores turn out in the end. [The Loop via Ars Technica]