Microsoft is up to its monkey games again. Once more it is set to mimic Apple.  This time the Redmond copying machines are churning out copies of the Apple retail stores, in advance of Microsoft store openings later this fall. These guys are incapable of creative, independent thought.

Essentially, Microsoft is taking the best elements from the Apple Store, Sony Style and other “flagship” stores. The main focuses are going to be Windows 7, Xbox, PCTV (Windows Media Center) Surface and Windows Mobile, revolving around this concept customer they call “Emily,” who’s basically a younger version of your mom, since they make all the buying decisions.

In fact, they are likely to include a “Genius Bar” clone called, wait for it…..the Guru Bar.  Not only are they copying the stores, Microsoft is also copying the locations. That is, they are planning to open the Microsoft retails store adjacent to Apple retail stores wherever possible.  This might be huge mistake as it will make comparisons between the bustling Apple stores and empty Microsoft stores painfully obvious.

As John Dvorak notes, perhaps Microsoft would be better served if they returned their focus to producing easy-to-use, reliable software.

Everyone knew the day would come when the fortunes of Microsoft Corp. would reverse. The company might now be in actual decline.

If it’s true, it brought it on itself by ignoring its core competencies, because it exhibits signs of what can only be described as Corporate Attention Deficit Disorder — CADD.

Try to remember all the crazy directions Microsoft has gone in over the past few years. Note the dizzy remarks by Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, who recently insisted that online advertising would soon account for the majority of Microsoft’s income. This is a software company making these comments.

Disclosure: I am long in Apple.