Microsoft plans to open stores this fall in the shopping mall capitals of Orange County and Arizona, specifically Mission Viejo and Scottsdale.

The company said earlier this month it would be opening retail stores. Here is the story we wrote on that.

Kim Stocks, a Microsoft spokeswoman, did not have many details other than the two locations: Scottsdale Fashion Square, which does not have an Apple store, and The Shops at Mission Viejo, which does.

"We really picked them because they're hot markets," she said. "Scottsdale is one of the fastest growing markets in the U.S. Mission Viejo is consistently rated one of the best places to live."

I asked whether the stores would be timed to open with the Windows 7 launch on Oct. 22 and Stocks said the company was only committing to this fall as a deadline. Stocks also had no comment on what the stores would be named.

The stores will carry Microsoft hardware and software as well as PCs made by the company's partners. Stocks said to expect laptops, mobility products and gaming products such as Xbox and Zune.