Microsoft has confirmed plans to open its first retail store this Thursday, October 22, to coincide with the launch of Windows 7. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, Microsoft is set to open doors at 10 AM and offer incentives to spur early traffic, including free tickets to an Ashley Tisdale concert at 5PM.

If teenage pop music isn't your thing, however, fret not. The company is reportedly giving away gift bags to the first 1,000 visitors and will have some special offers running. Every PC buyer on launch day gets a free HP printer and a copy of Office 2007 Home & Student, for example.

Microsoft's retail stores are expected to showcase computers and mobile phones running Windows software, as well as the company's own Xbox 360 and Zune hardware. A further site is reportedly planned for Mission Viejo, California. Meanwhile, Apple is said to be launching an aggressive ad campaign to try and steal the spotlight away from Windows 7's launch.