From BetaNews (and reported elsewhere):

Dell plans to open up two brick-and-mortar locations in a pilot program to test the retail waters later this year, the company says. But don’t expect it to be like an Apple store — all orders would still be placed through the phone and Web.

Hello?!? Do they remember how well the Gateway stores did?

The best part about an Apple Store is the fact that you can walk in with your cash and walk out with something. If I have to place an order at a machine and wait for it to ship, then that takes me out of the shopping experience and I’m far less interested.

I would hope that they will have peripherals and accessories in the store and you can walk out with them after purchase. When I owned a Dell Axim handheld, it was a bit frustrating that I couldn’t easily buy cases and cables in a retail store.