Microsoft is set to launch Windows 8 this October 26th, 2012 and it’s the company’s biggest gamble to date. While most of us that have given the new OS a fair shake realize what the good and bad will be, it’s so different than what MS has put out in the past that a lot of people may not be willing to give it the time it deserves. That’s why they’ll be popping up stores all over the US and Canada this Holiday to make sure that people get a chance to really try out this “hybrid OS”.

The biggest difference in Windows 8 over previous OS versions is that it really does have touch baked right into its DNA and works best with devices optimized for the Windows 8 Interface (formerly known as METRO). And of course, the best devices for this OS are the new tablets, both full fat Windows 8, and the ARM based Windows 8 RT. In particular, Microsoft’s own Surface RT tablet (the Surface Pro version is expected early next year).

You can be sure that Windows Phone 8 will also be part of the “pop up” experience but the question is, will Surface RT really launch at $199? I guess we’ll have to find out on the 26th. Here’s a list of locations across the US and Canada where stores are due to “pop up” this Holiday so far.

United States

• Aventura Mall – Aventura, FL
• Beachwood Place – Beachwood, OH
• Cherry Creek Shopping Center – Denver, CO
• Dadeland Mall – Miami, FL
• Fashion Mall at Keystone – Indianapolis, IN
• Fashion Show Mall– Las Vegas, NV
• Glendale Galleria – Glendale, CA
• Mall at Green Hills – Nashville, TN
• Mall in Columbia – Columbia, MD
• Montgomery Mall – Bethesda, MD
• Natick Collection – Natick, MA
• North Star Mall – San Antonio, TX
• Penn Square Mall – Oklahoma City, OK
• Perimeter Mall – Atlanta, GA
• Roosevelt Field Mall – Garden, City, NY
• Ross Park Mall – Pittsburgh, PA
• Saint Louis Galleria – St. Louis, MO
• San Francisco Centre – San Francisco, CA
• South Shore Plaza – Braintree, MA
• Southpark Mall – Charlotte, NC
• Stonebriar Centre Mall – Frisco, TX
• Streets at Southpoint – Durham, NC
• Time Warner Center – The Shops at Columbus Circle – New York, NY
• Washington Square– Portland, OR
• Westfarms Mall – West Hartford, CT
• Westfield Garden State Plaza – Paramus, NJ
• Woodland Hills Mall – Tulsa, OK
• Woodlands Mall – Woodlands, TX

Canada

• Eaton Centre – Toronto, Ontario
• Metropolis at Metrotown – Burnaby, BC
• Oakridge Centre – Vancouver, BC
• West Edmonton Mall – Edmonton, Alberta

Source/Photo: The Official Microsoft Blog