Surface customers won't have in-person support channels anymore

Not being able to walk in and get your Surface fixed will suck.

Last week, Microsoft announced that it was closing all physical Microsoft Stores, and transforming a handful of flagship stores into "experience centers" that serve no purpose other than to allow high-street shoppers to look at and try the latest devices from Microsoft and partners. Customers will not be able to purchase any products they see inside the store, nor will they be able to get their own Surface hardware serviced at these locations.

And this, to me, is the biggest loss as a result of the Microsoft Store closures. The ability to buy Microsoft hardware on the high-street was great, but it was the ability to walk into a Microsoft Store with an existing, problematic device, and walk out not too long later with the issue either fixed, or replaced with a refurbished model. This service still exists, but in the form of online support, which is nowhere near as convenient or straightforward.

I was only able to exper...