SALEM – The most storied rivalry in technology is about to take physical shape in New Hampshire, with Saturday’s opening of the state’s first Microsoft Store, three units away from the state’s first Apple Store.

The arrival of Microsoft at The Mall at Rockingham Park, two months after the company opened its first Boston store, signals the speed at which Microsoft is moving into the company-owned retail arena that was blazed by Apple in 2001.

The store will hold a grand opening Saturday, with a concert by two bands in the evening. It sells a variety of computers, software and consumer electronics that are linked in various ways to Microsoft products.

Microsoft opened its first company-owned store in 2009. This will be its 23rd store, all in the continental U.S. A half-dozen more are in the works, including one each in Canada and Puerto Rico.

“When we looked at real estate options, we evaluated mall traffic patterns in high-performing suburban shopping centers,” wrote a Microsoft retail store spokesman in an email. The message said the firm has “no specific new store locations” planned in New Hampshire at this time.

The 4,490-square-foot store will have about 40 full- and part-time employees.

It is on the ground level, three units from an Apple Store that opened several years ago.

Microsoft has said it plans to open seasonal stores in the Massachusetts towns of Braintree and Natick that will sell Microsoft merchandise through the holidays. The Microsoft Store at the Mall at Rockingham Park will be permanent.

Apple has more than 300 stores worldwide, including one each in the Rockingham Park and Pheasant Lane malls.

The schedule for the opening Saturday starts with a ceremony at 10:45 a.m., including the presentation of more than $1 million in software grants to the local chapters of Junior Achievement, Boys & Girls Clubs of Salem and Girls Inc.

Doors open at 11 a.m. At 5 p.m., the store will host a performance by musical groups O.A.R. and Young the Giant . An ad on Page 12 of today’s paper explains how to get free wristbands for the concert.

David Brooks can be reached at 594-6531 or dbrooks@nashuatelegraph.com. Follow Brooks’ blog on Twitter (@GraniteGeek).