Microsoft yesterday announced a livelier version of Windows Live and people were so busy talking about Microsoft’s new social approach (guilty as charged) they overlooked the fact that the Redmond company is launching a U.S. version of its online store.

Users in the United States can now purchase first-party software and hardware directly from Microsoft online. The store carries everything from Office 2007 Home and Student and Zoo Tycoon 2 to console accessories like the Xbox 360 Wireless Controllers and consumer electronics like the new Zune.

One of the cooler things is that Microsoft is also going to be using digital distribution for its software as well as offering customers the option to have it shipped to their door. Playing up the advantage of electronic software distribution, Microsoft Senior Program Manager, Trevin Chow, said one of the best things is that you can re-download at any time if you need to.

“The obvious fear for most users buying ESD products is not having the software on physical media to re-install the product at a later time,” Chow said. “Microsoft Store solves this by letting you re-download the product until mainstream support for the product ends. Typically this is 5 years after the product is released,” he explained.

While stores for the UK, Germany, Korea and now the U.S. already exist, Japan, France, Spain and the Netherlands are coming soon, according to Brandon LeBlanc’s post on the Windows Experience blog, adding that stores for other countries would be rolled out throughout out the next year.

Check out Microsoft’s online store by clicking here and let us know what you think.