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| {{Infobox_Company | |||
| | company_name = Microsoft Corporation | |||
| | company_logo = ] | |||
| | company_type = ] ({{nasdaq2|MSFT}}) | |||
| | foundation = ], ] (] ])<ref name="founding">{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5085630.stm | title=Bill Gates: A Timeline | publisher = bbc.co.uk | date = ] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> | |||
| | location_city = {{flagicon|USA}} ] | |||
| | location_country = ] | |||
| | key_people = ], <small>] and ]</small><br />], <small>]</small><br />], <small>]</small><br /> ], <small>]</small> | |||
| | industry = ]<br />]<br />]<br / />]<br />]| products = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />] | |||
| | revenue = {{profit}} ]44.2 billion (2006)<ref name="2006financials">{{cite pressrelease | title= Microsoft Reports Fourth Quarter Results and Announces Share Repurchase Program | url= http://www.microsoft.com/msft/earnings/FY06/earn_rel_q4_06.mspx | publisher = Microsoft | date = ] | accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> | |||
| | operating_income = {{profit}} US$16.4 billion (2006)<ref name="2006financials" /><br /> (36.3% ])<ref name="margins">{{cite web | url= http://www.investor.reuters.com/business/BusCompanyOverview.aspx?ticker=MSFT&target=%2fbusiness%2fbuscompany%2fbuscompfake%2fbuscompoverview | title=MICROSOFT CORP: Company Overview | work=] | accessdate=2006-05-24}}</ref> | |||
| | net_income = {{profit}} US$12.6 billion (2006)<ref name="2006financials" /><br /> (31.6% ])<ref name="margins" /> | |||
| | num_employees = 71,172 (2006)<ref name="fastfacts">{{cite web | title=Fast Facts about Microsoft | url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/inside_ms.mspx | publisher = Microsoft | date = ], ] | accessdate= March 30| accessyear = 2007 }}</ref> | |||
| | company_slogan = Your potential. Our passion. | |||
| | homepage = | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Microsoft Corporation''', ({{nasdaq|MSFT}}, {{sehk2|4338}}) is a ] ] technology ] with global annual ] of ]44.28 ] and 76,000 employees in 102 countries. It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of ] products for computing devices.<ref name="2005annual">{{cite web | title= Microsoft Corporation Annual Report 2005 | url= http://www.microsoft.com/msft/ar05/downloads/MS_2005_AR.doc | publisher = Microsoft | format = doc | accessdate= 1 October | accessyear=2005 }}</ref><ref name="fastfacts" /><ref name="2006financials" /> Headquartered in ], ], ], its best selling products are the ] ] and the ] suite of productivity software. | |||
| These products have all achieved near-ubiquity in the ] market. One commentator notes that Microsoft's original mission was "a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software"—it is a goal near fulfillment.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/003469.html | title= The rest of the motto | date= ], ] | accessdate= 2007-01-22 | publisher= ]| first= Todd | last= Bishop | work= Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog}}</ref> Microsoft possesses footholds in other markets, with assets such as the ] ] network, the ] ], and the ] multimedia encyclopedia. The company also markets both ] products such as the ] as well as ] products such as the ], ], ] and ].<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| Originally founded to develop and sell ] ] for the ], Microsoft rose to dominate the ] operating system market with ] in the mid-1980s. The company released an ] in the ], which, due to the ensuing rise of the stock price, has made four billionaires and an estimated 12,000 millionaires from Microsoft employees.<ref>Chapman, Merrill R., ''In search of stupidity: over 20 years of high-tech marketing disasters'' (2nd Edition) , Apress, ISBN 1-59059-721-4</ref><ref name="stockrich">{{cite news | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/business/yourmoney/29millionaire.html?ex=1275019200&en=de3d71cbbb7e06f8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss | title=The Microsoft Millionaires Come of Age | author= Julie Bick | date=] | publisher= ] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref><ref name="MVP">{{cite web | url=http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/06/13/somehow_usenet_lumbers_on/ | title=Somehow, Usenet lumbers on | author=Hiawatha Bray | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-03 | publisher=]}}<br>* {{cite web | url= http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs | title= Microsoft Frequently Asked Questions | publisher = Microsoft (Most Valued Professional) | accessdate=2006-07-01}}</ref> Throughout its history the company has been the target of criticism, including ] business practices—the ], among others, has sued Microsoft for ] violations and software bundling.<ref name="usvms">{{cite web | title= United States v. Microsoft | url= http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/ms_index.htm | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | accessdate= August 5 | accessyear=2005 }} homepage at the ]</ref> Known for what is generally described as a developer-centric business culture, Microsoft has historically given customer support over ] newsgroups and the ], and awards ] status to volunteers who are deemed helpful in assisting the company's customers.<ref name="bb">{{cite journal | first=John | last=Charles | title= Indecent proposal? Doing Business With Microsoft | journal= IEEE Software | issue= January/February 1998 | pages=113-117}}<br>* {{cite book | author=Jennifer Edstrom | coauthors= Marlin Eller | title= Barbarians Led by Bill Gates: Microsoft from inside | year=1998 | publisher=N.Y. Holt | id=ISBN 0-8050-5754-4}}<br>* {{cite book | author=Fred Moody | title=I Sing the Body Electronic: A Year With Microsoft on the Multimedia Frontier | publisher=Viking | year=1995 | id=ISBN 0-670-84875-1}}<br>* {{cite book | author=Michael A. Cusumano | coauthors=Richard W. Selby | title=Microsoft Secrets: How the World's Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets and Manages People | publisher=Free Press | year=1995 | id=ISBN 0-684-85531-3}}</ref><ref name="MVP"/> <!-- BOOK SOURCES Need Page numbers --> | |||
| == History == | |||
| {{main|History of Microsoft}} | |||
| {{seealso | History of Microsoft Windows}} | |||
| === 1975–1985: Founding === | |||
| ]. From left to right:<br /><small>'''Top:''' ], ], ].<br />'''Middle:''' ], ], ], ].<br />'''Bottom:''' ], ], ], ].</small>]] | |||
| Following the launch of the ], ] called the creators of the new ], ], offering to demonstrate an implementation of the ] for the system. After the demonstration, MITS agreed to distribute ].<ref name="keyevents">{{cite web | title= Information for Students: Key Events In Microsoft History | url= http://www.microsoft.com/visitorcenter/student.mspx | publisher=Microsoft Visitor Center Student Information | accessdate=1 October | accessyear=2005 | format=doc}}</ref> ] left ], moved to ] where MITS was located, and founded Microsoft there. The company's first international office was founded on ], ], in Japan, entitled "] Microsoft" (now called "]").<ref name="keyevents" /> On ], ], the company moved from Albuquerque to a new home in ].<ref name="keyevents" /> ] joined the company on ], ], and would later succeed Bill Gates as ].<ref name="keyevents" /> | |||
| ] (] Operating System) was the operating system that brought the company its real success. On ], ], after negotiations with ] failed, ] awarded a contract to Microsoft to provide a version of the ] operating system, which was set to be used in the upcoming ] (PC). For this deal, Microsoft purchased a ] clone called ] (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from ] of ], which IBM renamed to ]. Later, the market saw a flood of IBM PC clones after ] successfully cloned the IBM ], and through aggressive marketing of their own QDOS derivative, ], to manufacturers of IBM-PC clones Microsoft rose from a small player to one of the major software vendors in the home computer industry.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0304/09r04/09r04.asp&guid= | title= Booting Your PC: Getting Up Close & Personal With A Computer’s BIOS | publisher= Smart Computing | date=November 1999 | accessdate=2006-09-02}}<br>* {{cite web | url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/1994/july94/pcn0713/pcn0713.asp&articleid=5360&guid= | title=What Is The BIOS? | date=July 1994 | publisher=Smart Computing | accessdate=2006-09-02}}<br>* {{cite web | url= http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1151907,00.asp | title= Everything You Want or Need to Know About Your BIOS | publisher=Extreme Tech | accessdate=2006-09-02}}<br>* {{cite book |last = Lemley | first = Mark | coauthors = Peter S. Menell and Robert P. Merges | title= Intellectual Property in the New Technological Age | chapter= Appendix B: Introduction to Computer Technology | publisher = Aspen Publishers | chapterurl= http://www.law.berkeley.edu/institutes/bclt/pubs/ipnta/appenb.pdf | format=PDF | id=ISBN 0-7355-3652-X | date = 2006 | location = New York | edition = 4th | accessdate=2006-09-02}}<br>* {{cite web | url=http://www.computermuseum.li/Testpage/MSDOS-PCDOS.htm | title=MS DOS and PC DOS | work=Lexikon's History of Computing | accessdate=2006-07-05}}<br>* {{cite news | url= http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/1994/june94/pcn0608/pcn0608.asp&articleid=5103&guid= | title= When It Comes To DOS, You Now Have A Choice | publisher=Smart Computing | date=June 1994 | accessdate=2006-07-05}}<br>* {{cite news | url= http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0603/09r03/09r03.asp | title=Microsoft to Microsoft disk operating system (MS-DOS) | publisher=Smart Computing | date=March 2002 | accessdate=2006-07-05}}</ref> The company expanded into new markets with the release of the ''Microsoft Mouse'' in ], as well as a publishing division named ].<ref name="keyevents" /> | |||
| === 1985–1995: OS/2 and Windows === | |||
| On ], ], Microsoft released its first retail version of ], originally a graphical extension for its MS-DOS operating system.<ref name="keyevents" /> In August, Microsoft and IBM partnered in the development of a different operating system called ].<ref>{{cite web | author= Manek Dubash | title= Techworld Article:OS/2 users must look elsewhere | work= Techworld |publisher= ] | url= http://www.techworld.com/applications/features/index.cfm?featureid=1603&Page=1&pagePos=5 | date = ] | accessdate= 2005-07-05}}</ref> Around one month later, on ], the company went public with an IPO, priced at US$28.00 by the end of the trading day. In 1987, Microsoft eventually released their first version of OS/2 to ].<ref>{{cite web | title= Microsoft Systems Journal — 1986-1994 Index | publisher=Microsoft |url= http://www.microsoft.com/msj/backissues86.aspx | accessdate=2007-03-31}} See May 1987 releases.</ref> | |||
| ] | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref>]] | |||
| In ], Microsoft introduced its most successful office product, ]. Microsoft Office was a bundle of separate office productivity applications, such as ] and ].<ref name="keyevents" /> On ], ] Microsoft launched ].<ref>{{cite press release | title= Windows 3.0 is Here |format=PDF | publisher= Microsoft | url=http://www.windows-now.com/files/folders/21092/download.aspx | date = 1990 | accessdate=2007-03-31}}</ref> The new version of Microsoft's operating system boasted such new features as streamlined ] graphics and improved ] capability for the ] processor; it sold over 100,000 copies in two weeks.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryDesktop.mspx | title= Windows History |publisher= Microsoft | date = ] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> Windows at the time generated more revenue for Microsoft than OS/2, and the company decided to move more resources from OS/2 to Windows.<ref name="OS/2 history">{{cite web | author = David Both | url= http://www.os2bbs.com/os2news/OS2History.html | title= OS/2 History | publisher = OS/2 VOICE | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> In the ensuing years, the popularity of OS/2 declined, and Windows quickly became the favored PC platform. | |||
| During the transition from MS-DOS to Windows, the success of Microsoft's product ] allowed the company to gain ground on application-software competitors, such as ] and ].<ref name="thocp2">{{cite web | title= Microsoft Company 15 September 1975 | publisher = The History of Computing Project | url= http://www.thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company_part2.htm | accessdate=August 11 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vnunet.com/computing/analysis/2073923/behind-pearly-gates |author= Steve Masters| publisher= ] Business Publications |date= ] | title= Behind the Pearly Gates | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> According to ], Novell, an owner of WordPerfect for a time, alleged that Microsoft used its inside knowledge of the DOS and Windows kernels and of undocumented ] features to make Office perform better than its competitors.<ref>{{cite web | author = Andrew Orlowski | url= http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/16/novell_microsoft_wordperfect_analysis/ | title= Novell's MS complaint: we wuz robbed | work=] |publisher= Situation Publishing Ltd | date = ] | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> Eventually, Microsoft Office became the dominant business suite, with a ] far exceeding that of its competitors.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,18462,pg,1,00.asp | title= A Peek at Office Upgrade | publisher= PCWorld.com | date= 2000-09-13 | author= Harry McCracken | accessdate=2006-07-04}}</ref> | |||
| In 1993 Microsoft released ], a server-based operating system with a similar user interface to consumer versions of the operating system, but with an entirely different kernel.<ref name="thocp2" /> In 1995, Microsoft released ], a new version of the company's flagship operating system which featured a completely new user interface, including a novel ]; more than a million copies of Microsoft Windows 95 were sold in the first four days after its release.<ref name="thocp2" /> The company later released its ], ], with the Windows 95 Plus! Pack in August 1995 and subsequent Windows versions.<ref>{{cite web| author = Sandi Hardmeier | date = ] | url= http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/historyofie.mspx| publisher= Microsoft| title= Microsoft - The History of Internet Explorer| accessdate= 2007-02-06}}</ref> | |||
| === 1995–2005: Internet and legal issues === | |||
| In the mid-90s, Microsoft began to expand its product line into ]ing and the ]. On ] ], it launched a major ], ] (Microsoft Network), as a direct competitor to ]. MSN became an umbrella service for Microsoft's online services.<ref name="keyevents" /><ref name="thocp2" /><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/nov02/11-08MSN8GlobalTimeLine.mspx | title= MSN Historical Timeline: A brief history of milestone events in the life of MSN from the past ten years | publisher= Microsoft | date = June 2005 | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> The company continued to branch out into new markets in 1996, starting with a joint venture with ] to create a new 24/7 cable news station, ].<ref name="thocp2" /><ref>{{cite web | url= http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/07/15_mpp.html | title= Marketplace: News Archives for July 15, 1996 | publisher = American Public Media | accessdate= 2006-07-03}}</ref> Microsoft entered the personal digital assistant (PDA) market in November with ], a new built-from-scratch version of their flagship operating system, specifically designed to run on low-memory, low-performance machines, such as handhelds and other small computers.<ref name="cehistory">{{cite web | url= http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/windowsce/ | title= The History of Microsoft Windows CS | publisher = HPC:Factor | accessdate= 2006-07-03}}</ref> Later in 1997, ] was released for both ] and Windows, marking the beginning of the takeover of the browser market from rival ]. In October, the Justice Department filed a motion in the Federal ] in which they stated that Microsoft had violated an agreement signed in 1994, and asked the court to stop the bundling of Internet Explorer with Windows.<ref name="keyevents" /> | |||
| ] introduced a ], along with many other ]. This screenshot shows Windows XP Professional.]]The year 1998 was significant in Microsoft's history, with Bill Gates appointing ] as president of Microsoft but remaining as Chair and CEO himself.<ref name="keyevents" /> The company released ], an update to Windows 95 that incorporated a number of Internet-focused features and support for new types of devices.<ref name="keyevents" /> On ] ], a judgment was handed down in the case of ],<ref name="usvms" /> calling the company an "abusive monopoly"<ref name="findingsoffact">{{cite web | author = Thomas Penfield Jackson, U.S. District Judge | url= http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f3800/msjudgex.htm | title= U.S. vs. Microsoft findings of fact | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | date = ] | accessdate=2006-05-18}}</ref> and forcing the company to split into two separate units. Part of this ruling was later overturned by a federal ], and eventually settled with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001. | |||
| In 2001, Microsoft released ], the first version that encompassed the features of both its business and home product lines. XP introduced a new ], the first such change since Windows 95.<ref name="keyevents" /><ref>{{cite web | date = ] | url= http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/features.mspx | title= Windows XP Professional Features | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate= 2006-07-03}}</ref> Later, Microsoft would enter the multi-billion-dollar ] market dominated by ] and ], with the release of the ].<ref name="keyevents" /> Microsoft encountered more turmoil in March 2004 when antitrust legal action would be brought against it by the ] for allegedly abusing its market dominance (see ]), eventually resulting in a judgement to produce a new version of its Windows XP platform—called Windows XP Home Edition N—that did not include its ].<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/24/microsoft.eu/ | title= Microsoft hit by record EU fine | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate= 2006-05-19}}</ref><ref name="euantitrust">{{cite web | title= Commission Decision of 24.03.2004 relating to a proceeding under Article 82 of the EC Treaty (Case COMP/C-3/37.792 Microsoft) | publisher = Commission of the European Communities | url= http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/antitrust/cases/decisions/37792/en.pdf | date = ] | accessdate=August 5 | accessyear=2005 | format=]}} (from the official EU website)</ref> | |||
| === 2005–2007: Vista and other transitions === | |||
| <!-- remember - DESCRIPTION OF FUTURE EVENTS IS NOT ENCYCLOPEADIC --> | |||
| ] had major changes, mostly notable within its interface.]] | |||
| In ] Bill Gates announced a two year transition period from his role as Chief ], which would be taken by ], and planned to remain the company's chairman, head of the Board of Directors and act as an adviser on key projects.<ref>{{cite press release | url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jun06/06-15CorpNewsPR.mspx | title= Microsoft Announces Plans for July 2008 Transition for Bill Gates | publisher= Microsoft | date = ]| accessdate=2006-06-16}}</ref> ] is Microsoft's latest operating system, released in January 2007. ] was released at the same time; its "]" user interface is a significant departure from its predecessors. | |||
| == Product divisions == | |||
| <!-- Generally we stick to products that are in the current annual report here - if you wish to add one that is not you probably need to provide a reference for it --> | |||
| To be more precise in tracking performance of each unit and delegating responsibility, Microsoft reorganized into seven core business groups—each an independent financial entity—in April 2002. Later, on ] ], Microsoft announced a rationalization of its original seven business groups into the three core divisions that exist today: the Windows Client, MSN and Server and Tool groups were merged into the ''Microsoft Platform Products & Services Division''; the Information Worker and Microsoft Business Solutions groups were merged into the ''Microsoft Business Division''; and the Mobile and Embedded Devices and Home and Entertainment groups were merged into the ''Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division''.<ref>{{cite web | title= Our Commitment to Our Customers: Microsoft's Business| url= http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/articles/business.asp | publisher= Microsoft | date = ] | accessdate=2007-03-31 }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | title= Microsoft Realigns for Next Wave of Innovation and Growth: CEO Ballmer appoints presidents of three core divisions; Allchin announces retirement plan | url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/sep05/09-20ExecChangesPR.mspx | date = ] | accessdate=September 26 | publisher= Microsoft | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> | |||
| === Platform Products and Services === | |||
| ], one of the company's best-known products.]] | |||
| This division produces Microsoft's ] product, the Windows operating system. It has been produced in many versions, including ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. Almost all ] ] designed for the consumer come with Windows preinstalled. The current desktop version of Windows is Windows Vista. The ] MSN, the cable television station ], and the Microsoft online magazine ''Slate'' are all part of this division. ''Slate'' was later acquired by '']'' on ], ]. At the end of 1997, Microsoft acquired ], the most popular ] service, which it rebranded as "MSN Hotmail". Later in 1999 Microsoft introduced ], an ] client, to compete with the popular ]. Along with Windows Vista, MSN is to become ].<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| ] is the company's set of ] tools and ]. The software product is GUI-oriented and links easily with the ]s, but must be specially configured if used with non-Microsoft libraries. The current version is ]. The previous version, ].Net 2003, was named after the .NET initiative, a Microsoft marketing initiative covering a number of technologies. Microsoft's definition of .NET continues to evolve. As of 2004, .NET aims to ease the development of Microsoft Windows-based applications that use the Internet, by deploying a new Microsoft communications system, ] (now renamed ]). This is intended to address some issues previously introduced by Microsoft's DLL design, which made it difficult, even impossible in some situations, to manage, install multiple versions of complex ]s on the same system (see ]), and provide a more consistent development platform for all Windows applications (see ]). In addition, the Company established a set of certification programs to recognize individuals who have expertise in its software and solutions. Similar to offerings from ], ], ], IBM, and ], these tests are designed to identify a minimal set of proficiencies in a specific role; this includes developers (]), system/network analysts (]), trainers ("]") and administrators (] and ]).<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| Microsoft offers a suite of ] software, entitled ]. ], an operating system for network servers, is the core of the Windows Server System line. Another server product, ], is a collection of tools providing remote-control abilities, patch management, software distribution, and a hardware/software inventory. Other server products include: | |||
| * ], a ] management system; | |||
| * ], for certain business-oriented ] features; | |||
| * ], for messaging and other small business-oriented features; and | |||
| * ], for employee integration assistance and other functions.<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| As of November 2006 Microsoft has extended itself to ] and open source companies to allow Windows server to work harmoniously with servers running Linux. | |||
| === Business === | |||
| ] | |||
| The Microsoft Business Division produces ], which is the company's line of office software. The software product includes ] (a word processor), ] (a personal relational database application), ] (a ] program), ] (Windows-only ], frequently used with ]), ] (presentation software), ] (a ] ]), and ] (]). A number of other products were added later with the release of Office 2003 including ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| The division focuses on developing financial and business management software for companies. These products include products formerly produced by the Business Solutions Group, which was created in April 2001 with the acquisition of ]. Subsequently, ] was acquired to provide a similar entry into the European market, resulting in the planned release of ] in 2006. The group markets ] and Solomon, catering to similar markets, which is scheduled to be combined with the Navision and Great Plains lines into a common platform called ].<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| === Entertainment and Devices === | |||
| ], Microsoft's second system in the gaming console market.]] | |||
| Microsoft has attempted to expand the Windows brand into many other markets, with products such as ] for ] and its "Windows-powered" Smartphone products. Microsoft initially entered the mobile market through Windows CE for ]s, which today has developed into ] 5. The focus of the operating system is on devices where the OS may not directly be visible to the end user, in particular, appliances and cars. The company produces ], formerly ], a television-based ]. Microsoft used to sell a set-top ] (DVR) called the ], which allowed users to record up to 35 hours of television programming from a ] ] provider ]. This was the main competition in the UK for ]'s (BSkyB) SKY + service, owned by ]. UltimateTV has since been discontinued, with DirecTV instead opting to market DVRs from ] Inc. before later switching to their own ] brand.<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| Microsoft sells ] that run on Windows PCs, including titles such as '']'', '']'' and the '']'' series. It produces a line of ]s that include ]s and ], under the name Encarta. ] hosts free premium and retail games where players can compete against each other and in tournaments. Microsoft entered the multi-billion-dollar ] market dominated by ] and ] in late 2001,<ref>{{cite web | title = NPD Reports Annual 2001 U.S. Interactive Entertainment Sales Shatter Industry Record | publisher = Business Wire | date = ] ] | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2002_Feb_7/ai_82604922 | accessdate = 2007-03-31}}</ref> with the release of the ]. The company develops and publishes its own video games for this console, with the help of its ] subsidiary, in addition to ] Xbox ]s such as ] and ], who pay a license fee to publish games for the system. The Xbox also has a successor in the ], released on ] in ] and other countries.<ref>{{cite web | author = Alexander Wolfe | url=http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174401045 | work= Information Week | publisher=] | title= Midnight Madness Hypes Xbox 360 Launch | date = ] ] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date = ] ] | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4491804.stm | title= Xbox 360 sells out within hours | publisher=] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> With the ], Microsoft hopes to compensate for the losses incurred with the original ]. However, Microsoft made some decisions considered controversial in the video ], such as selling two different versions of the system, as well as providing ] with only particular Xbox titles.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.gamespot.com/news/6139702.html | title= 360 to play 200-plus Xbox games | author= Tor Thorsen | publisher= GameSpot | date= ] | accessdate=2006-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.gamespot.com/news/6140998.html | title=360 backward-compatibility update rereleased | author=Tor Thorsen | publisher=GameSpot | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-14}}</ref> In addition to the Xbox line of products, Microsoft also markets a number of other computing-related hardware products as well, including ], ], ]s, and ]s, along with other ]s, the production of which is ] in most cases.<ref name="2005annual" /> | |||
| == Business culture == | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| Microsoft has often been described as having a developer-centric business culture. A great deal of time and money is spent each year on recruiting young university-trained ]s and on keeping them in the company. For example, while many software companies often place an entry-level software developer in a cubicle desk within a large office space filled with other cubicles, Microsoft assigns a private or semiprivate closed office to every developer or pair of developers. In addition, key ] at every level are either developers or former developers. In a sense, the software developers at Microsoft are considered the "stars" of the company in the same way that the sales staff at IBM are considered the "stars" of their company.<ref name="bb" /> | |||
| Within Microsoft the expression ] is used to describe the policy of using the latest Microsoft products inside the company in an effort to test them in "real-world" situations. Only prerelease and beta versions of products are considered dog food.<ref name="dogfood">{{cite web | author=CNET News.com Staff | title=Microsoft tests its own 'dog food' | url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5047467.html | date=] | work=ZDNet| publisher=] |accessdate=2005-10-09 }}</ref> This is usually shortened to just "dog food" and is used as noun, verb, and adjective. The company is also known for their hiring process, dubbed the "]", which is notorious for off-the-wall questions such as "Why is a ] round?" and is a process often mimicked in other organizations, although these types of questions are rarer now than they were in the past.<ref>{{cite web | author=William Poundstone | date=] | url=http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/features/6282/Square_Manhole_Covers_and_Crazy_Questions.html | title=Square Manhole Covers and Crazy Questions | work=G4TV| publisher=] | accessdate=2006-07-01}}</ref> For fun, Microsoft also hosts the ], an annual ] (a live puzzle game where teams compete to solve a series of puzzles) held at the Redmond campus. | |||
| As of 2006, Microsoft employees, not including Bill Gates, have given over $2.5bn dollars to ]s worldwide, making Microsoft the worldwide top company in per-employee donations.<ref>{{cite press release | title=Microsoft and Its Employees Surpass $2.5 Billion Mark Through Charitable Donations: Culture of volunteerism and philanthropy encourages company and 70,000 employees to make a difference | url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/sep06/09-21CharitableDonationsPR.mspx | publisher= Microsoft | date = ] ] | accessdate= 2006-09-22 }}</ref> In January 2007, the Harris Interactive/The Wall Street Journal Reputation Quotient survey recognized Microsoft as having the world's best corporate reputation. Aside from citing strong financial performance, vision & leadership, and workplace environment rankings, the survey noted that the company's reputation has been boosted by the work of the ].<ref>{{cite news | title= How Boss's Deeds Buff a Firm's Reputation | url= http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB117019715069692873.html | author= Ron Alsop | publisher=The Wall Street Journal | date=] | accessdate=2007-01-31}}</ref> | |||
| == User culture == | |||
| <!-- Note that we could really use more here about the user culture as the expected bahaviur - i.e. how apple tends to generate advocates while Microsoft users mainly see its products as tools, for example --> | |||
| Technical reference for developers and articles for various Microsoft magazines such as ''Microsoft Systems Journal'' (or MSJ) are available through the Microsoft Developer Network, often called ]. MSDN also offers subscriptions for companies and individuals, and the more expensive subscriptions usually offer access to pre-release beta versions of Microsoft software.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscriptions/faq/default.aspx | publisher=Microsoft| title= MSDN Subscription FAQ |accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/msj/ | title= Microsoft Systems Journal Homepage | publisher= Microsoft| date = ] ] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> In recent years, Microsoft launched a community site for developers and users, entitled ], which provides many modern features such as a ] and an ].<ref>{{cite web | author = Neville Hobson | url= http://www.webpronews.com/news/webdevelopmentnews/wpn-42-20050411MicrosoftsChannel9andCulturalRules.html | title= Microsoft's Channel 9 And Cultural Rules | work= WebProNews |publisher=] | date = ] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> Another community site that provides daily ]s and other services, ''On10.net'', launched on March 3, 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.On10.net | title= On10.net homepage | accessdate= 2006-05-04}}</ref> | |||
| Most free technical support available through Microsoft is provided through online ] ] (in the early days it was also provided on ]). There are several of these newsgroups for nearly every product Microsoft provides, and often they are monitored by Microsoft employees. People who are helpful on the newsgroups can be elected by other peers or Microsoft employees for ] (MVP) status, which entitles people to a sort of special social status, in addition to possibilities for awards and other benefits.<ref name="MVP" /> | |||
| == Corporate affairs == | |||
| === Corporate structure === | |||
| The company is run by a Board of Directors consisting of ten people, made up of mostly company outsiders (as is customary for ] companies). Current members of the ] are: ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/bod/default.mspx| title= Microsoft Board of Directors| work=PressPass| publisher=Microsoft |accessdate=2007-03-26}}</ref> The ten board members are elected every year at the annual ]s' meeting, and those who do not get a majority of votes must submit a ] to the board, which will subsequently choose whether or not to accept the resignation. There are five committees within the board which oversee more specific matters. These committees include the Audit Committee, which handles accounting issues with the company including auditing and reporting; the Compensation Committee, which approves compensation for the CEO and other employees of the company; the Finance Committee, which handles ] matters such as proposing mergers and acquisitions; the Governance and Nominating Committee, which handles various corporate matters including nomination of the board; and the Antitrust Compliance Committee, which attempts to prevent company practices from violating ] laws.<ref>{{cite web | title=Microsoft Corporation Corporate Governance Guidelines | url= http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/governance/guidelines.mspx | publisher=Microsoft |accessdate=9 October | accessyear=2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Microsoft 2005 Proxy Statement |publisher= Microsoft |url= http://www.microsoft.com/msft/reports/proxy2005.mspx | accessdate=2006-07-03 }}</ref> | |||
| There are several other aspects to the corporate structure of Microsoft. For worldwide matters there is the Executive Team, made up of sixteen company officers across the globe, which is charged with various duties including making sure employees understand Microsoft's culture of business. The sixteen officers of the Executive Team include the Chairman and ], the CEO, the ] and Secretary, the ], senior and group vice presidents from the business units, the CEO of the Europe, the Middle East and Africa regions; and the heads of Worldwide Sales, Marketing and Services; ]; and Corporate Marketing. In addition to the Executive Team there is also the Corporate Staff Council, which handles all major staff functions of the company, including approving corporate policies. The Corporate Staff Council is made up of employees from the Law and Corporate Affairs, Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Marketing, and Advanced Strategy and Policy groups at Microsoft. Other ] include the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the various product divisions, leaders of the marketing section, and the ], among others.<ref>{{cite web | title= Microsoft 2004 Citizenship Report | url= http://www.microsoft.com/citizenship/default.mspx | publisher= Microsoft| accessdate=9 October | accessyear=2005 }}</ref>{{check}}<ref name="2005annual" /><!-- This is a problem - the current version up is not the 2004 Citizenship report, and doesn't verify the text. Can't find older version in internet archive; this needs to be updated. --> | |||
| === Stock === | |||
| When the company debuted its ] in ], ], the ] price was US$21.<ref name="stockfaq">{{cite web | title= Microsoft Stock and Shareholder Frequently Asked Questions | |||
| | url= http://www.microsoft.com/msft/FAQ/stock.mspx | publisher = Microsoft | accessdate=2006-07-03 }}</ref><ref name="stocksheet">{{cite web | title= Microsoft stock price spreadsheet from Microsoft investor relations | url= http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/a/7/da7e8eca-4410-4475-a211-03327408b655/msftpricehist.xls | publisher = Microsoft | accessdate=2006-07-04 }} (] format)</ref> By the close of the first ], the stock had closed at twenty-eight dollars, equivalent to 9.7 cents when adjusted for the company's first nine ].<ref name="stocksheet" /> The initial close and ensuing rise in subsequent years made several Microsoft employees millions.<ref name="stockrich" /> The stock price peaked in 1999 at around US$119 (US$60.928 adjusting for splits).<ref name="stocksheet" /> While the company has had nine stock splits, the first of which was in ] ], the company did not start offering a ] until ] ].<ref name="stocksheet" /><ref name="dividendfaq">{{cite web | title= Dividend Frequently Asked Questions | url= http://www.microsoft.com/msft/FAQ/dividend.mspx | publisher = Microsoft | accessdate= 2006-07-03 }}</ref> The dividend for the 2003 ] was eight cents per ], followed by a dividend of sixteen cents per share the subsequent year.<ref name="dividendfaq" /> The company switched from yearly to quarterly dividends in 2005, for eight cents a share per quarter with a ] of three dollars per share for the second quarter of the fiscal year.<ref name="dividendfaq" /> | |||
| Around 2003 the stock price began a slow descent. Despite the company's ninth split on ] ] and subsequent increases in dividend payouts, the price of Microsoft's stock continued to fall for the next several years.<ref name="dividendfaq" /><ref>{{cite web | title=Yahoo MSFT stock chart | url= http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=MSFT&t=my | publisher = Yahoo Finance | accessdate=9 October | accessyear=2005 }}<br>* {{cite web | title= MSN Money MSFT chart with dividend and split info | url=http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/charts/chartdl.asp?Symbol=MSFT&CP=0&PT=8&C5=10&C6=2005&C7=10&C8=2005&C9=2&CE=0&CompSyms=&CF=1&D9=1&D0=1&D4=1&D5=0&D7=&D6=&D3=0&ShowChtBt=Refresh+Chart | publisher = MSN Money | accessdate=9 October | accessyear=2005 }}<br>* {{cite web | author = Ina Fried and Scott Ard | url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6084396.html?tag=st.prev | title= Gates stepping down from full-time Microsoft role, page 2 | date = ] ] | publisher = ZDNet News | accessdate= 2006-07-04}}</ref> However, starting around late 2006, Microsoft's stock began a slow but somewhat steady climb, helped in part by the release of two important projects, the ] operating system and the ] productivity suite. | |||
| === Diversity === | |||
| In 2005, Microsoft received a 100% rating in the Corporate Equality Index from the ], a ranking of companies by how progressive the organization deems their policies concerning ] (], ], ] and ]) employees. Partly through the work of the ] (GLEAM) group, Microsoft added ] to its antidiscrimination policies in April 2005, and the Human Rights Campaign upgraded Microsoft's Corporate Equality Index from its 86% rating in 2004 to its current 100% rating.<ref>{{cite web | title= Corporate Equality Index: A Report Card on Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Equality in Corporate America | date = 2005 | url= http://www.hrc.org/TemplateRedirect.cfm?Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=28841 | publisher= Human Rights Campaign Foundation | accessdate= October 13 | accessyear=2005 | format=PDF }} </ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Gay and Lesbian Employees at Microsoft (GLEAM) | url= http://www.microsoft.com/citizenship/diversity/inside/dac/gleam.asp | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate=2006-06-26}}</ref> | |||
| In April 2005, Microsoft received wide criticism for withdrawing support from Washington state's H.B. 1515 bill that would have extended the state's current antidiscrimination laws to people with alternate ]s,<ref>{{cite press release | title= HRC Expresses profound disappoingment with Microsoft's withdrawal of support for H.B. 1515 | url= http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=26588&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm | publisher= Human Rights Campaign Foundation | date = ] ] | accessdate=August 11 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref>. Microsoft was accused of bowing to pressure from local evangelical pastor Ken Hutcherson who met with a senior Microsoft executive and threatened a national boycott of Microsoft's products. <ref></ref> Microsoft also revealed they were paying evangelical conservative ] company Century Strategies a $20,000 monthly fee.<ref></ref> Over 2,000 employees signed a petition asking Microsoft to reinstate support for the bill. <ref name="changemind">{{cite news | url= http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2005/tc20050512_7358_tc024.htm | title= How Microsoft Changed Its Mind | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-01}}</ref> Under harsh criticism from both outside and inside the company's walls, Microsoft decided to support the bill again in May 2005.<ref>{{cite press release | title= Microsoft makes right decision renewing support for workplace fairness | url= http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=26803&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm | publisher= Human Rights Campaign Foundation | date = ] ] | accessdate=August 11 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref><ref name="changemind" /> | |||
| Microsoft hires many foreign workers as well as domestic ones, and is an outspoken opponent of the cap on ]s, which allow companies in the United States to employ certain foreign workers. Bill Gates claims the cap on H1B visas make it difficult to hire employees for the company, stating "I'd certainly get rid of the H1B cap."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3500986 |title= Gates Rakes Congress on H1B Visa Cap| author= Roy Mark |publisher= internetnews.com| date= ] | accessdate= 2007-02-26}}</ref> | |||
| '']'' magazine named Microsoft one of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers in 2004 and 2005.<ref name="awards">{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/citizenship/diversity/inside/awards.asp | title= Awards received by Microsoft | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate=2006-07-01}}</ref> | |||
| === Logos and slogans === | |||
| In 1987, Microsoft adopted its current logo, the so-called "] Logo" designed by ]. According to the March 1987 ''Computer Reseller News Magazine'', "The new logo, in Helvetica italic typeface, has a slash between the ''o'' and ''s '' to emphasize the "soft" part of the name and convey motion and speed." Dave Norris, a Microsoft employee, ran an internal joke campaign to save the old logo, which was green, in all uppercase, and featured a fanciful letter ''O'', nicknamed the ''blibbet'', but it was discarded.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2005/07/14/438777.aspx | title= Remember the blibbet | publisher= Larry Osterman's WebLog | author=Larry Osterman | date= ] ] | accessdate= 2006-07-04}}</ref>{{check}}<!--Blogs are not reliable sources--> | |||
| Microsoft's logo depicted here, with the "''Your potential. Our passion.''" tagline below the main corporate name, is based on the slogan Microsoft had as of 2006. In 2002, the company started using the logo in the United States and eventually started a TV campaign with the slogan, changed from the previous tagline of ''"Where do you want to go today?."''<ref name="wherego1" /><ref name="potentialpassion1" /><ref>{{cite web | url= http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060123-6031.html | title= Microsoft set to launch new marketing campaign | publisher= Ars Technica | author= Jeremy Reimer | date=] | accessdate= 2006-09-02}}</ref> | |||
| <div align="center"> | |||
| <gallery> | |||
| Image:Mslogohistorical.png|Microsoft "blibbet" logo, mid-1980s. | |||
| Image:Microsoft - Where do you want to go today.svg|Microsoft logo with the 1994–2002 slogan ''"Where do you want to go today?"''<ref name="wherego1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.12/redmond.html|title=The Rise and Rise of the Redmond Empire|publisher=Wired|date=December 1998|accessdate=2006-09-02}}</ref><ref name="potentialpassion1">{{cite news|url=http://www.vnuemedia.com/aw/login/login_subscribe.jsp?id=zf1eaW8N0UQ6/I7ScH8pMBa0vvBdIda7Co4SD6hXb+3YurLHGiElVKfMCKLSDvhMfcWYNjLTbIp5AaUu4URhUaFftYJBpPT7jwY6KH8vjzYvjVSV2x+gdxcTLL4+tmQ2Z5tb84fvTveHEbebObdFah1P+29WbIGTxFtp+/aekDByqf0fbIC4bPDrIVMwdstxi+4MyyvXbRwq0uaWMzTesw7be966TpBoUMjnkuRLrNTx2p8wkW6SQ83Q+90D6V4q4ClrnGOk7MloSfykn7IREg==|title=McCann Thinks Local for Global Microsoft|author=Randi Schmelzer|publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2006-05-18}}</ref> | |||
| Image:Microsoft logo slogan.png|Microsoft logo as of 2006, with the slogan ''"Your potential. Our passion."''<ref name="potentialpassion1" /> | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| </div> | |||
| == Criticism == | |||
| {{see also | Criticism of Microsoft}} | |||
| === Corporate === | |||
| Since the 1980s, Microsoft has been the focus of much controversy in the computer industry. Most criticism has been for its business tactics, which some perceive as unfair and anticompetitive. Often, these tactics have been described with the motto "]". Microsoft initially embraces a competing standard or product, then extends it to produce their own incompatible version of the software or standard, which in time extinguishes competition that does not or cannot use Microsoft's new version.<ref name="eee">{{cite web | url= http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-512681.html | title=Intel exec: MS wanted to 'extend, embrace and extinguish' competition | author= Will Rodger | publisher=] News | date=] | accessdate=2006-05-18}}</ref> These and other tactics have led to various companies and governments filing lawsuits against Microsoft.<ref>{{cite press release | url= http://www.burst.com/new/newsevents/pressrelease007.htm | title= Microsoft Corp. Licenses Burst.com Patents & Settles Suit | publisher= Burst.com Inc. | date = ] ] | accessdate=2006-05-18}}<br>* {{cite web | author= Andrew Orlowski | date= ] | publisher= theregister.co.uk | url= http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/03/05/eolas_web_patent_nullified/ | title= Eolas' web patent nullified | accessdate=2006-05-18}}<br>* {{cite web | author= Tony Dennis | url= http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=6905 | title= Sendo & Microsoft — it all ends in tears | date= ] | publisher= TheInquirer.net | accessdate=2006-05-18}}<br>* {{cite news | url= http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/12/07/HNmicrosoftfined_1.html | title= Update: Microsoft fined $32M by South Korea | author=Dan Nystedt | publisher= IDG News Service | date=] | accessdate= 2006-05-19}}</ref><ref name="euantitrust" /><ref name="usvms" /> Microsoft has been called a "velvet sweatshop" in reference to allegations of the company working its employees to the point where it might be bad for their health. The first instance of "velvet sweatshop" in reference to Microsoft originated from a '']'' article in 1989, and later became used to describe the company by some of Microsoft's own employees.<ref>{{cite news | last=Andrews | first=Paul | title=A 'Velvet Sweatshop' or a High-Tech Heaven? | date=] ] | publisher= The Seattle Times | url= http://www.krsaborio.net/research/1980s/89/890423.htm | accessdate= 2007-03-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= Editor's note | date= August 1997 | publisher= Microsoft Systems Journal | url= http://www.microsoft.com/msj/0897/ednote0897.aspx | accessdate= September 27 | accessyear=2005 }}</ref> | |||
| ] proponents point to the company's joining of the ] (TCPA) as a cause of concern. A group of companies that seek to implement an initiative called ] (which is claimed to set out to increase security and privacy in a user's computer), the TCPA is decried by critics as a means to allow software developers to enforce any sort of restriction they wish over their software. | |||
| {{"|Large media corporations, together with computer companies such as Microsoft and ], are planning to make your computer obey them instead of you |], founder of the ]<ref> {{cite web |url= http://news.com.com/2009-1001-964628.html |title= Trust or treachery? Security technologies could backfire against consumers |publisher= ] ] |author= Robert Lemos |date= ] |accessdate= 2006-05-18}}</ref>}} | |||
| Advocates of free software also take issue with Microsoft's promotion of ] (DRM), and the company's ] (TCO) comparisons with its "Get the facts" campaign. Digital Rights Management is a technology that gives digital content and software providers the ability to put restrictions on how their products are used on their customers' machines; these restrictions are seen by the technology's detractors as an infringement on ] and other rights.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=465447 |publisher= Informit.com | title= | |||
| DRM: Digital Rights or Digital Restrictions? | author= David Chisnall |date= ] | accessdate= 2006-05-18}}</ref> DRM restricts even legal uses, for example, re-mixing or playing in a slideshow. Microsoft is not the only platform provider who supports DRM, however. For example, Apple Computer has been under fire from the French Government for "]," a DRM system used to control usage of content downloaded from its ] service.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.internetnews.com/ec-news/article.php/3593541 | title= A French Crack at FairPlay | publisher= internetnews.com | author= Nicholas Carlson | date=] | accessdate=2006-05-23}}</ref> The "Get the facts" campaign argues that Windows Server has a lower TCO than Linux and lists a variety of studies in order to prove its case.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/facts/default.mspx | title= Get the facts home | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> Proponents of Linux unveiled their own study arguing that, contrary to one of Microsoft's claims, Linux has lower management costs than Windows Server.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2150210/linux-fans-hit-back-microsoft | title= Linux fans hit back at Microsoft TCO claims | author= Robert Jaques | publisher= vnunet.com | date=] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> Another study by the ] claims that Windows Server costs less than Linux for those with legacy systems and more for those without.<ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1553727,00.asp | title= Yankee Independently Pits Windows TCO vs. Linux TCO | author= Mary Jo Foley | publisher= eWeek.com | date=] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> | |||
| === Technical === | |||
| ]" in ]. It is a screen encountered when Windows cannot (or is in danger of being unable to) recover from a system error.<ref name="bluescreenqa">{{cite news | url= http://tech2.nytimes.com/mem/technology/techreview.html?res=9C03E6DD1E31F936A15750C0A96F958260 | title= Q & A; Blue Screen: Not 'Death,' But Annoying | author= J. D. Biersdorfer | publisher= New York Times | date=] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref>]] | |||
| Older versions of Microsoft products were often characterized as being unstable—versions of Windows based on MS-DOS, and later the ] kernel from the mid 1990s to early 2000s, were widely panned for their instability, displaying the "]", when Windows abruptly terminates an application—usually due to malfunctioning drivers or hardware. In Windows NT/2000/XP Professional, the blue screen is also known as the ''Windows Stop Message''.<ref name="bluescreenqa" /><ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1647 | title= Beginners Guides: Crash Recovery - Dealing with the Blue Screen Of Death | publisher= pcstats.com | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> While less frequent, Windows 2000 and XP are still susceptible to Blue Screens of Death.<ref>{{cite web |author= Richard Richtmyer | url= http://money.cnn.com/2001/08/23/technology/windowsxp/index.htm | title= Opening up Windows XP: New features are nice, but compatibility could be a problem | publisher= CNN | date=] | accessdate= 2006-05-26}}</ref> Blue Screens of Death in Windows NT/2000/XP and later Windows systems are the equivalent of ]s in ] systems. Although many of these bugs are from Windows itself, Microsoft stated {{Fact|date=March 2007}} that computer users who are not familiar with the division of responsibilities among applications, the operating system, and third-party ]s sometimes blame them for problems that are created by third-party software, particularly poorly written device drivers. As an effort to enforce the usage of signed drivers (which must pass a compatibility test), Microsoft announced that they will disallow unsigned drivers in the ] editions of Windows Vista.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/4915/ | title= IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL message restarts my Windows 2000 server | publisher= hardwareanalysis.com | date = ] ] | accessdate= 2006-05-19}}<!--This is a message board, not a reliable source--></ref>{{check}}<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/winlogo/benefits/signature-benefits.mspx | title= Digital Signature Benefits for Windows Users | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate= 2006-05-19}}</ref>{{check}}<ref>{{cite web | url= http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=244617 | title= How to Use Driver Verifier to Troubleshoot Windows Drivers | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate=2006-05-19}}<br>* {{cite web | author = Paul Thurrott | url= http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_ff_x64.asp | title= Windows Vista Feature Focus: 64-bit Support | date = ] ] | publisher= Supersite for Windows | accessdate=2006-05-26}}</ref> | |||
| Numerous Microsoft products, most notably Internet Explorer and earlier versions of Outlook, are seen as being insecure to malicious attacks such as ]es. Rob Pegoraro, writing for the ], says that due to Windows leaving five Internet ports open for various running services, malware has an easier time compromising the system.<ref name="insecurebydesign">{{cite news | url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34978-2003Aug23?language=printer | title= Microsoft Windows: Insecure by Design | first= Rob | last= Pegoraro | publisher= Washington Post | date=] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> In an article for ], ] said that as of ] there were 153 accumulated security holes since ] and that Internet Explorer "is a buggy, insecure, dangerous piece of software."<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/249 | title=Time to Dump Internet Explorer | author= Scott Granneman | publisher=securityfocus.com | date=] | accessdate= 2006-05-19}}</ref> Mike Nash, a Microsoft Corporate Vice President, responded to Internet Explorer security concerns in a 2005 interview by stating that the version of Internet Explorer shipped with Windows XP Service Pack 2 gives it security on the same level as its competition.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2005/feb05/02-15Updates.mspx | title=Q&A: How Microsoft Is Keeping Pace with an Ever-Changing Security Landscape | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate= 2006-05-19}}</ref> The current version, ], has a security overhaul with anti-phishing and malware prevention technology.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/community/columns/securityupgrade.mspx | title=Internet Explorer 7: Security gets an upgrade | publisher= Microsoft | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> | |||
| == Microsoft.com == | |||
| Microsoft.com is one of the most popular destinations on the Internet, receiving more than 100 million hits per day. According to Alexa.com, Microsoft.com is ranked 13th amongst all websites for Traffic Rank as on March 30, 2007.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?url=Microsoft.com | title= Related info for: Microsoft.com | publisher = Alexa.com | accessdate=2007-03-30}}</ref> This is however atleast partly attributed to the default settings of ], which sets the initial homepage of Internet Explorer to Microsoft.com. | |||
| <gallery> | |||
| Image:Microsoft starmap.png|One of the first Microsoft.com ]s, from April ] to August ].<ref name="Microsoft.com">{{cite web | last= Kramer | first= Dave | url= http://www.microsoft.com/misc/features/features_flshbk.htm | title= A Brief History of Microsoft on the Web – Reflections on microsoft.com from Birth to 'Middle Age' | publisher= Microsoft Corporation | date = ] | accessdate= 2007-02-05}}</ref> | |||
| Image:Microsoft website 1999.png|The Microsoft.com homepage as of December ].<ref name="Microsoft.com"/> | |||
| Image:Microsoft.com 2006 screenshot.png|The Microsoft.com homepage as of November ]. | |||
| Image:Microsoft.com screenshot.png|The current Microsoft.com homepage design. Screenshot as of January ]. | |||
| </gallery> | |||
| == See also == | |||
| <!-- Please do not turn these bullets into headers! They expand the TOC and make the FAC people rather unhappy --> | |||
| '''General''' | |||
| * '']'' − A movie based on the rise of Apple and Microsoft. | |||
| '''Microsoft''' | |||
| * ] − Set of toys developed by Microsoft. | |||
| * ] − Part of Microsoft's technical support that deals with malware and virus issues. | |||
| * ] − Microsoft's initiative for increasing security and reliability on PCs. | |||
| * ] − Joint specification by Microsoft and others for a small form factor ]. | |||
| * ] − A division responsible for the creation of video content for Microsoft and its partners. | |||
| * ] - A division responsible for the research of computer sciences. | |||
| '''Lists''' | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == Notes and references == | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| == External links == | |||
| {{portal}} | |||
| <!--- | |||
| Please | |||
| 1) Follow the ] guideline if you can, and consider discussing on the talk page | |||
| 2) Do not turn these bullets into headers! They expand the TOC and make the FAC people rather unhappy | |||
| --> | |||
| {{Sisterlinks | Microsoft}} | |||
| * — ''Official website'' | |||
| {{Microsoft products}} | |||
| {{IT giants}} | |||
| {{DJIA}} | |||
| {{featured article}} | |||
| {{Seattle Corporations}} | |||
| <!-- Categorization, interwiki stuff. | |||
| !!!!!!!!!!!!!DO NOT ADD ANY CATEGORIES HERE!!!!!!!!!! | |||
| !!!!!!!!!!!!!ADD THEM TO THE MICROSOFT CATEGORY INSTEAD!!!!!!!!! | |||
| --> | |||
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Revision as of 20:05, 13 April 2007
Aaron likes to eat his own penis!