Difference between revisions of "Microsoft"

Latest revision as of 20:03, 30 September 2008

Microsoft Corporation, is an American multinational computer technology corporation with global annual revenue of US$44.28 billion and 76,000 employees in 102 countries. It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices.^[1]^[2]^[3] Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, its best selling products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of productivity software. The company's name is sometimes abbreviated as MS or MSFT.

These products have all achieved near-ubiquity in the desktop computer market. One commentator notes that Microsoft's original mission was "a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software"â€”it is a goal near fulfillment.^[4] Microsoft possesses footholds in other markets, with assets such as the MSNBC cable television network, the MSN Internet portal, and the Microsoft Encarta multimedia encyclopedia. The company also markets both computer hardware products such as the Microsoft mouse as well as home entertainment products such as the Xbox, Xbox 360, Zune, and MSN TV.^[1]

Originally founded to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800, Microsoft rose to dominate the home computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s. The company released an initial public offering (IPO) in the stock market, which, due to the ensuing rise of the stock price, has made four billionaires and an estimated 12,000 millionaires from Microsoft employees.^[5]^[6]^[7] Throughout its history the company has been the target of criticism, including monopolistic business practicesâ€”the U.S. Justice Department, among others, has sued Microsoft for antitrust violations and software bundling.^[8] Known for what is generally described as a developer-centric business culture, Microsoft has historically given customer support over Usenet newsgroups and the World Wide Web, and awards Microsoft MVP status to volunteers who are deemed helpful in assisting the company's customers.^[9]^[7]

History[edit]

1975â€“1985: Founding[edit]

File:Microsoft-Staff-1978.jpg

Microsoft staff photo from Dec 7, 1978. From left to right:
Top: Steve Wood, Bob Wallace, Jim Lane.
Middle: Bob O'Rear, Bob Greenberg, Marc McDonald, Gordon Letwin.
Bottom: Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Marla Wood, Paul Allen.

Following the launch of the Altair 8800, Bill Gates called the creators of the new microcomputer, Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems, offering to demonstrate an implementation of the BASIC programming language for the system. After the demonstration, MITS agreed to distribute Altair BASIC.^[10] Gates left Harvard University, moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where MITS was located, and founded Microsoft there. The company's first international office was founded on November 1, 1978, in Japan, entitled "ASCII Microsoft" (now called "Microsoft Japan").^[10] On January 1, 1979, the company moved from Albuquerque to a new home in Bellevue, Washington.^[10] Steve Ballmer joined the company on June 11, 1980, and would later succeed Bill Gates as CEO.^[10]

DOS (Disk Operating System) was the operating system that brought the company its real success. On August 12, 1981, after negotiations with Digital Research failed, IBM awarded a contract to Microsoft to provide a version of the CP/M operating system, which was set to be used in the upcoming IBM Personal Computer (PC). For this deal, Microsoft purchased a CP/M clone called QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from Tim Paterson of Seattle Computer Products, which IBM renamed to PC-DOS. Later, the market saw a flood of IBM PC clones after Columbia Data Products successfully cloned the IBM BIOS, and through aggressive marketing of their own QDOS derivative, MS-DOS, to manufacturers of IBM-PC clones Microsoft rose from a small player to one of the major software vendors in the home computer industry.^[11] The company expanded into new markets with the release of the Microsoft Mouse in 1983, as well as a publishing division named Microsoft Press.^[10]

1985â€“1995: OS/2 and Windows[edit]

On November 20, 1985, Microsoft released its first retail version of Microsoft Windows, originally a graphical extension for its MS-DOS operating system.^[10] In August, Microsoft and IBM partnered in the development of a different operating system called OS/2.^[12] Around one month later, on March 13, 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 OEMs.^[13]

The sign at a main entrance to the Microsoft corporate campus. The Redmond Microsoft campus today includes more than 8 million square feet (approx. 750,000 mÂ²) and over 30,000 employees.^[14]

In 1989, Microsoft introduced its most successful office product, Microsoft Office. Microsoft Office was a bundle of separate office productivity applications, such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.^[10] On May 22, 1990 Microsoft launched Windows 3.0.^[15] The new version of Microsoft's operating system boasted such new features as streamlined user interface graphics and improved protected mode capability for the Intel 386 processor; it sold over 100,000 copies in two weeks.^[16] 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.^[17] 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 Microsoft Office allowed the company to gain ground on application-software competitors, such as WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3.^[18]^[19] According to The Register, Novell, an owner of WordPerfect for a time, alleged that Microsoft used its inside knowledge of the DOS and Windows kernels and of undocumented Application Programming Interface features to make Office perform better than its competitors.^[20] Eventually, Microsoft Office became the dominant business suite, with a market share far exceeding that of its competitors.^[21]

In 1993, Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1, a server-based operating system with a similar user interface to consumer versions of the operating system, but with an entirely different kernel.^[18] In 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95, a new version of the company's flagship operating system which featured a completely new user interface, including a novel start button; more than a million copies of Microsoft Windows 95 were sold in the first four days after its release.^[18] The company later released its web browser, Internet Explorer, with the Windows 95 Plus! Pack in August 1995 and subsequent Windows versions.^[22]

1995â€“2005: Internet and legal issues[edit]

In the mid-90s, Microsoft began to expand its product line into computer networking and the World Wide Web. On August 24 1995, it launched a major online service, MSN (Microsoft Network), as a direct competitor to AOL. MSN became an umbrella service for Microsoft's online services.^[10]^[18]^[23] The company continued to branch out into new markets in 1996, starting with a joint venture with NBC to create a new 24/7 cable news station, MSNBC.^[18]^[24] Microsoft entered the personal digital assistant (PDA) market in November with Windows CE 1.0, 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.^[25] Later in 1997, Internet Explorer 4.0 was released for both Mac OS and Windows, marking the beginning of the takeover of the browser market from rival Netscape. In October, the Justice Department filed a motion in the Federal District Court 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.^[10]

File:Windows XP.PNG

Windows XP introduced a new interface, along with many other new features. This screenshot shows Windows XP Professional.

The year 1998 was significant in Microsoft's history, with Bill Gates appointing Steve Ballmer as president of Microsoft but remaining as Chair and CEO himself.^[10] The company released Windows 98, an update to Windows 95 that incorporated a number of Internet-focused features and support for new types of devices.^[10] On April 3 2000, a judgment was handed down in the case of United States v. Microsoft,^[8] calling the company an "abusive monopoly"^[26] and forcing the company to split into two separate units. Part of this ruling was later overturned by a federal appeals court, and eventually settled with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001.

In 2001, Microsoft released Windows XP, the first version that encompassed the features of both its business and home product lines. XP introduced a new graphical user interface, the first such change since Windows 95.^[10]^[27] Later, Microsoft would enter the multi-billion-dollar game console market dominated by Sony and Nintendo, with the release of the Xbox.^[10] Microsoft encountered more turmoil in March 2004 when antitrust legal action would be brought against it by the European Union for allegedly abusing its market dominance (see European Union Microsoft antitrust case), eventually resulting in a judgement to produce a new version of its Windows XP platformâ€”called Windows XP Home Edition Nâ€”that did not include its Windows Media Player.^[28]^[29]

2005â€“Present: Vista and other transitions[edit]

File:Windows Vista Desktop.png

Windows Vista had major changes, mostly notable within its interface.

In 2006, Bill Gates announced a two year transition period from his role as Chief Software Architect, which would be taken by Ray Ozzie, and planned to remain the company's chairman, head of the Board of Directors and act as an adviser on key projects.^[30] Windows Vista is Microsoft's latest operating system, released in January 2007. Microsoft Office 2007 was released at the same time; its "Ribbon" user interface is a significant departure from its predecessors.

Corporate[edit]

Since the 1980s, Microsoft has been the focus of much controversy in the computer industry.^[unverified] Most criticism has been for its business tactics, which some perceive as unfair and anticompetitive.^[unverified] Often, these tactics have been described with the motto "embrace, extend and extinguish". 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.^[31] These and other tactics have led to various companies and governments filing lawsuits against Microsoft.^[32]^[29]^[8] 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 Seattle Times article in 1989, and later became used to describe the company by some of Microsoft's own employees.^[33]^[34]

Free software proponents point to the company's joining of the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA) as a cause of concern. A group of companies that seek to implement an initiative called Trusted Computing (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.

Template:"

Advocates of free software also take issue with Microsoft's promotion of Digital Rights Management (DRM), and the company's total cost of ownership (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 fair use and other rights.^[35] DRM restricts even legal uses, for example, re-mixing or playing in a slideshow. 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.^[36] Proponents of Linux unveiled their own study arguing that, contrary to one of Microsoft's claims, Linux has lower management costs than Windows Server.^[37] Another study by the Yankee Group claims that Windows Server costs less than Linux for those with legacy systems and more for those without.^[38]

Technical[edit]

It is a screen encountered when Windows cannot (or is in danger of being unable to) recover from a system error.^[39]]] Older versions of Microsoft products were often characterized as being unstableâ€”versions of Windows based on MS-DOS, and later the Windows 95 kernel from the mid 1990s to early 2000s, were widely panned for their instability, displaying the "Blue Screen of Death", when Windows abruptly terminates an applicationâ€”usually due to malfunctioning drivers or hardware. In Windows NT/2000/XP Professional, the blue screen is also known as the Windows Stop Message.^[39]^[40] While less frequent, Windows 2000 and XP are still susceptible to Blue Screens of Death.^[41] Blue Screens of Death in Windows NT/2000/XP and later Windows systems are the equivalent of kernel panics in Unix-like systems whereas BSODs in Windows 95 or 98 could be for much less severe problems and usually didn't require a reboot. Although many of these bugs are from Windows itself, Microsoft stated ^[unverified] that computer users who are not familiar with the division of responsibilities among applications, the operating system, and third-party device drivers 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 64-bit editions of Windows Vista.^[42]Template:Verify source^[43]Template:Verify source^[44]

Numerous Microsoft products, most notably Internet Explorer and earlier versions of Outlook, are seen as being insecure to malicious attacks such as computer viruses. Rob Pegoraro, writing for the Washington Post, says that due to Windows leaving five Internet ports open for various running services, malware has an easier time compromising the system.^[45] In an article for SecurityFocus, Scott Granneman said that as of 2004-06-17 there were 153 accumulated security holes since 2001-04-18 and that Internet Explorer "is a buggy, insecure, dangerous piece of software."^[46] 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.^[47] The current version, Internet Explorer 7, has a security overhaul with anti-phishing and malware prevention technology.^[48]

Notes and references[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Microsoft Corporation Annual Report 2005. (doc) Microsoft. URL accessed on 1 October, 2005.
↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named fastfacts
↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2006financials
↑ Bishop, Todd (September 23, 2004). "The rest of the motto". Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/003469.html. Retrieved 2007-01-22. </li>
↑ Chapman, Merrill R., In search of stupidity: over 20 years of high-tech marketing disasters (2nd Edition) , Apress, ISBN 1-59059-721-4
↑ Julie Bick (2005-05-29). "The Microsoft Millionaires Come of Age". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/business/yourmoney/29millionaire.html?ex=1275019200&en=de3d71cbbb7e06f8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss. Retrieved 2006-07-03. </li>
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Hiawatha Bray. Somehow, Usenet lumbers on. The Boston Globe. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
* Microsoft Frequently Asked Questions. Microsoft (Most Valued Professional). URL accessed on 2006-07-01.
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 United States v. Microsoft. U.S. Department of Justice. URL accessed on August 5, 2005. homepage at the United States Department of Justice
↑ John, ({{{year}}}). "Indecent proposal? Doing Business With Microsoft," IEEE Software, {{{volume}}}, 113-117.
* Jennifer Edstrom; Marlin Eller (1998). Barbarians Led by Bill Gates: Microsoft from inside, N.Y. Holt. ISBN 0-8050-5754-4.
* Fred Moody (1995). I Sing the Body Electronic: A Year With Microsoft on the Multimedia Frontier, Viking. ISBN 0-670-84875-1.
* Michael A. Cusumano; Richard W. Selby (1995). Microsoft Secrets: How the World's Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets and Manages People, Free Press. ISBN 0-684-85531-3.
↑ ^10.00 ^10.01 ^10.02 ^10.03 ^10.04 ^10.05 ^10.06 ^10.07 ^10.08 ^10.09 ^10.10 ^10.11 ^10.12 Information for Students: Key Events In Microsoft History. (doc) Microsoft Visitor Center Student Information. URL accessed on 1 October, 2005.
↑ Booting Your PC: Getting Up Close & Personal With A Computerâ€™s BIOS. Smart Computing. URL accessed on 2006-09-02.
* What Is The BIOS?. Smart Computing. URL accessed on 2006-09-02.
* Everything You Want or Need to Know About Your BIOS. Extreme Tech. URL accessed on 2006-09-02.
* Lemley, Mark; Peter S. Menell and Robert P. Merges (2006). "Appendix B: Introduction to Computer Technology" Intellectual Property in the New Technological Age (PDF), 4th, New York: Aspen Publishers. ISBN 0-7355-3652-X. URL accessed 2006-09-02.
* MS DOS and PC DOS. Lexikon's History of Computing. URL accessed on 2006-07-05.
* "When It Comes To DOS, You Now Have A Choice". Smart Computing. June 1994. http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/1994/june94/pcn0608/pcn0608.asp&articleid=5103&guid=. Retrieved 2006-07-05.
* "Microsoft to Microsoft disk operating system (MS-DOS)". Smart Computing. March 2002. http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0603/09r03/09r03.asp. Retrieved 2006-07-05. </li>
↑ Manek Dubash. Techworld Article:OS/2 users must look elsewhere. Techworld. IDG. URL accessed on 2005-07-05.
↑ Microsoft Systems Journal â€” 1986-1994 Index. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2007-03-31. See May 1987 releases.
↑ Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff (2005-05-18). "Redmond council OKs Microsoft expansion". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224768_microsoft18.html. Retrieved 2006-07-04. </li>
↑ Template:cite press release
↑ Windows History. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
↑ David Both. OS/2 History. OS/2 VOICE. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 ^18.2 ^18.3 ^18.4 Microsoft Company 15 September 1975. The History of Computing Project. URL accessed on August 11, 2005.
↑ Steve Masters. Behind the Pearly Gates. VNU Business Publications. URL accessed on 2006-07-04.
↑ Andrew Orlowski. Novell's MS complaint: we wuz robbed. The Register. Situation Publishing Ltd. URL accessed on 2006-07-04.
↑ Harry McCracken (2000-09-13). "A Peek at Office Upgrade". PCWorld.com. http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,18462,pg,1,00.asp. Retrieved 2006-07-04. </li>
↑ Sandi Hardmeier. Microsoft - The History of Internet Explorer. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2007-02-06.
↑ MSN Historical Timeline: A brief history of milestone events in the life of MSN from the past ten years. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
↑ Marketplace: News Archives for July 15, 1996. American Public Media. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
↑ The History of Microsoft Windows CS. HPC:Factor. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
↑ Thomas Penfield Jackson, U.S. District Judge. U.S. vs. Microsoft findings of fact. U.S. Department of Justice. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.
↑ Windows XP Professional Features. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
↑ "Microsoft hit by record EU fine". CNN. 2004-03-25. http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/24/microsoft.eu/. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>
↑ ^29.0 ^29.1 Commission Decision of 24.03.2004 relating to a proceeding under Article 82 of the EC Treaty (Case COMP/C-3/37.792 Microsoft). (PDF) Commission of the European Communities. URL accessed on August 5, 2005. (from the official EU website)
↑ Template:cite press release
↑ Will Rodger. Intel exec: MS wanted to 'extend, embrace and extinguish' competition. ZDNet News. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.
↑ Template:cite press release
* Andrew Orlowski. Eolas' web patent nullified. theregister.co.uk. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.
* Tony Dennis. Sendo & Microsoft â€” it all ends in tears. TheInquirer.net. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.
* Dan Nystedt (2005-12-07). "Update: Microsoft fined $32M by South Korea". IDG News Service. http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/12/07/HNmicrosoftfined_1.html. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>
↑ Andrews, Paul (23 April 1989). "A 'Velvet Sweatshop' or a High-Tech Heaven?". The Seattle Times. http://www.krsaborio.net/research/1980s/89/890423.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-30. </li>
↑ Editor's note. Microsoft Systems Journal. URL accessed on September 27, 2005.
↑ David Chisnall. DRM: Digital Rights or Digital Restrictions?. Informit.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.
↑ Get the facts home. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
↑ Robert Jaques. Linux fans hit back at Microsoft TCO claims. vnunet.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
↑ Mary Jo Foley (2004-03-24). "Yankee Independently Pits Windows TCO vs. Linux TCO". eWeek.com. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1553727,00.asp. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>
↑ ^39.0 ^39.1 J. D. Biersdorfer (1999-03-25). "Q & A; Blue Screen: Not 'Death,' But Annoying". New York Times. http://tech2.nytimes.com/mem/technology/techreview.html?res=9C03E6DD1E31F936A15750C0A96F958260. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>
↑ Beginners Guides: Crash Recovery - Dealing with the Blue Screen Of Death. pcstats.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
↑ Richard Richtmyer. Opening up Windows XP: New features are nice, but compatibility could be a problem. CNN. URL accessed on 2006-05-26.
↑ IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL message restarts my Windows 2000 server. hardwareanalysis.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
↑ Digital Signature Benefits for Windows Users. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
↑ How to Use Driver Verifier to Troubleshoot Windows Drivers. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
* Paul Thurrott. Windows Vista Feature Focus: 64-bit Support. Supersite for Windows. URL accessed on 2006-05-26.
↑ Pegoraro, Rob (2003-08-24). "Microsoft Windows: Insecure by Design". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34978-2003Aug23?language=printer. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>
↑ Scott Granneman. Time to Dump Internet Explorer. securityfocus.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
↑ Q&A: How Microsoft Is Keeping Pace with an Ever-Changing Security Landscape. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
↑ Internet Explorer 7: Security gets an upgrade. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.

</ol>

External links[edit]

This article contains content from Wikipedia. Current versions of the GNU FDL article Microsoft on WP may contain information useful to the improvement of this article

WP

This article contains content from Wikipedia. Current versions of the GNU FDL article Microsoft on WP may contain information useful to the improvement of this article

WP

[2005annual-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Microsoft Corporation Annual Report 2005. (doc) Microsoft. URL accessed on 1 October, 2005.

[fastfacts] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named fastfacts

[2006financials] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 2006financials

[4] Bishop, Todd (September 23, 2004). "The rest of the motto". Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/003469.html. Retrieved 2007-01-22. </li>

[5] Chapman, Merrill R., In search of stupidity: over 20 years of high-tech marketing disasters (2nd Edition) , Apress, ISBN 1-59059-721-4

[stockrich-6] Julie Bick (2005-05-29). "The Microsoft Millionaires Come of Age". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/business/yourmoney/29millionaire.html?ex=1275019200&en=de3d71cbbb7e06f8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss. Retrieved 2006-07-03. </li>

[MVP-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Hiawatha Bray. Somehow, Usenet lumbers on. The Boston Globe. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.
* Microsoft Frequently Asked Questions. Microsoft (Most Valued Professional). URL accessed on 2006-07-01.

[usvms-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 United States v. Microsoft. U.S. Department of Justice. URL accessed on August 5, 2005. homepage at the United States Department of Justice

[bb-9] John, ({{{year}}}). "Indecent proposal? Doing Business With Microsoft," IEEE Software, {{{volume}}}, 113-117.
* Jennifer Edstrom; Marlin Eller (1998). Barbarians Led by Bill Gates: Microsoft from inside, N.Y. Holt. ISBN 0-8050-5754-4.
* Fred Moody (1995). I Sing the Body Electronic: A Year With Microsoft on the Multimedia Frontier, Viking. ISBN 0-670-84875-1.
* Michael A. Cusumano; Richard W. Selby (1995). Microsoft Secrets: How the World's Most Powerful Software Company Creates Technology, Shapes Markets and Manages People, Free Press. ISBN 0-684-85531-3.

[keyevents-10] 10.00 ^10.01 ^10.02 ^10.03 ^10.04 ^10.05 ^10.06 ^10.07 ^10.08 ^10.09 ^10.10 ^10.11 ^10.12 Information for Students: Key Events In Microsoft History. (doc) Microsoft Visitor Center Student Information. URL accessed on 1 October, 2005.

[11] Booting Your PC: Getting Up Close & Personal With A Computerâ€™s BIOS. Smart Computing. URL accessed on 2006-09-02.
* What Is The BIOS?. Smart Computing. URL accessed on 2006-09-02.
* Everything You Want or Need to Know About Your BIOS. Extreme Tech. URL accessed on 2006-09-02.
* Lemley, Mark; Peter S. Menell and Robert P. Merges (2006). "Appendix B: Introduction to Computer Technology" Intellectual Property in the New Technological Age (PDF), 4th, New York: Aspen Publishers. ISBN 0-7355-3652-X. URL accessed 2006-09-02.
* MS DOS and PC DOS. Lexikon's History of Computing. URL accessed on 2006-07-05.
* "When It Comes To DOS, You Now Have A Choice". Smart Computing. June 1994. http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/1994/june94/pcn0608/pcn0608.asp&articleid=5103&guid=. Retrieved 2006-07-05.
* "Microsoft to Microsoft disk operating system (MS-DOS)". Smart Computing. March 2002. http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0603/09r03/09r03.asp. Retrieved 2006-07-05. </li>

[12] Manek Dubash. Techworld Article:OS/2 users must look elsewhere. Techworld. IDG. URL accessed on 2005-07-05.

[13] Microsoft Systems Journal â€” 1986-1994 Index. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2007-03-31. See May 1987 releases.

[14] Seattle Post-Intelligencer Staff (2005-05-18). "Redmond council OKs Microsoft expansion". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/224768_microsoft18.html. Retrieved 2006-07-04. </li>

[15] Template:cite press release

[16] Windows History. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.

[OS.2F2_history-17] David Both. OS/2 History. OS/2 VOICE. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.

[thocp2-18] 18.0 ^18.1 ^18.2 ^18.3 ^18.4 Microsoft Company 15 September 1975. The History of Computing Project. URL accessed on August 11, 2005.

[19] Steve Masters. Behind the Pearly Gates. VNU Business Publications. URL accessed on 2006-07-04.

[20] Andrew Orlowski. Novell's MS complaint: we wuz robbed. The Register. Situation Publishing Ltd. URL accessed on 2006-07-04.

[21] Harry McCracken (2000-09-13). "A Peek at Office Upgrade". PCWorld.com. http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,18462,pg,1,00.asp. Retrieved 2006-07-04. </li>

[22] Sandi Hardmeier. Microsoft - The History of Internet Explorer. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2007-02-06.

[23] MSN Historical Timeline: A brief history of milestone events in the life of MSN from the past ten years. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.

[24] Marketplace: News Archives for July 15, 1996. American Public Media. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.

[cehistory-25] The History of Microsoft Windows CS. HPC:Factor. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.

[findingsoffact-26] Thomas Penfield Jackson, U.S. District Judge. U.S. vs. Microsoft findings of fact. U.S. Department of Justice. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.

[27] Windows XP Professional Features. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-07-03.

[28] "Microsoft hit by record EU fine". CNN. 2004-03-25. http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/24/microsoft.eu/. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>

[euantitrust-29] 29.0 ^29.1 Commission Decision of 24.03.2004 relating to a proceeding under Article 82 of the EC Treaty (Case COMP/C-3/37.792 Microsoft). (PDF) Commission of the European Communities. URL accessed on August 5, 2005. (from the official EU website)

[30] Template:cite press release

[eee-31] Will Rodger. Intel exec: MS wanted to 'extend, embrace and extinguish' competition. ZDNet News. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.

[32] Template:cite press release
* Andrew Orlowski. Eolas' web patent nullified. theregister.co.uk. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.
* Tony Dennis. Sendo & Microsoft â€” it all ends in tears. TheInquirer.net. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.
* Dan Nystedt (2005-12-07). "Update: Microsoft fined $32M by South Korea". IDG News Service. http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/12/07/HNmicrosoftfined_1.html. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>

[33] Andrews, Paul (23 April 1989). "A 'Velvet Sweatshop' or a High-Tech Heaven?". The Seattle Times. http://www.krsaborio.net/research/1980s/89/890423.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-30. </li>

[34] Editor's note. Microsoft Systems Journal. URL accessed on September 27, 2005.

[35] David Chisnall. DRM: Digital Rights or Digital Restrictions?. Informit.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-18.

[36] Get the facts home. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.

[37] Robert Jaques. Linux fans hit back at Microsoft TCO claims. vnunet.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.

[38] Mary Jo Foley (2004-03-24). "Yankee Independently Pits Windows TCO vs. Linux TCO". eWeek.com. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1553727,00.asp. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>

[bluescreenqa-39] 39.0 ^39.1 J. D. Biersdorfer (1999-03-25). "Q & A; Blue Screen: Not 'Death,' But Annoying". New York Times. http://tech2.nytimes.com/mem/technology/techreview.html?res=9C03E6DD1E31F936A15750C0A96F958260. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>

[40] Beginners Guides: Crash Recovery - Dealing with the Blue Screen Of Death. pcstats.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.

[41] Richard Richtmyer. Opening up Windows XP: New features are nice, but compatibility could be a problem. CNN. URL accessed on 2006-05-26.

[42] IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL message restarts my Windows 2000 server. hardwareanalysis.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.

[43] Digital Signature Benefits for Windows Users. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.

[44] How to Use Driver Verifier to Troubleshoot Windows Drivers. Microsoft. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.
* Paul Thurrott. Windows Vista Feature Focus: 64-bit Support. Supersite for Windows. URL accessed on 2006-05-26.

[insecurebydesign-45] Pegoraro, Rob (2003-08-24). "Microsoft Windows: Insecure by Design". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A34978-2003Aug23?language=printer. Retrieved 2006-05-19. </li>

[46] Scott Granneman. Time to Dump Internet Explorer. securityfocus.com. URL accessed on 2006-05-19.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox_Company
+'''Microsoft Corporation''', is an [[United States|American]] [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[computer]] technology [[corporation]] with global annual [[revenue]] of [[United States dollar|US$]]44.28 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]] and 76,000 employees in 102 countries. It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of [[computer software|software]] 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 [[Redmond, Washington|Redmond]], [[Washington]], [[United States|USA]], its best selling products are the [[Microsoft Windows]] [[operating system]] and the [[Microsoft Office]] suite of productivity software. The company's name is sometimes abbreviated as MS or MSFT.
-| company_name = Microsoft Corporation
-| company_logo = [[Image:Microsoft logo.svg|220px|center|]]
-| company_type = [[Public company|Public]] ({{nasdaq2|MSFT}})
-| foundation = [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], [[United States|USA]] ([[April 4]] [[1975]])<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 = [[2006-06-15]] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref>
-| location_city = [[Redmond, Washington]]
-| location_country = [[United States]]
-| key_people = [[Bill Gates]], <small>[[Entrepreneur|Co-founder]] and [[Chairman#Types|Executive Chairman]]</small><br />[[Paul Allen]], <small>[[Entrepreneur|Co-founder]]</small><br />[[Steve Ballmer]], <small>[[Chief executive officer|CEO]]</small><br /> [[Ray Ozzie]], <small>[[Software Architecture|Chief Software Architect]]</small>
-| industry = [[Computer software]]<br />[[Publishing]]<br />[[Research and development]]<br / />[[Computer hardware]]<br />[[Console game|Video games]]| products = [[Microsoft Windows]]<br />[[Microsoft Office]]<br />[[Microsoft Servers]]<br />[[Microsoft Visual Studio|Developer Tools]]<br />[[Microsoft Dynamics|Business Solutions]]<br />[[Xbox|Games and Xbox]]<br />[[Windows Live]]<br />[[Windows Mobile]]<br />[[Zune]]
-| revenue = {{profit}} [[United States dollar|US $]]44.3 [[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 = [[2006-07-20]] | accessdate = 2007-03-30  }}</ref>
-| operating_income = {{profit}} US $16.5 billion (2006)<ref name="2006financials" /><br /> (36.3% [[operating margin]])<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=[[Reuters]] | accessdate=2006-05-24}}</ref>
-| net_income = {{profit}} US $12.6 billion (2006)<ref name="2006financials" /><br /> (31.6% [[net margin]])<ref name="margins" />
-| num_employees = 71,172 (2006)<ref name="fastfacts">{{cite web | title=Fast Facts about Microsoft | url= http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/inside_ms.mspx | publisher = Microsoft | date = [[June 30]], [[2006]] | accessdate= March 30| accessyear = 2007 }}</ref>
-| slogan = Your potential. Our passion.
-| homepage = [http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/ www.microsoft.com]
-}}
-'''Microsoft Corporation''', ({{nasdaq|MSFT}}, {{sehk2|4338}}) is an [[United States|American]] [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[computer]] technology [[corporation]] with global annual [[revenue]] of [[United States dollar|US$]]44.28 [[1000000000 (number)|billion]] and 76,000 employees in 102 countries. It develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of [[computer software|software]] 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 [[Redmond, Washington|Redmond]], [[Washington]], [[United States|USA]], its best selling products are the [[Microsoft Windows]] [[operating system]] and the [[Microsoft Office]] suite of productivity software. The company's name is sometimes abbreviated as MS or MSFT.
 These products have all achieved near-ubiquity in the [[desktop computer]] market. One commentator notes that Microsoft's original mission was "a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software"â€”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= [[September 23]], [[2004]] | accessdate= 2007-01-22 | publisher= [[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]| first= Todd | last= Bishop | work= Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog}}</ref> Microsoft possesses footholds in other markets, with assets such as the [[MSNBC]] [[cable television]] network, the [[MSN]] [[Web portal|Internet portal]], and the [[Encarta|Microsoft Encarta]] multimedia encyclopedia. The company also markets both [[computer hardware]] products such as the [[IntelliPoint|Microsoft mouse]] as well as [[home entertainment]] products such as the [[Xbox]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Zune]], and [[MSN TV]].<ref name="2005annual" />
@@ Line 22: / Line 6: @@
 == History ==
-{{main|History of Microsoft}}
-{{seealso | History of Microsoft Windows}}
 === 1975â€“1985: Founding ===
 [[Image:Microsoft-Staff-1978.jpg|thumb|335px|right|'''Microsoft staff photo''' from Dec 7, [[1978]]. From left to right:<br /><small>'''Top:''' [[Steve Wood (entrepreneur)|Steve Wood]], [[Bob Wallace]], [[Jim Lane (Microsoft)|Jim Lane]].<br />'''Middle:''' [[Bob O'Rear]], [[Bob Greenberg]], [[Marc McDonald]], [[Gordon Letwin]].<br />'''Bottom:''' [[Bill Gates]], [[Andrea Lewis (Microsoft)|Andrea Lewis]], [[Marla Wood]], [[Paul Allen]].</small>]]
@@ Line 55: / Line 36: @@
 In 2006, Bill Gates announced a two year transition period from his role as Chief [[Software architect|Software Architect]], which would be taken by [[Ray Ozzie]], 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 = [[2006-06-15]]| accessdate=2006-06-16}}</ref> [[Windows Vista]] is Microsoft's latest operating system, released in January 2007. [[Microsoft Office 2007]] was released at the same time; its "[[Ribbon (computing)|Ribbon]]" user interface is a significant departure from its predecessors.
-Microsoft have recently announced its new [[Microsoft Student Innovation Suite]] project.
+== Corporate ==
-== 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 groupsâ€”each an independent financial entityâ€”in April 2002. Later, on [[September 20]] [[2005]], 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 = [[2005-09-20]] | 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 = [[2005-09-20]] | accessdate=September 26 | publisher= Microsoft | accessyear=2005 }}</ref>
-=== Platform Products and Services ===
-[[Image:Windows logo.png|thumb|The current logo of [[Microsoft Windows]], one of the company's best-known products.]]
-This division produces Microsoft's [[flagship]] product, the Windows operating system. It has been produced in many versions, including [[Windows 3.1]], [[Windows 95]], [[Windows 98]], [[Windows 2000]], [[Windows 2000 server]], [[Windows Me]], [[Windows Server 2003]], [[Windows XP]], and [[Windows Vista]]. Almost all [[IBM PC compatible|IBM compatible]] [[personal computers]] designed for the consumer come with Windows preinstalled. The current desktop version of Windows is Windows Vista. The [[online service]] MSN, the cable television station [[MSNBC]], and the Microsoft online magazine ''Slate'' are all part of this division. ''Slate'' was later acquired by ''[[The Washington Post]]'' on [[December 21]], [[2004]]. At the end of 1997, Microsoft acquired [[Hotmail]], the most popular [[webmail]] service, which it rebranded as "MSN Hotmail". Later in 1999, Microsoft introduced [[MSN Messenger]], an [[instant messaging]] client, to compete with the popular [[AOL Instant Messenger]]. Along with Windows Vista, MSN Messenger is to become [[Windows Live Messenger]].<ref name="2005annual" />
-[[Microsoft Visual Studio]] is the company's set of [[programming]] tools and [[compilers]]. The software product is GUI-oriented and links easily with the [[Windows API]]s, but must be specially configured if used with non-Microsoft libraries. The current version is [[Visual Studio 2005]]. The previous version, [[Visual Studio]].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, [[Indigo (disambiguation)|Indigo]] (now renamed [[Windows Communication Foundation]]). 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 [[software package]]s on the same system (see [[DLL-hell]]), and provide a more consistent development platform for all Windows applications (see [[Common Language Infrastructure]]). 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 [[Cisco Systems|Cisco]], [[Sun Microsystems]], [[Novell]], IBM, and [[Oracle Corporation]], these tests are designed to identify a minimal set of proficiencies in a specific role; this includes developers ([[MCSD|"Microsoft Certified Solution Developer"]]), system/network analysts ([[MCSE|"Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer"]]), trainers ("[[MCT|Microsoft Certified Trainers]]") and administrators ([[MCSA|"Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator"]] and [[MCDBA|"Microsoft Certified Database Administrator"]]).<ref name="2005annual" />
-Microsoft offers a suite of [[Server (computing)|server]] software, entitled [[Windows Server System]]. [[Windows Server 2003]], an operating system for network servers, is the core of the Windows Server System line. Another server product, [[Systems Management Server]], is a collection of tools providing remote-control abilities, patch management, software distribution, and a hardware/software inventory. Other server products include:
-* [[Microsoft SQL Server|SQL Server]], a [[relational database]] management system;
-* [[Microsoft Exchange Server|Exchange Server]], for certain business-oriented [[e-mail]] features;
-* [[Small Business Server]], for messaging and other small business-oriented features; and
-* [[Microsoft BizTalk Server|BizTalk Server]], for employee integration assistance and other functions.<ref name="2005annual" />
-As of November 2006, Microsoft has extended itself to [[Linux]] and open source companies to allow Windows server to work harmoniously with servers running Linux.
-===Business===
-[[Image:Microsoft_building_17_front_door.jpg|thumb|245px|left|Front entrance to building 17 on the main campus of the Company's Redmond campus.]]
-The Microsoft Business Division produces [[Microsoft Office]], which is the company's line of office software. The software product includes [[Microsoft Office Word|Word]] (a word processor), [[Microsoft Access|Access]] (a personal relational database application), [[Microsoft Excel|Excel]] (a [[spreadsheet]] program), [[Microsoft Office Outlook|Outlook]] (Windows-only [[collaborative software|groupware]], frequently used with [[Microsoft Exchange Server|Exchange Server]]), [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoint]] (presentation software), and [[Microsoft Publisher|Publisher]] ([[desktop publishing software]]). A number of other products were added later with the release of Office 2003 including [[Microsoft Visio|Visio]], [[Microsoft Project|Project]], [[Microsoft MapPoint|MapPoint]], [[Microsoft InfoPath|InfoPath]] and [[Microsoft Office OneNote|OneNote]].<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 [[Great Plains (accounting)|Great Plains]]. Subsequently, [[Microsoft Navision|Navision]] was acquired to provide a similar entry into the European market, resulting in the planned release of [[Microsoft Dynamics NAV]] in 2006. The group markets [[Axapta]] and Solomon, catering to similar markets, which is scheduled to be combined with the Navision and Great Plains lines into a common platform called [[Microsoft Dynamics]].<ref name="2005annual" />
-=== Entertainment and Devices ===
-[[Image:Xbox 360.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The [[Xbox 360]], 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 [[Windows CE]] for [[Personal Digital Assistant|PDAs]] and its "Windows-powered" Smartphone products. Microsoft initially entered the mobile market through Windows CE for [[handheld device]]s, which today has developed into [[Windows Mobile]] 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 [[MSN TV]], formerly [[WebTV]], a television-based [[Internet appliance]]. Microsoft used to sell a set-top [[Digital Video Recorder]] (DVR) called the [[UltimateTV]], which allowed users to record up to 35 hours of television programming from a [[Direct-To-Home|direct-to-home]] [[satellite television]] provider [[DirecTV]]. This was the main competition in the UK for [[British Sky Broadcasting]]'s (BSkyB) SKY + service, owned by [[Rupert Murdoch]]. UltimateTV has since been discontinued, with DirecTV instead opting to market DVRs from [[TiVo]] Inc. before later switching to their own [[Digital video recorder|DVR]] brand.<ref name="2005annual" />
-Microsoft sells [[computer games]] that run on Windows PCs, including titles such as ''[[Age of Empires]]'', ''[[Halo (video game series)|Halo]]'' and the ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]'' series. It produces a line of [[reference work]]s that include [[encyclopedia]]s and [[atlas (cartography)|atlases]], under the name Encarta. [[Microsoft Zone]] hosts free premium and retail games where players can compete against each other and in tournaments. Microsoft entered the multi-billion-dollar [[game console]] market dominated by [[Sony]] and [[Nintendo]] in late 2001,<ref>{{cite web | title = NPD Reports Annual 2001 U.S. Interactive Entertainment Sales Shatter Industry Record | publisher = Business Wire | date = [[February 7]] [[2002]] | 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 [[Xbox]]. The company develops and publishes its own video games for this console, with the help of its [[Microsoft Game Studios]] subsidiary, in addition to [[third-party developer|third-party]] Xbox [[video game publisher]]s such as [[Electronic Arts]] and [[Activision]], who pay a license fee to publish games for the system. The Xbox also has a successor in the [[Xbox 360]], released on [[2005-11-22]] in [[North America]] and other countries.<ref>{{cite web | author = Alexander Wolfe | url=http://informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=174401045 | work= Information Week | publisher=[[CMP Media]] | title= Midnight Madness Hypes Xbox 360 Launch | date = [[November 22]] [[2005]] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | date = [[December 2]] [[2005]] | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4491804.stm | title= Xbox 360 sells out within hours | publisher=[[BBC]] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> With the [[Xbox 360]], Microsoft hopes to compensate for the losses incurred with the original [[Xbox]]. However, Microsoft made some decisions considered controversial in the video [[Gaming Community|gaming community]], such as selling two different versions of the system, as well as providing [[backward compatibility]] 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= [[2005-11-11]] | 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=[[2005-12-09]] | 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 [[computer mouse|mice]], [[Computer keyboard|keyboards]], [[joystick]]s, and [[gamepad]]s, along with other [[game controller]]s, the production of which is [[outsourced]] in most cases.<ref name="2005annual" />
-== Business culture ==
-[[Image:On_Microsoft_Campus.jpg|left|thumbnail|300px|Photo of Microsoft's RedWest campus.]]
-[[Image:Microsoft RedWest Landscaping.JPG|left|thumbnail|300px|Landscaping at Microsoft's RedWest campus is top-tier.]]
-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 [[software developer]]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 [[decision making|decision makers]] 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 [[eat one's own dog food|"eating our own dog food"]] 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=[[2003-07-21]] | work=ZDNet| publisher=[[CNET Networks]] |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 "[[Microsoft interview]]", which is notorious for off-the-wall questions such as "Why is a [[manhole cover]] 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=[[2003-05-21]] | 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=[[G4 Media]] | accessdate=2006-07-01}}</ref> For fun, Microsoft also hosts the [[Microsoft Puzzle Hunt]], an annual [[puzzle hunt]] (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 [[non-profit organization]]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 = [[September 21]] [[2006]] |  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 [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]].<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=[[2007-01-31]] | 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]]. 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 = [[April 15]] [[2004]] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> In recent years, Microsoft launched a community site for developers and users, entitled [[Channel9]], which provides many modern features such as a [[wiki]] and an [[Internet forum]].<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=[[iEntry Inc]] | date = [[2005-04-11]] | accessdate=2006-07-03}}</ref> Another community site that provides daily [[videocast]]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 [[Usenet]] [[newsgroups]] (in the early days it was also provided on [[CompuServe]]). 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 [[Microsoft Most Valuable Professional]] (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 [[publicly traded]] companies). Current members of the [[board of directors]] are: [[Steve Ballmer]], [[James Cash, Jr.]], [[Dina Dublon]], [[Bill Gates]], [[Raymond Gilmartin]], [[Reed Hastings]], [[David Marquardt]], [[Charles Noski]], [[Helmut Panke]], and [[Jon Shirley]].<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 [[shareholder]]s' meeting, and those who do not get a majority of votes must submit a [[resignation]] 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 [[financial]] 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 [[antitrust]] 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 [[Software architecture|Chief Software Architect]], the CEO, the [[General Counsel]] and Secretary, the [[CFO]], 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; [[Human resources|Human Resources]]; 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 [[Executive Officers]] include the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the various product divisions, leaders of the marketing section, and the [[Chief technical officer|CTO]], 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>{{Verify source|date=April 2007}}<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 [[IPO]] in [[March 13]], [[1986]], the [[stock]] 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 }} ([[Microsoft Excel]] format)</ref> By the close of the first [[trading day]], the stock had closed at twenty-eight dollars, equivalent to 9.7 cents when adjusted for the company's first nine [[stock split|splits]].<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 [[September 18]] [[1987]], the company did not start offering a [[dividend]] until [[January 16]] [[2003]].<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 [[fiscal year]] was eight cents per [[share (finance)|share]], 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 [[Special dividend|special one-time payout]] 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 [[February 2]] [[2003]] 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 = [[June 15]] [[2006]] | 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 [[Windows Vista]] operating system and the [[Office 2007]] productivity suite.
-=== Diversity ===
-In 2005, Microsoft received a 100% rating in the Corporate Equality Index from the [[Human Rights Campaign]], a ranking of companies by how progressive the organization deems their policies concerning [[LGBT]] ([[lesbian]], [[homosexuality|gay]], [[bisexuality|bisexual]] and [[transsexual]]) employees. Partly through the work of the [[Gay and Lesbian Employees at Microsoft]] (GLEAM) group, Microsoft added [[gender expression]] 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 [[sexual orientation]]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 = [[April 22]] [[2005]] | 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>[http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=21105 Microsoft Caves on Gay Rights]</ref> Microsoft also revealed they were paying evangelical conservative [[Ralph Reed]]'s company Century Strategies a $20,000 monthly fee.<ref>[http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/jamieson/221805_robert27.html Payments to Reed Sully Microsoft]</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=[[BusinessWeek]] | date=[[2005-05-12]] | 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 = [[May 6]] [[2005]] | 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 [[H1B visa]]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= [[2005-04-27]] | accessdate= 2007-02-26}}</ref>
-''[[Working Mother]]'' 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 "[[Pacman]] Logo" designed by [[Scott Baker (Microsoft)|Scott Baker]]. According to the March 1987 ''Computer Reseller News Magazine'', "The new logo, in Helvetica italic typeface, has a slash between the ''o'' and ''s&nbsp;'' 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= [[July 14]] [[2005]] | accessdate= 2006-07-04}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=April 2007}}<!--Blogs are not reliable sources-->
-Microsoft's logo 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=[[2006-01-23]] | 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 1994â€“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=[[Adweek]] | date=[[2006-01-09]] | 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 ==
-{{original research|section|date=April 2007}}
-{{not verified|section}}
-{{Primarysources|section|date=April 2007}}
-{{see also | Criticism of Microsoft}}
-=== Corporate ===
 Since the 1980s, Microsoft has been the focus of much controversy in the computer industry.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Most criticism has been for its business tactics, which some perceive as unfair and anticompetitive.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Often, these tactics have been described with the motto "[[embrace, extend and extinguish]]". 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=[[ZDNet]] News | date=[[1998-11-08]] | 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 = [[March 11]] [[2005]] | accessdate=2006-05-18}}<br>* {{cite web | author= Andrew Orlowski | date= [[2004-03-05]] | 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 â€” it all ends in tears | date= [[2002-12-24]] | 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=[[2005-12-07]] | 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 ''[[Seattle Times]]'' 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=[[23 April]] [[1989]] | 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>
@@ Line 158: / Line 46: @@
 DRM: Digital Rights or Digital Restrictions? | author= David Chisnall |date= [[2006-05-04]] | accessdate= 2006-05-18}}</ref> DRM restricts even legal uses, for example, re-mixing or playing in a slideshow. 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=[[2006-02-13]] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> Another study by the [[Yankee Group]] 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=[[2004-03-24]] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref>
-=== Technical ===
+== Technical ==
-[[Image:Windows_XP_BSOD.png|right|thumb|250px|A screenshot of the "[[Blue Screen of Death]]" in [[Windows XP]]. 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=[[1999-03-25]] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref>]]
+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=[[1999-03-25]] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref>]]
 Older versions of Microsoft products were often characterized as being unstableâ€”versions of Windows based on MS-DOS, and later the [[Windows 95]] kernel from the mid 1990s to early 2000s, were widely panned for their instability, displaying the "[[Blue Screen of Death]]", when Windows abruptly terminates an applicationâ€”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=[[2001-08-23]] | accessdate= 2006-05-26}}</ref> Blue Screens of Death in Windows NT/2000/XP and later Windows systems are the equivalent of [[kernel panic]]s in [[Unix-like]] systems whereas BSODs in Windows 95 or 98 could be for much less severe problems and usually didn't require a reboot. 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 [[device driver]]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 [[64-bit]] 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 = [[February 12]] [[2003]] | accessdate= 2006-05-19}}<!--This is a message board, not a reliable source--></ref>{{Verify source|date=April 2007}}<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>{{Verify source|date=April 2007}}<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 = [[May 25]] [[2006]] | 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 [[computer virus]]es. Rob Pegoraro, writing for the [[Washington Post]], 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=[[2003-08-24]] | accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> In an article for [[SecurityFocus]], [[Scott Granneman]] said that as of [[2004-06-17]] there were 153 accumulated security holes since [[2001-04-18]] 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=[[2004-06-17]] | 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, [[Internet Explorer 7]], 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 ==
-<code>Microsoft.com</code> 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 12th amongst all websites for Traffic Rank as on May 11, 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=2007-05-11}}</ref> This is however at least partly attributed to the default settings of [[Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]], which sets the initial homepage of Internet Explorer to Microsoft.com.
-<gallery>
-Image:Microsoft starmap.png|One of the first Microsoft.com [[homepage]]s, from April [[1994]] to August [[1995]].<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 â€“ Reflections on microsoft.com from Birth to 'Middle Age' | publisher= Microsoft Corporation | date = [[1999-12-24]] | accessdate= 2007-02-05}}</ref>
-Image:Microsoft website 1999.png|The Microsoft.com homepage as of December [[1999]].<ref name="Microsoft.com"/>
-Image:Microsoft.com 2006 screenshot.png|The Microsoft.com homepage as of November [[2006]].
-Image:Microsoft.com screenshot.png|The current Microsoft.com homepage design. Screenshot as of January [[2007]].
-</gallery>
-== See also ==
-<!-- Please do not turn these bullets into headers! They expand the TOC and make the FAC people rather unhappy -->
-'''General'''
-* ''[[Pirates of Silicon Valley]]'' âˆ’ A movie based on the rise of Apple and Microsoft.
-'''Microsoft'''
-* [[Actimates]] âˆ’ Set of toys developed by Microsoft.
-* [[Pcsafety]] âˆ’ Part of Microsoft's technical support that deals with malware and virus issues.
-* [[Trustworthy Computing]] âˆ’ Microsoft's initiative for increasing security and reliability on PCs.
-* [[Ultra Mobile PC]] âˆ’ Joint specification by Microsoft and others for a small form factor [[tablet PC]].
-* [[Microsoft Studios]] âˆ’ A division responsible for the creation of video content for Microsoft and its partners.
-* [[Microsoft Research]] - A division responsible for the research of computer sciences.
-'''Lists'''
-* [[List of assets owned by Microsoft Corporation]]
-* [[List of companies acquired by Microsoft Corporation]]
-* [[List of Microsoft software applications]]
-* [[List of Microsoft topics]]
 == Notes and references ==
@@ Line 197: / Line 56: @@
 == External links ==
-<!---
+{{Wikipedia}}
-Please
-) Follow the [[WP:EL]] guideline if you can, and consider discussing on the talk page
-) Do not turn these bullets into headers! They expand the TOC and make the FAC people rather unhappy
--->
-{{Sisterlinks | Microsoft}}
-* [http://www.microsoft.com/ Microsoft] â€” ''Official website''
-<!-- Categorization, interwiki stuff.
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!DO NOT ADD ANY CATEGORIES HERE!!!!!!!!!!
-!!!!!!!!!!!!!ADD THEM TO THE MICROSOFT CATEGORY INSTEAD!!!!!!!!!
--->
 [[Category:Microsoft|Microsoft]]
-{{wikipedia|Micorosoft}}
+{{wikipedia|Microsoft}}

Difference between revisions of "Microsoft"

Latest revision as of 20:03, 30 September 2008

Contents

History[edit]

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1985â€“1995: OS/2 and Windows[edit]

1995â€“2005: Internet and legal issues[edit]

2005â€“Present: Vista and other transitions[edit]

Corporate[edit]

Technical[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

External links[edit]

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