Microsoft has become a household name with products like
Windows XP,Windows Vista andMicrosoft Office, making its founder
Bill Gates one of the world's richest men.
Microsoft Windows is by far the most popular operating system,
with applications like
Microsoft Office 2007, Windows Media Player and
Internet Explorer now being used by
most businesses and consumers.
The Microsoft Windows operating system itself dates back to 1985
when Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft released MS-Dos, followed
by the
Microsoft Office productivity suite.
But it was the combination of the graphical Windows 95 operating
system on the desktop and
Microsoft Windows NT on the server that made Microsoft near
ubiquitous. Another factor behind Microsoft’s success was its
partnership with Intel, the world’s number one processor
manufacturer.
Microsoft maintains that
product innovation is a core part of its strategy, and in 1998,
the company released Windows 98, an update to Windows 95,
incorporating a number of
Internet-focused features and support for
new types of computing devices .
But in 2000 and 2004,
Microsoft fell foul of US and EU antitrust laws respectively,
facing allegations it had abused its
monopolistic position. Microsoft was fined and required to
alter its Windows XP operating system.
However, with
Windows Vista now out, Microsoft, currently lead by Microsoft
veteran Steve Ballmer, hopes to revitalise the home and office PC
markets once again. Microsoft also continues to woo business users
by continuing to develop products like Microsoft Office 2007,
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007,
SQL Server 2007 and the
Microsoft Dynamics family of business applications.
Microsoft's bid to buy Yahoo
February 2008: Microsoft makes £22.5bn bid for Yahoo
search engine >>
February 2008: Microsoft buys Yahoo? >>
February 2008: Microsoft's Yahoo bid - the end of Windows?
>>
Microsoft news stories/features
June 2007: Possible Microsoft office security flaw >>
June 2007: New encryption options in Windows Vista >>
June 2007: Microsoft outlines Windows servers virtualisation costs
>>
June 2007: Microsoft releases six security patches >>
June 2007: Microsoft patches Windows Vista, IE 7 >>
June 2007: Inside MSRC: Microsoft security matters on MOICE and
Outlook flaws >>
June 2007: Securing Windows clients: top tips for summer 2007
>>
June 2007: Firms still struggle to share information: Microsoft
survey >>
June 2007: Final judgement on Microsoft anti-competitive behaviour
>>
June 2007: Open battle will boost compatibility >>
June 2007: Chaos impresses the Microsoft judges >>
May 2007: LM de-emphasised, NTLMv2 in Vista >>
May 2007: Windows mobile to capture mobile market through apps
>>
May 2007: When Microsoft Vista and VPNs don't mix >>
May 2007: Admins run into trouble with Microsoft updates
>>
May 2007: Internet Explorer security learning guide
>>
May 2007: Microsoft NAP-TNC compatibility won't speed adoption,
users say >>
May 2007: Microsoft fixes Office 2007 patch issues, releases MOICE
>>
May 2007: Microsoft investigates mew office zero day flaw
>>
May 2007: Vista has had no major effect on PC sales
>>
May 2007: Microsoft releases Office document security protection
>>
May 2007: Windows Vista: inside the new security features
>>
May 2007: Microsoft releases Popfly alpha >>
May 2007: Microsoft back ODF document standard >>
May 2007: UK's e-mail to be archived for posterity >>
May 2007: SAP and Microsoft optimise suite >>
May 2007: Windows Vista's little surprises >>
May 2007: Comms hardware firms get behind Microsoft unified
communications >>
May 2007: Microsoft should scrap Patch Tuesday >>
May 2007: Microsoft announces new SQL server >>
May 2007: Microsoft issues further guidance on exchange update
>>
Other Microsoft special reports
Microsoft: after Bill Gates >>
Microsoft IT training: an expert view >>
Microsoft Windows: an expert view >>
Microsoft Windows Vista: an expert view >>
Microsoft Business Solutions: an expert view >>
Microsoft on the rest of web
Microsoft home
>>
Microsoft: Windows
home >>
Microsoft: Windows Vista home >>
Microsoft: help and support
>>
Microsoft: Microsoft
Office online >>
Microsoft: Microsoft Windows update >>
Microsoft: research
>>
Microsoft developer
network >>
Microsoft blogs
Microsoft developer network:
blogs >>
Microsoft: Windows Vista
blogs >>
Microsoft community blogs >>
Mini-Microsoft blog
>>
The unofficial
Microsoft web log >>
Scobleizer: Robert Scoble's
blog >>
Inside Microsoft:
part of the blog news channel >>
Microsoft video
Microsoft corporate
videos >>
Microsoft CEO Ballmer on mobile devices - Microsoft vs
Apple >>
Microsoft unveils
the surface >>
Microsoft Vista feature presentation >>
Microsoft Windows >>