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The article discusses speculation concerning whether the July 29, 2015, release of the U.S. computer technology company Microsoft Corp.'s operating system Windows 10 will increase the sale of personal computers (PCs). According to the article, sales of PCs have fallen each year between 20212 and 2015. The article states that Microsoft was giving free upgrades of Windows 10 to PC owners and discusses the decision's impact on PC makers such as Intel Corp. and Dell Inc.

The article looks at the computer industry as of 2013, focusing on the business strategies which computer hardware and software companies are adopting to respond to the rising use of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers for activities formerly carried out on desktop or laptop computers. Companies cited include software company Microsoft Corp. and semiconductor chip company Intel Corp. Computer prices are discussed

The article states that U.S. technology company Microsoft Corp. introduced its tablet computer called the Surface on June 18, 2012. According to the article, the device is the first tablet computer made by the company. The article states that the creation of the Surface was part of an effort to gain market share from U.S. technology firm Apple Inc. The article presents remarks from Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer.

The article reports on financial performance of technology company Microsoft Corp. for its fiscal first-quarter 2015, which demonstrates growth on its cloud-computing push that reduces its reliance on the personal computer market.

The article focuses on global interest in antitrust law which Microsoft Corp. has received after it attempted to win support around the globe for the file format used in new versions of its Office software to become the international standard for creating and storing computer documents. A discussion of the role Italy's Ente Nationale Italiano di Unificazione and International Business Machines has had in Microsoft's ability to get its format labeled as an international standard is presented.

The article focuses on Craig Mundie, who was hired by Microsoft Corp. to replace Bill Gates as the company's long term strategic thinker when Gates retires from his position of chief software architect in 2008. A discussion of the areas Mundie plans to change and plans on becoming involved in when he assumes the position, including healthcare, education, semiconductor chips, and quantum computers, is presented.

The article describes work done by Joanne Bradford, head of online advertising sales of Microsoft Corp., to increase the advertising efforts of the company. Microsoft, which was slow to embrace Internet advertising and placed its technological innovations above everything else, has accepted the dominance of online advertising and will name Bradford as head of the MSN online group.

The article focuses on the effect Microsoft Corp.'s decision to delay the introduction of its Windows Vista operating system until January 2007 will have on the sales of personal computers. Computer buyers seem to be waiting until January to purchase the new product, and other computer manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Gateway are being forced to lower their prices to entice customers to buy their wares rather than Microsoft's.

The article reports on the challenges of shipping Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 game machine. There are 1,700 different parts and factories, distributors, and component suppliers involved. There is a question as to whether Microsoft can rival Sony Corp. as the number one video-game-console maker. Microsoft plans to use the Xbox to connect the Web and various forms of entertainment in the consumer's living room. This has been a new venture in hardware for Microsoft, whose expertise is computer software. The Xbox is described as part of a new generation of consoles, whose graphics and online game capabilities are vastly improved.

Discusses the competition among telecommunications, computer, and consumer-electronics companies to make their devices the center of control for home entertainment. Consideration of the top companies in each sector, including Microsoft Corp., Dell Inc., Sony Corp., SBC Communications Inc., Comcast Corp. and others; Description of products and services offered by the companies, including cable television, television-recording devices, broadband Internet, Internet telephone service, music systems, and computer-based home entertainment systems; Advantages and disadvantages of each sector in the battle to dominate the home entertainment market.

Examines the antitrust case involving Microsoft Corp. in Europe, focusing on the market for digital media-player software. Claims of European regulators regarding Microsoft's presence in the desktop software market and competition within the software industry; Number of device manufacturers and software companies that run software using Microsoft's Windows Media Audio (WMA) as a standard; Comments from Mark Mulligan, senior analyst at Jupiter Research, regarding the computers users' preference for ease in computing.

Profiles Sun Microsystems Inc., which is facing competition in the computer industry because the quality of their computer chip is now being matched by other companies. Percentage decrease in Sun's quarterly sales as the result of Intel Corp.'s improved chips and cheaper software from Microsoft Corp. and free Linux software; Share price of Sun stock, after experiencing losses in seven of the last nine quarters; Discussion of Sun's business strategy to eschew standardization; Computer sales figures, indicating the Sun is falling behind many of its competitors.

Assesses the impact of computer viruses and worms, which could result in companies switching to a non-Windows operating system. Discussion of the concept of "day-zero" attack in which a sophisticated computer hacker exploits a flaw in computer software undetected by the software's maker; Comments from Mark Dickelman, chief information officer of Anexsys LLC, regarding a movement within industries away from Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system; Number of viruses and worms launched against Microsoft in 2003, according to antivirus software maker Symantec Corp., indicating that it is good news for Microsoft rivals such as Apple Computer Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Lindows.com Inc.; Number of viruses and other malicious code incidents on non-Microsoft operating systems, suggesting Microsoft is a target for many hackers.

The article highlights the financial performance of computer technology company Microsoft Corp. in the quarter ended March 31, 2015, including sales, net income, and stock price.

Reports on computer firms Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp.'s separate handling of antitrust charges in the United States. Intel's settlement of the monopoly charges filed by Federal Trade Commission (FTC); Microsoft's efforts to dispute the antitrust charges of the government; Benefits obtained by Intel from the compromise; Intel's other problems with the FTC.

The article looks at software and electronics firm Microsoft as of August 2013, discussing the planned retirement of chief executive Steve Ballmer, evaluating the company's performance during his tenure, and discussing its efforts in areas including mobile devices and enterprise services.

The article focuses on the three-year effort of Microsoft Corp. to develop the operating system Windows 7. One feature of the effort is the closer collaboration among workers involved in the project. Software developers were also directed by chief executive Steve Ballmer to work closely with computer makers and other personal computer (PC) players in an effort to avoid problems like those in Vista. Early reviews of the system are said to be favorable to the company.

The article reports on the expected availability of Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft Corp. on October 22, 2009, ahead of its original schedule. According to Bill Veghte, senior vice president for Microsoft's Windows business, they feel confident that they will deliver Windows 7 with their partners in October. Windows reportedly generated about one-third of Microsoft's sales in 2008 and is on more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers. The challenge facing Microsoft regarding the growth of the so-called netbook computer is also noted.

The article reports on the entry of Cray Inc. into the low-end computer business through the introduction of its new $25,000 computer that uses chips from Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system. The computer is designed to handle technical chores that are too large for personal computers but do not need the resources of supercomputers. Cray's move is a sign of the big changes going on in the technical-computing market in which some customers are buying a new class of cheaper servers to handle smaller technical work.

The article reports on the plan of Apple Inc. to give the iPhone a business-friendly update in 2008. Report says that beginning in June 2008, businesses will be able to access email, calendaring and contact-management software from Microsoft on the iPhone. However, Apple announced that it will integrate the iPhone only with Microsoft's Exchange email program.

This section offers news briefs concerning computer technology industries. Microsoft decided to withdraw the two remaining appeals related to a European Union anti-trust order. STMicroelectronics NV reported a 9.7% decline in its profit during the third quarter of 2007. NTT Data will bid for control of Intelligence AG in a tender offer value at €152.5 million.

The article reports on the plan of Sun Microsystems Inc. to resell Microsoft operating system as part of several extensions to a partnership agreement by the companies in 2004. Sun and Microsoft also plan to partner in promoting the technology called virtualization, which uses a layer of software that makes it easy to simultaneously run multiple operating systems on a computer. Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz seeks to modify other strategies of his firm.

This section offers world news briefs related to the computer industry. Research In Motion Ltd. plans to offer a new Black-Berry smart phone that can access both Wi-Fi and cellular networks. The European Court of First Instance sets date to rule on an appeal filed by Microsoft Corp. concerning interoperability problems of Microsoft products with those of rivals. Canon Inc. will open a new factory to produce core optical sensors used in digital cameras.

This section offers news briefs on the computer industry. A software-development center is being planned by Microsoft Corp. in Canada in Fall 2007 to attract talent and avoid U.S. immigration issues. Advanced Micro Devices Inc. invested $7.5 million in microprocessor technology developer Transmeta Corp.

The article discusses issues related to the operations and performance of Internet search company Google. According to the article, there are warnings from analyst that the company's margins could erode from competition from its big rivals. When Microsoft announced its offer to acquire Internet advertising firm aQuantive, the company said its deal would promote competition while Google's purchase of Double Click would reduce competition.

The article presents news briefs concerning the computer industry. Applied Materials gained strong demand from makers of memory chips in the fiscal period ended April 29 with a revenue increase of 13 percent. Microsoft Corp. will release Halo 3, the new version of its successful Halo videogame franchise on September 25, 2007.

The article focuses on the rivalry between component personal computer systems manufacturers such as Microsoft and Intel, and Apple Computers. The difference in aesthetic appeal between the two companies is highlighted by an online video created by Microsoft employees spoofing what a Microsoft ipod box might look like. Chief executive of Apple Computer, Steve Jobs, is commended for his design sensibilities.

Reports on the plan of Apple Computer Inc. to offer Microsoft's Windows operating system on new Macintosh computers as of April 2006.

Reports on the move of Microsoft Corp. to delay the release of update for its Office Suite computer software.

Discusses the results of a research that show how computer software company Microsoft has boosted its reputation.

The article reports on a Microsoft Corp. project code-named Origami that involves various partners to build services and software for a portable entertainment device in 2006.

The article reports on the anti-trust complaint filed by European Committee for Interoperable Systems against the word processing and office programs of Microsoft Corp.

Evaluates new computer mice offered by Apple Computer Inc. and Microsoft Corp. Description of Apple's Mighty Mouse, the first Apple mouse with a right-click option and a scroll wheel; View that the mouse sacrifices functionality for style; Evaluation of the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse 5000; Superiority of the Microsoft mouse over that of Apple.

Reports on the plan of Microsoft Corp. to extend legal protection to personal-computer makers and other partners in an effort to combat the use of the Linux operating system as of June 23, 2005.

Evaluates Microsoft Corp.'s free utility, MSN Search Toolbar With Windows Desktop Search, an add-on to its Internet Explorer software. Description of features, such as tabbed Internet browsing and comprehensive hard drive searching; Comparison to the integrated tabbed browsing and desktop search features of other products, such as Apple Computer Inc.'s Tiger operating system and the Firefox Web browser.

Reports on the plans of computer company Microsoft Corp. to cut costs across the company to boost sales and stock prices. Details of a memo sent to employees by Chief Executive Steve Ballmer explaining the cost-cutting efforts; Issues that the company is facing; Claim by Ballmer that the company must set stricter internal priorities; Increase in the company's expenses; Discussion of the price of Microsoft stocks.

Reports Microsoft Corp. has failed in last-minute negotiations to reach an accord on its business practices with European antitrust regulators and could face rulings that affect the way it sells software for an array of products, from servers to mobile phones. When the European Commission (EC) is expected to order Microsoft to offer versions of its Windows operating system without its Media Player software and release information related to Windows to allow rival companies, like Sun Microsystems Inc. and Novell Inc., to create software that will run as well on Windows as Microsoft's own software; View of author that the EC's ruling will extend far beyond Europe and the pact Microsoft agreed to in a 2001 settlement in the U.S.; Discussion of the settlement negotiations between Microsoft's Steve Ballmer and the EC's Mario Monti.

Advises the computer, software and Internet industries to focus their efforts on making modern computing safe from growing problems of viruses, worms, spyware, spam and other products that make computer-security vulnerable. Litany of programs that computer users must purchase to solve individual problems; View of the author that information technology departments of companies, like Microsoft Corp., should be focusing their efforts on making effective computer security devices that require little user intervention.

Describes the changes occurring in the consumer electronics industry, due to the availability of standardized parts and designs. Decision by Chinese manufacturer Xoceco to purchase standardized parts to produce flat screen televisions; Efforts of big name companies like Sony and Motorola Inc. to adapt; Comparison to the emergence of Intel Corp. microchips, and Microsoft Corp. software in the computer industry; Comment that traditional industry leaders can no longer assume that it will take years for rivals to match their products.

Reports that International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Microsoft Corp., the largest companies in the computer industry, are competing to win more customers in the small-business market. Plans of IBM to market software aimed at small and medium-sized businesses; Efforts of IBM to give customers lower prices than Microsoft for products such as databases and Internet business software; Acquisition of Great Plains Software Inc. and Navision a/s by Microsoft; Undercutting of Microsoft pricing by IBM.

Focuses on the business leadership of Larry Ellison, chief executive officer (CEO) of Oracle Corp. Perception of Ellison that the high technology industry is changing to focus on biotechnology rather than computers; Opinion of Ellison that the computer industry is a mature industry; Idea that technology companies will be forced to simplify their products and services; Observation of Ellison that Microsoft Corp. is a monopoly.

Discusses concerns about the decision of Microsoft Corp. to pay a stock dividend. Question of how the decision will affect investors; Idea that the decision could restrict the spending of the company; Perception that Microsoft was spending too much on projects that were losing money, such as its Xbox videogame console; Success of the company's Windows and Office computer software products.

Discusses the announcement made by Microsoft Corporation that it will pay a regular annual dividend to shareholders. Details of proposals made by President George W. Bush concerning elimination of federal taxes on dividends; How Microsoft's action will put dividend pressure on other technology companies, which are also holding onto cash despite the tech downturn; Two reasons why Microsoft's board decided not to pay a dividend.

Reports that software rivals of Microsoft Corp. are trying to build the Linux operating system into personal computers. Popularity of Linux in server computers; Plans of Sun Microsystems Inc. to commit to Linux on desktop PCs; Outlook for change in the computer industry.

Reports that Microsoft Corp. has reported solid sales numbers and is unveiling plans for investments. Sales of desktop Windows products and personal computers; Idea that Microsoft has a monopoly in the market for desktop operating systems which withstood the recession; Antitrust charges against the company.

Focuses on the disparate legal testimony and public-relations messages given by Microsoft Corp. and its competitors during the antitrust trial of Microsoft. Statement issued by handheld computer maker Palm Inc. to investors and consumers, reassuring them of the company's strength; Testimony of Palm executive Michael Mace about the risk that Microsoft could monopolize the market; How the trial has forced technology companies to undercut their marketing messages to achieve legal victories.

Reports on efforts of Microsoft Corp. to gain market share in markets such as the handheld computer software market, online services, and servers. How Microsoft rivals have been forced into retrenchment; Why Texas marketing company Aegis Communications Group Inc. chose to purchase a new server from Microsoft rather than from Oracle or Sun Microsystems; Microsoft's stock prices.

Presents updates related to computer technology in the United States as of November 15, 2001, citing handheld computer products from Microsoft Corp. and Palm Inc. at the Comdex trade show in 2001.

Reveals the plans of Microsoft Corp. to discontinue its online accounting service and focus on selling software and services to small businesses.