Software's gentler giant?
TechNews.com | at | by Mike
For millions of consumers at home and at work, using a computer means using Microsoft. Its Windows operating system powers more than 90 percent of the world's personal computers. Its programs for Internet surfing, word processing and spreadsheet calculations barely have competition. It is aggressively pushing into online gaming, entertainment and corporate systems. So why is chief executive Steven A. Ballmer demanding that his troops rethink everything?
In the more than three years since Ballmer took over day-to-day control from Bill Gates, the company has responded by overhauling its structure to force improved financial performance. It issued a modest dividend in January and then recently doubled it, hoping to make the stock more attractive to investors.