Few facts about Microsoft

Few facts about Microsoft

The Microsoft’s next big thing is Windows 8 that is touted to bring changes that would improve experience on mobile devices. It might just revolutionize the way one uses personal computers, laptops and tablet computers. Well, commenting on the above point at present would be too early but surely Microsoft has created much fanfare before the launch of Windows 8.

We have compiled a list of facts that you may not know about Microsoft, that one can arguably say is the largest software company in existence today.

• Not many would know that the Microsoft’s founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen once cracked a Seattle Company’s website, teen hackers!
• Microsoft originally started as ‘Micro-soft’ when it was founded. The hyphen was removed after a year in 1976.
• Windows was initially called ‘Interface manager’, until Bill Gates was persuaded to change it by an employee.
• In 1985 and 1988, Apple tried to sue Microsoft out of existence for allegedly ‘stealing’ drop down menus, tiled windows and mouse devices. As Apple was the first company to implement a GUI (Graphical User Interface) in its operating system.

• Until 1993 Microsoft didn’t have a website. It launched the first website in 1993 for support resources that was available on a CompuServe forum.
• In its 37 years of existence, Microsoft has acquired nearly 150 companies including Hotmail, Yammer and the most recent acquisition is Skype.
• Microsoft frequently uses codenames and works on its projects under codenames only. Some codenames include Longhorn, Interface Manager, Lone Star and Vienne.
• Microsoft holds more than 10,000 patents. Every year the company files around 3,000 patents and ranks as one of the top five patent owners in the United States. The company awards a bonus of $1,500 to its employees for securing a new patent.

• Not many would know that the Microsoft Sound was composed by Brian Eno. He was the musical brain behind start up tune of Windows 95 and also dubbed the Microsoft sound.

• Microsoft is famous for its strange interview questions during its recruitment process. They are also believed to be the pioneers in the industry for asking off-beat and off-the-wall questions during job interviews—a style that now many leading companies like Google follow. Some of the most famous quoted questions are- Why is a manhole cover round? and Design a coffee maker that will be used by astronauts!

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