Eric Lai

With its increasingly popular Terminal Services software, Microsoft lets users access applications running on corporate servers; its d

John Head isn

Microsoft plans to ramp up its efforts to encourage Web developers and other programmers to create mashups -- quickly assembled Web-based programs gluing together different data and technology sources -- that leverage the software vendor's search technology, including its flagship Windows Live Search engine and its Virtual Earth mapping and location service.

Is open-source still a grassroots social movement made up of idealistic underdogs trying to revolutionize an amoral industry? Or has it become a cloak used by IT vendors large and small to disguise ruthless and self-serving behavior?

Windows Vista's powerful new graphics engine is engendering complaints from a key segment of potential early adopters: hardcore gamers. A small but significant number of games written for Windows XP either crash or creep along slowly on Vista, according to numerous complaints by game enthusiasts in online forums.

Microsoft Corp. has significantly raised what it charges retail customers for technical support for its latest software, Windows Vista and Office 2007, while narrowing the help offered to users.

As Microsoft Corp. gets ready to launch Windows Vista and Office 2007 to consumers, it claims a formidable new foe it lacked at its last major consumer software launch five years ago: the popular filesharing network known as BitTorrent.

Microsoft Corp. Wednesday unveiled more discounts and upgrade options for Windows Vista aimed at jump-starting sales of the operating system.