Microsoft says Windows Vista sales reach 60 million

(Reuters) - Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer took the stage at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Washington with a message that the software maker can still deliver growth by expanding its core desktop and server software business while succeeding in new areas like Web services.




Windows Vista is at the core of Ballmer's vision. New versions of Office and Windows, Microsoft's bread-and-butter software products, are yielding higher-than-expected renewal of multi-year agreements with large organizations, Ballmer said.


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EU court to rule on Microsoft in September

(Reuters) - The Luxembourg-based court, second-highest in the EU, confirmed a June 5 Reuters report that the ruling will come on September 17, the final working day before the retirement of court president Bo Vesterdorf, who is presiding over the case.




The EU's executive Commission found in 2004 that Microsoft had broken competition rules by abusing the dominance of its Windows product, muscling out competitors unable to make software that would work smoothly on the operating system.


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Apple revs up Mac attacks

For nearly a year, television and internet audiences have been seeing a familiar string of ads from Apple attacking rival Windows-based computers. With this week's release of Windows Vista, the newest jabs are not any friendlier.

In one ad, the character personifying the PC is dressed in hospital patient garb, talking about how he is set to undergo major surgery to upgrade to Vista. He then saunters off, telling the Mac character that if he does not come back, Mac can have his peripherals.
In another ad, a man pretending to be the Mac character heaps praises for the PC - until the real Mac character steps in, confounded, asking "What's going on?" The fake Mac replies, "Nothing," and then mutters "I'm a fan" as he walks away.
On its own website, Apple Inc tells visitors to get a Mac, stating, "Why upgrade to Vista when you can upgrade past it?"

Microsoft launched Vista on Tuesday, its first major overhaul to the Windows operating system in five years. It features sleek new graphics, better search capabilities, improved security measures and multimedia tools, as well as more advanced parental controls and gaming support.

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