[[Image:Microsoft logo.svg|right|frame]]
'''Microsoft''' is a liberal<ref>http://www.microsoft.com/about/diversity/en/us/programs/ergen/gleam.aspx</ref><ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2010011331_microsoft_donates_to_r-71_camp.html</ref> American corporation founded by [[Bill Gates]] and Paul Allen in 1975 and , headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA. Its current CEO is Satya Nadella; [[Steve Ballmer]] was CEO prior to Nadella. Microsoft focuses on developing and manufacturing [[software]], [[hardware]] and other technology oriented products and services. In 2014 it announced massive layoffs despite its wealth.
Microsoft was investigated for antitrust violations by the [[Department of Justice]], and in 2001 the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed the finding of the trial court that monopolization by Microsoft had violated the [[Sherman Act]].<ref>United States v. Microsoft Corp., 346 U.S. App. D.C. 330 (D.C. Cir. 2001).</ref> The appellate court, however, overturned the lower court ruling to break Microsoft up and instead remanded the case to a new trial judge with instructions suggesting a less drastic remedy. By then, President [[George W. Bush]] had replaced [[Bill Clinton]] and the Bush Administration dropped the demand of the [[Clinton Administration]] for a break-up of Microsoft.
Devoid of [[conservative]] leadership, Microsoft was neither innovative nor competitive, and by 2014 it had been far surpassed by Apple, Google and smaller, innovative companies. In 2014, Microsoft announced layoffs of 14% of its workforce, totaling 18,000 jobs.{{citation needed}}<ref>http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-layoffs-2014-7?op=1</ref>
==Software products==
*[[Windows (operating system)]], including [[Windows 10]], [[Windows 8]], [[Windows 7]], [[Windows Vista]], [[Windows XP]], and older versions of the desktop OS, versions for servers, versions for media centers, teacher editioneditions, and versions for mobile devices
*[[MS DOS]] Microsoft's first operating system
*SQL Server
<references/>
==External links==
* [http://www.microsoft.com/en/us/default.aspx Microsoft official site]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Companies]]