Research

DELL

DESCRIPTION

Dell wants its name to ring from the desktop to the data center. One of the world's top suppliers of PCs, the company offers a broad range of technology products for the consumer, education, enterprise, and government sectors. In addition to a full line of desktop and notebook PCs, Dell offers network servers, data storage systems, printers, Ethernet switches, and peripherals, such as displays and projectors. It also markets third-party software and hardware. The company's growing services unit provides infrastructure consulting, systems integration, asset recovery, financing, support, and training.

MICROSOFT

DESCRIPTION

Microsoft's ambitions are anything but small. The world's #1 software company provides a variety of products and services, including its ubiquitous Windows operating systems and Office software suite. Microsoft has expanded into markets such as video game consoles, customer relationship management applications, server and storage software, and digital music players. The company has also used selective acquisitions to bulk up its presence in markets such as online advertising, mobile devices, and enterprise software. In 2008 Microsoft made repeated efforts to acquire Yahoo! but was ultimately rebuffed; the two companies would instead sign a deal in 2009 to combine their search operations.