Microsoft:

Microsoft's ambitions are anything but small. The world's #1 software company provides a variety of products and services, including its Windows operating systems and Office software suite. The company has expanded into markets such as video game consoles, servers and storage software, and digital music players. With its core markets maturing, Microsoft is targeting services for growth, looking to transform its software applications into Web-based services for enterprises and consumers. Microsoft has reached settlements to end a slew of antitrust investigations and lawsuits, including agreeing to uniformly license its operating systems and allowing manufacturers to include competing software with Windows.

While desktop applications and platforms remain the cornerstone of its operations, Microsoft has inexorably expanded its product lines, which include video game consoles, enterprise software, computer peripherals, software development tools, and Internet access services. In late 2006 the company launched its Zune brand of digital entertainment products and services. The first Zune product, a digital media player, competes directly against Apple's iPod.

Hewlett-Packard:

While Hewlett-Packard may be known for product innovation, the company's corporate development is a tale of reinvention. HP provides enterprise and consumer customers a full range of high-tech equipment, including personal computers, servers, storage devices, printers, and networking equipment. Its software portfolio includes operating systems, print management tools, and OpenView, a suite that encompasses application, business, network infrastructure, and product lifecycle management. HP also boasts an IT service organization that is among the world's largest.