With so many people pointing out the external challenges and internal missteps from Microsoft, it is easy to pile on criticism. One longtime watcher of the company, Directions on Microsoft, has a new report out looking at five big things the software maker has done right. The analysis is on the Internet and worth a read.

Directions on Microsoft points to the company's appeal to developers, its focus on software, its reliance on others to sell its products, along with the fact it targets technology for the masses and takes the long view.

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