The company that started in search does... everything, as long as it isn't evil. Google has operating systems and that whole , and it looks to change the word. But in the end, Google remains the best (or at least most popular) search engine. Before Google we used to hear a lot about the new Yahoo, or the new Alta Vista--or even the new Hotbot. Now we have Google, and the company is continuing to make its search engine better. It even recently added capabilities.

The Redmond-based software giant started out making a simple DOS-based operating system for IBM's computers. Then they took away the PC business from IBM, by selling its OS to other PC makers. The company has had its hits and misses, but it continues to keep people coming back for more.

There is no doubt that Microsoft will face increased competition from Google and Apple, but the PC will likely remain part of our daily lives for years to come, and the simple fact that it has also evolved will help it weather the storm. In its early days Microsoft made DOS, which it killed with Windows, an OS we just keep buying. While Vista was a wreck, we came back for Windows 7, and soon we can pay again for .