 MICROSOFT RANKED MOST REPUTABLE Despite all of its legal woes, consumers believe Microsoft has the best reputation among tech companies. The Wall Street Journal reports a new reputation survey by Harris Interactive and the Reputation Institute of 40 prominent tech companies ranked Microsoft No. 1. Other well respected companies include Intel, Sony, Dell and Lucent. But people aren't as trusting of the intangible Internet. Dot.com companies predominantly ranked in the lower half of the rankings, with AOL coming in dead last at 40th. Jesse's take: AOL had it coming for a long time. The reason Microsoft ranks so high is that it doesn't treat its customers as bad as it treats its partners. What consumers don't see is the hidden Microsoft tax in every PC and piece of software they buy. |