Inside Out: Microsoft in Our Own Words

by Microsoft Corporation

It began as a two-man startup in 1975. Now it's a 430 billion market-cap company operating in 70 countries with $19 billion in net revenue. In this comprehensive self-portrait, based on hundreds of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446527394
• ISBN13: 9780446527392
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 328 Pages
• Weight: 4.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 10.8" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

raw sociological material

This volume contains reminiscences of about a thousand MicroSoft employees who've worked there over its 25 year history, each about a third-page long in general chronological order. Interspersed are several longer pieces by the big guys like Bill and Paul and Bob. It reminds me of a high school yearbook. Most of the pieces are about business accomplishments, but there are digressions into work life, hobbies, and feelings about change at MS.The book is from MicroSoft, but doesn't tell you how to be another MicroSoft. At first glance I thought it was a self-congratulatory piece on the occasion of MS 25th anniversary and mainly for its employees. But it contains a wealth of material on how a geek business culture operates. I feel it is unfinished. Some academic types needs to organize the material from the indiviual articles into a more constructive history.

Preaching to the Choir

This book, intended primarily as an internal Microsoft morale booster, is an excellent read.However, one must not forget that this book is intended to perpetuate the cult of Microsoft among its employees, and as such, contains inherent bias and self-flattery. Think of it as an exceptionally well-done recruiting brochure.

Deep thoughts from within Microsoft

Inside Out is filled with fun and thoughtful comments by thousands of current and past Microsoft employees. It offers great insight into how various folks at Microsoft approach not just work but how they have fun as well.A good read for those both Inside and Outside of Microsoft.

A fascinating look inside Microsoft

This book gives an unprecedented look inside the minds and lives that make up Microsoft. It's filled with little essays from each of hundreds upon hundreds of employees, organized topically -- a set of short essays about testing, about the difficulties of device driver support, about the concept of the social interface (think Bob), about the work environment... It paints a vivid picture of life inside of the most successful software company in the world, straight from its employees.(It's also a handsome coffee table book, with vivid photography of the employees at work and at play to complement the text.)