On Monday, Why Microsoft ran a retweet contest on Twitter:
Tell us in one word #WhyMsft for your business & win! Find out how here: http://bit.ly/WhyMsftless than a minute ago via HootSuite 
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Why Microsoft
whymicrosoft
I wasn’t sure what word to use. I’ve always been a fan of Microsoft’s products, and even my Linux and Mac fanboy friends have accepted me although I prefer a different operating system and set of tools. Whether it’s writing an app in Visual Studio, communicating across the house with my husband via Lync, using my Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000, playing a Microsoft Game Studios game like Age of Empires III on my PC, playing games on Xbox LIVE via my Samsung Focus Windows Phone, being a button masher while playing Castle Crashers on my XBox… Microsoft is everywhere in my life.
I hadn’t gotten a Kinect yet, but I’ve had a chance to play it over my friend Jeff‘s place with his family. Watching the kids play Kinectimals or other Kinect games, it made me realize how much gaming at home has changed over the years. Nintendo Power Pad, Nintendo Zapper, Nintendo Power Glove… those were the cool pieces of hardware back in the day when I was a kid. Over the years, we got into controllers with rumble packs… and then more advanced controllers like the guitar controllers for Guitar Hero or Rock Band and WiiMotes. Kids in arcades are familiar with games using cameras to pick up body movements – like the boxing game. Now, we can finally get something like that at home thanks to the Kinect.
Innovation RT @whymicrosoft In one word, #whymsft for your business? for a chance to win! Rules: http://bit.ly/WhyMsftless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Sarah Dutkiewicz
sadukie
I had a conversation with a friend, and she played devil’s advocate, suggesting that Microsoft wasn’t innovative. Where was the Sony Playstation’s equivalent of the Kinect? What about the Nintendo equivalent of the Kinect? Where were those when Microsoft brought out the Kinect? The Kinect is just one piece of technology that shows Microsoft’s innovation.
With the upcoming release of the Kinect SDK, imagine what the community can come up with! They have a Microsoft Innovation Center site that shows many other ways that they are innovative. In addition to being a company of innovation, they encourage the community to become innovators. Dare I say that they spark innovation? After all, take a look at the BizSpark, WebsiteSpark, and DreamSpark programs! Not only through DreamSpark, Microsoft can stir students’ imaginations and encourage innovation through the Imagine Cup. These are only a few of their projects that encourage innovation.
Sure, I could’ve said “Awesomeness”, as “awesome” is a word I overuse. Or I could’ve said PowerShell or any one word name of a Microsoft tool that I use. But innovation truly fits.
Check out their #WhyMsft Retweet Contest results post to see what others had to say!
