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Quiz: How well do you know your Microsoft Empire?

Microsoft just turned 36 years old (as of April 5). That's a long time, in tech years. A lot has happened to the company, its customers, its partners and its competitors over those three-plus decades. Test yourself to see how well you know Microsoft.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor
Microsoft just turned 36 years old (as of April 5). That's a long time, in tech years. A lot has happened to the company, its customers, its partners and its competitors over those three-plus decades. How well do you think you really know Microsoft? Take our quick quiz and match your wits against other Microsoft watchers. Instructions: Click on your answer and then see how many others agree with you. Then click to see the answer and the next question. [poll id="43"]

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Steve Ballmer
Who at Microsoft made this infamous statement: "Linux is a cancer." Answer is B. CEO Steve Ballmer said it in 2002.
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What was the estimated percentage of Windows users still running Windows XP in October 2010, ten years after the product debuted? Answer is D. Net Applications said in October 2010 the percentage was 60. Data cited by Mozilla early this year claimed the number to be 55 percent, citing Netmarketshare as the source. [poll id="45"]

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Which is the worst Microsoft product/technology name in history? Answer is ?. They're all pretty bad. The answer that is ahead in the poll results is the correct one. [poll id="45"] Looks like the answer is A. Next question: [poll id="46"]

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Microsoft codename 'Florida' is: Answer is B. Intune. Though the codename of Intune's successor, System Center Online Desktop Manager was "Jupiter." It changed to Florida last year [poll id="44"]

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Which of these execs are still listed by Microsoft as one of their Senior Leaders? Answer is: C. OEM chief Steve Guggenheimer and Windows President Steven Sinofsky [poll id="48"]

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In Microsoft circles, what does it mean to "take the red pill"? Answer is A. Accepting a MS job offer is taking the red pill. However, MS folks also are using the "RP" words to describe the way the Win 8 team is locking down internal builds. Some features in internal builds are only accessible to those logging in with certain invite codes from campus locations -- a way the team is trying to control leaks. See: Windows 8: Beta collectors waiting with bated breath for a leak. [poll id="49"]

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When is Windows 8 most likely to RTM? Answer is B. Q 3 2012 We're all still just hypothesizing, given Microsoft officials still won't even say publicly that the codename of Windows Next is Windows 8. Windows 8 may or may not be the final name. But the smart money right now is on Q3 2012 as the likely, unpadded timeframe for RTM, which would allow MS and partners to ship new Win 8 PCs in time for holiday 2012. More info: Windows 8 roadmap: A picture is worth a thousand build numbers. [poll id="50"]

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Before Microsoft settled on "Bing" as its search engine name, company execs contemplated a number of possibilities. Which of these names was not in the final round of candidates? Answer is D. Sift Microsoft did trademark "Sift," but it supposedly wasn't among the finalists for the name for the company's "decision engine." [poll id="51"]

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Different teams at Microsoft love their mascots. The SharePoint team had a rather unique one. It was: Answer is A. The flying screaming monkey. See: SharePoint: The team that makes the donut(s). The tutu-wearing bear was Windows -- under Brian Valentine. See: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/neilhut/archive/2008/02/27/windows-server-2008-launch-with-iain-mcdonald.aspx. [poll id="52"]

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Does Microsoft have one more 'Zune' device up its sleeve? You are correct. We don't know and Microsoft's answer when asked about this is completely convoluted and vague. There have been rumors of a Zune HD2, but Microsoft also is believed to be killing the Zune brand this year. So it's pretty much anyone's guess at this point. There's no wrong answer. [poll id="53"]

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Bonus round: Which of the following categories has Microsoft NOT used as a codename theme? Answer is C. flower names. Though I think "System Center Dahlia" has a nice ring to it.... Correct answers 10: Steve Ballmer's portrait hangs in your living room. 7-9: You liked Microsoft Bob and thought Vista was great. 4-6: You're trying out IE 9. 1-3: You use Ubuntu desktop, Google Apps, Firefox, and Playstation 3. 0: You think Microsoft's only product is Xbox. Thanks for playing! Related stories
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