A look at Microsoft's chip design

Microsoft is no stranger to hardware. Its computer mice and keyboards have been among the best for over a decade, and now the company is trying to take the lead in communication devices such as headsets and Web cams.

While it would be ridiculous to compare Microsoft's hardware know-how with that of Dell, who manufactures or brands nearly anything PC-related, but it would be wrong to say that the software giant has no experience in producing and selling a PC. In fact, Microsoft made one of the most successful 'PCs' in recent memory with 30 million sold worldwide.

That's right, we're talking about the Xbox. Although the original Xbox was composed of mainly off-the-shelf parts, it demonstrated that Microsoft knew what it was doing. The Xbox 360 took it a step further with more custom components designed to Microsoft's specifications..