This post was published 5 months 2 days ago. This info might have changed or might have become outdated.

It seems that Microsoft, the company which everyone and their dog has spent the last decade loving to hate, has found new life. First Zune and XBox 360 began getting some love, then there was all the positive buzz about Windows 7. Suddenly all sorts of Microsoft projects were getting good press. Did anyone predict that Bing would be so well received as a Google alternative? Was anyone else amazed that acid-penned Microsoft critic Mini was actually saying the company was making all the right moves? Now it seems as if Microsoft is beating the odds and coming back strong as a popular, respected company. Could it be Redmond has begun to turn the corner on Apple fanboy jokes and Gizmodo pictures of Steve Ballmer sweating?

The Telegraph is reporting the following today…

Microsoft has left Google behind to grab the top spot in the list of UK’s best brand.

The software company, co-founded by Bill Gates, moved from second to first place in a list of the 500 brands that the public thought were reliable, distinguished, and the best quality.

In the second place was Rolex, the watch manufacturer, followed by Google, which was last year’s winner. At the fourth and fifth place were British Airways and the BBC, respectively.

Even better is this little tidbit….

She added many consumers had “learnt to love” Microsoft, with some even seeing it as an underdog now that it was challenging online media companies.

YYEESSSSSSS…Payback’s a B*TCH, Google.

I have been hearing that the last part of 2009 and 2010 are going to be filled with high profile, impressive Microsoft releases of which Windows 7 will be just the beginning…and that is sounding more and more plausible. Lets hope WinMo 7 really shakes things up soon.