Microsoft is taking on Adobe again in the standards arena. The last time Adobe and Microsoft faced off it was over font formats.

Microsoft’s progress with Vista has been closely followed by many journalists and technical pundits. It is behind schedule and has had a handful of features postponed or culled.

Microsoft has made several attempts to integrate Windows and the web, but the center of gravity for innovation and monetization keeps moving to the network.

Microsoft makes no secret about the fact that Windows Vista is gathering information. End users have little to say, and no real choice in the matter^.