Ballmer then left little doubt that Microsoft is no longer content to be solely reliant on third-party PC manufacturers for its success.

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The only way Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) could ever top that number is if it licensed Mac OS to third-party PC manufacturers.

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Users need to be able to distinguish when a problem is with windows, pc manufacturers, and party responsible for drivers.

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Under the terms of the settlement, Microsoft is supposed to be barred from retaliating against PC makers that install third-party software which could weaken the Windows monopoly.

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The first, and apparently further along of the two, is Lenovo, which has announced that it's entered a "Memorandum of Understanding" with an unnamed "independent third party" to purchase the PC maker.

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Nevertheless, we did run a few Wii and N64 games quite happily using the Dolphin emulator running with a WiiMote, a third-party IR bar and a Bluetooth adapter for the PC.

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In addition to PC, console, online and browser games, mobile and social games joined the party.

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With many users starting to use computer monitors to play console games, if the Xbox can run Explorer, Office, Skype and most if not all the other 3rd party apps, then a lot of people might just buy an Xbox instead of a PC as their primary computer at home.

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