Mini Microsoft, the anonymous blogger widely believed to be a well-informed employee working at the software company's Redmond headquarters, heavily criticised this year's Microsoft annual employee meeting. He gave a two-zero rating to Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive, and described Stephen Elop, head of Microsoft's business division, as "suck[ing] the life out of the entire stadium".

In spite of such barbs, Microsoft's attitude to employee blogs is relaxed. Steve Clayton, who works for Microsoft International's business strategy division, says the company regards its bloggers as a positive thing. "We have 5,000 to 6,000 people blogging, and we do have a fairly straightforward set of guidelines," he says. "Basically, blog smart. If you'd be concerned about it appearing in a newspaper, then don't write it in a blog. If you're heavy-handed you get people's backs up."