HANDTOSS, anyone?

Microsoft's better-than-expected revenue numbers are, depending on one's point of view, the signs of recovery or an aberration to behold.

The company's stock rose after reporting revenue numbers that beat expectations, sending the price to levels not seen since BG (Before Google).

Analysts quoted in a Seattle Times story regarding the company's fortunes are bullish on Microsoft's fortunes, saying they signal a revitalization.

But skeptics exist. While Microsoft credits the release of Vista for turning the tide, some analysts don't buy it, saying the company barely advertised the new operating system.

Vista also suffered a great deal of media criticism before its release.

For its part, Vista ad efforts made light of mixed feelings surrounding its release. With agency McCann, Microsoft launched the Clearification subsite with comedian Demitri Martin, allegedly for sufferers of a fictional disease called HANDTOSS.

The Institute of Advanced Personhood effort also generated online interest in Vista. Both online efforts made light of neurosis conceived in aggressive perfectionism, a quality that can arguably be attributed to Microsoft's own personality in the software market.

Microsoft will be advertising Vista more aggressively over the holiday season, largely because its computers rank so highly on lists of most-desired consumer items.

On Friday, Apple released its new OS X, codenamed Leopard, to much acclaim.