Microsoft spends a lot of time in the hallowed halls of academia, and according to an article today from the AP,  more than most companies of its ilk. The company sponsors contests, research centers, and academic chairs, as well as giving deep discounts to students and faculty.

Sure, Bill Gates & wife are big on education through their foundation. But the AP warns this may not be all about altruism (and really? is anyone surprised here? oldest trick in the book, right?), but about persuading "young minds to become loyal to Microsoft products." The AP interviewed Bill, who told them that putting money into colleges and universities is "an investment" and there is a "commercial element ... [a] benefit to us that people have this exposure" while they're still impressionable. After all, he says, the idea of creating the next version of Microsoft Office or the Xbox console is way more fun than the idea of inventing the next, um, hamburger.

[And I think Bill Gates just invented a new anti-comparison figure of speech. This is way better than "apples and oranges." Next time someone tries to tell me that knitting is better than yoga, I'm going to tell them, "that's like Xboxes and hamburgers!"]

Gates says that he and Microsoft both "care about education" and it's certainly a good strategy: my brother was one of the electrical engineering geniuses of his class at Portland State and spent a lot of time doing fellowships with Intel. When he started looking for jobs? Intel was tops on the list. It's not a new strategy, mind you. But it's one that, as Gates points out, will likely pay off in recruiting talented developers and developing that warm-and-fuzzy nostalgic feeling in consumers.