Bill Gates offers some insight on their rationale behind trying to acquire Yahoo... and everyone is talking about that. What i found more interesting is their approach to provide their software for free to students. Now that is a move that I believe it is going to help them greatly. If you are a student you might not be able to afford $400+ USD software, even some professionals have a hard time gathering the cash to buy the software. Some packages cost as much as $2,000+ USD. So providing Microsoft products for free to students -I believe- it is the right move because those same kids that will spend hours using the software right now, tomorrow will shape the stability of what software is being used at that moment.
In an interview with CNET News.com's Ina Fried, Microsoft's chairman explains why the company is giving away its developer tools to students and offers a glimpse at the rationale behind the Yahoo bid. Source