Every time users boot up their PocketPCs or other handheld devices that run Microsoft's embedded operating system, Windows CE, they should remember David Wilson. Wilson, a mathematician in the Theory Group at Microsoft Research, didn't help develop the operating system. He made it boot up faster -- something the embedded product team figured was impossible, because of the reduced size and structure of the embedded OS. In fact, when the product team came to the Theory Group a few years ago for help, they simply asked Wilson and his colleagues to verify that they couldn't improve the way in which programs became operational within Windows CE. Wilson agreed it was impossible -- at least with the format they used. So he set about creating a new format that enabled him to develop a linear-time algorithm that dramatically reduced the boot time of the OS. The same technology now allows users to download new software and patches from Microsoft's Windows Update service faster. This kind of interaction is emblematic of the impact MSR has had on Microsoft and how it develops products since the company launched its research wing 10 years ago today. In that time, Microsoft has built a world-class organization that now includes almost 600 top scientists and support staff at four locations on three continents.