[schemer]

Cisco does build things. Lots of switches and routers, they are all built in China by Foxconn. I think what you mean to say is that Microsoft is a software company while Cisco is a hardware company. Two different ways of doing business.

[MaysonL]

No: what he means is that Cisco buys other companies - its growth has been fueled by continual acquisition of other companies. See the 170 references at the end of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acquisitions_by_Cisco_S... most of which are about single companies acquired by Cisco.