Microsoft CEO Ballmer To Any, All Rivals: Bring It On; Company Talking Tough Again; With most of its legal woes settled, software king vows to conquer new tech worlds.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: PATRICK SEITZ

Microsoft has kissed and made up with enemies over its past anti-competitive behavior, but that doesn't mean Mr. Softy has gone soft.

At the company's annual financial analyst meeting Thursday, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and other executives spoke of competing aggressively against . . . well, everyone. They mentioned online search engine Google, video game giant Sony, business software king SAP and Linux supporters IBM and Sun Microsystems.

Today's Microsoft aims to be a "responsible leader," but a "relentless competitor," said Ballmer.

He said Microsoft will be open to working with rivals, but won't "shy away" from getting into new businesses or adding new features.

Ballmer chided analysts who often ask him about when the company's cash-sucking video game and business software units will turn a profit. He said those analysts instead should be asking him about new investment opportunities for Microsoft.

"Rather than saying, "Don't make these investments,' you should be pushing us and saying, "What's the next emerging business you want to invest in?' " he said. " "Come on. Come on. Roll that one. Get into something. Push. Push hard. That's what it takes.' "