In Pictures: Microsoft's 13 biggest wins and fails of 2012

Win: SkyDrive continues to impress

Before Dropbox, Box, Amazon storage, or Google Drive, there was Microsoft'sSkyDrive. But following SkyDrive's launch in 2007, Microsoft promptly ignored it, offering little integration of it with other company services. But that changed in 2012, when Microsoft rolled out Dropbox-style desktop integration for Mac and Windows PCs; mobile apps for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone; a new app for Xbox 360; and even a Web-based, remote-access feature for Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7, and Windows 8 PCs.

In short order, SkyDrive has become directly integrated with the entire Microsoft product line, most obviously with Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8. It's a winning cloud resource, and its rapid rise shows that Microsoft can do many things right.