LAS VEGAS -- Microsoft now has only six employees who have worked there at least 25 years, according to No. 6.

David Pritchard joined the company in 1981, after graduating from the University of Puget Sound. I interviewed him about five years ago when he was a human resources recruiter.

Pritchard is now chief of staff to Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer. I ran into them at a reception with Microsoft executives at Delmonico's restaurant after Bill Gates' keynote speech.

I asked Pritchard if he'll get a watch or something, and he said he won't know until Thursday when he's having an anniversary party.

I'm not sure which is more amazing -- that the company has only six long-timers left, or that those six kept working so long after getting all that early MSFT stock.