Unless microsoft comes up with innovative and free software, they are on downward trend. The future is about free software and no one wants to pay for softwares.
The future is free/open-source but there will always be commercial products. And Microsoft does have some neat freewares. I'm using Virtual PC 2007
There is a huge difference in your reasoning on Google's share price vs Microsofts... Google hasn't split, and if things go haywire even further, they might end up doing so. As for OS and it not mattering, I completely disagree. The internet will NOT replace an operating system and you still need to remember the international market. Not everyone has access to the type of internet we do at the prices we pay ($35/month unlimited broadband).
I think even microsoft will experience some decline since many people will loose their job... if they dont have a job and they will not be able to buy some products that microsoft offers.
everyone is experiencing some decline right now even google had to lay off some employees no corporation is completely safe. When you think about 80% of computer users you think about windows = microsoft. not to mention over 300 million xbox live users = microsoft. Now with windows 7 coming out there is no way they can decline and a lot of companies are in big hopes of the future of silverlight. Microsoft is having some trouble like everyone else but they are not going to decline.
The fact is that Microsoft still has some $20 billion in CASH sitting on the sidelines and despite the rampant trouble with the economy, still posted relatively good earnings last quarter, if slightly lower than expected. Microsoft is a huge monopoly, with a lot of money at their disposal to defend that monopoly. There may be a slight decline in the near-term if their current lack of quality products continue, but not a HUGE DECLINE as you put it. It will be a long, slow and painful death.
While Microsoft has had decling revenue for the last 3 quarters, and has stated it will not have good numbers this year. Both Google and Apple, however, reported 38% and record earnings this past quarter. Apple now has more cash than Microsoft. Microsoft is going in the opposite direction and its stock price is now where it was in 1998.
Microsoft is a company which relied too heavily on its monopoly and cared nothing for its customers. The pot of greed will have to break..some day!
I think the "digital world" is a total differnt aspect of the economy. Microsoft may lose a lot of money in the up coming years, but not because of the economy but of there plain stupid ideas and there incapability of coming up with new and good ideas. I think even if there is a huge depression people will still buy there computers and eectronics not because they want to but because they kind of have to.