Microsoft sales drop sharply, sees no quick recovery

[IDemo]

By Bill Rigby

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp posted the first-ever drop in annual sales of Windows and its quarterly revenue fell a steeper-than-expected 17 percent as its business continued to be hurt by the weak global PC and server markets.

The news sent Microsoft shares down 8 percent and took the shine off a big U.S. stock market rally earlier in the day that had driven the Dow Jones industrial average above 9,000 points.

The world's largest software maker, whose operating systems power the vast majority of the world's personal computers, offered little hope for a turnaround in technology until next year, despite recent optimism from rival International Business Machines Corp and chip maker Intel Corp.

"We still see conditions being challenging for the balance of this calendar year," Chief Financial Officer Christopher Liddell said in a telephone interview.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE56M6CS20090723

[UndertheOcean]

1. Constant growth does not make sense !! Equilibrium is 0% growth

[tularetom]

2. Oh boo effing hoo

It would be a tragedy if this slimy outfit went down the shitter. NOT.

Weak global PC and server markets, huh? Check this.

http://blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/apple-fiscal-3q-profit-rises-15-percent-as-iphone-sales-surpass-5-million-in-3-months/

[Truth Talks]

3. Burn in Hell

I want to see both of Bill Gates' mega-corporations, Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, crash and burn. And I'd like to see Bill Gates behind bars (at the very least) with his pal George W. Bush.

That said, I've read so many conflicting reports about the relative health of Microsoft versus Apple. One day, M$ or Apple is said to be doing great, the next day they're crashing and burning. However, it was recently reported that Apple is celebrating its best non-holiday quarter ever.

The economy has forced both companies to become far more aggressive in slashing prices. It will be interesting to see which one weathers the Second Great Depression. Conventional wisdom suggests Apple - the favorite of yuppies - will wither. On the other hand, who wants to get stuck with a lemon (M$) during an economic crisis?

I'm certainly glad I upgraded to Mac three years ago. I just feel so sorry for all my former students who were screwed by Bill Gates.

[global1]

4. That's Just Business And Competition - You Make A Crappy Product (vista).....

and people will look elsewhere to get something that is reliable and works. If they cared about their product offerings and their customers this would be a completely different situation.

[Jim Sagle]

5. Good.

:beer:

[andym]

6. Funny. Apple's sales have increased and are looking rosy. nt.

[Sebastian Doyle]

7. What the fuck are they supposed to be selling?

XP's off the market. Windows 7's not on the market yet. Vista's a piece of shit. What is there to buy?

[Amonester]

8. Of(whory)fice?

Nobody (I know) likes it, nor uses it.

It's Called The End Of Product Lifecycle.

[Sebastian Doyle]

9. Hell, I'm still using Office XP on my Windows box.

And that's only Word and Outlook. (and Outlook is only because Thunderbird won't play nice with my Spam filter.)