Comments on: Microsoft: 'Pressures are broad and deep'

In its earnings conference call, the software maker says it remains "more cautious than most" about the global economy.

[monkeyfun14]

Ina why not post this all in one article not in 3?

You have 3 articles that basically say the same exact thing.

Slow news day?

[Angmarr]

this way apple fannboys get a chance to give their "amazing" opinions! ... or repeat the same thing they say 3 times!
remember you need to make stuff easy for apple fanboys = )

[Random_Walk]

Actually, it makes sense... one article was the announcement of sales failure, this one describes Microsoft's pessimistic outlook on things (which contrasts with Intel, EMC, and Apple), and I haven't seen the other one yet...

I find it hilarious that the boards here are packed to the rafters with Microsoft fans who troll daily, yet are absolutely quick to shout about how they're in such danger of seeing a post or two from someone who isn't a Microsoft aficionado. Preventative posting to avoid hurt feelings, perhaps?

[enovikoff]

Ultimately, the pressure is on unreasonable profits - much as those in corporate America don't want to hear that. In my business - cloud computing - I can put a customer's web site on the internet for about half the monthly cost using Linux versus Microsoft, and it's faster, more secure, and more reliable. I've grown to see that Microsoft's enterprise products are quite nice, but when you factor in the pricing, it's no surprise that an economic slowdown equals "pressure" on Microsoft's earnings.

[themrwhite]

I lol'd

Apple posts record earnings ever yesterday and has sold it's 1 millionth app today, during a recession, yet MS has posted its worst loss of all time and laying 5,000 previously.

I guess ballmers predictions of people not buying expensive Apple products was wrong. Maybe he should just stop talking, everything he predicts, the opposite happens.

I love it.

[seven7dust]

you mean 1 billionth

[themrwhite]

Thank you for clarifying that :)

[Rolker]

Well, actually people aren't buying Apple's expensive hardware. Mac's sales have been down by 3%.
The iphone isn't that expensive compare to other smart phones, and the ipod is in par with others. And this two are the ones that are responsible for Apple's growth.

[Random_Walk]

"Mac's sales have been down by 3%"

...compared to far larger losses by Microsoft, apparently. Even on negative trajectories, Microsoft seems to be hurting harder.

Sure, poking fun at that fact is all too easy to do, but the question remains: What is Microsoft going to do about it? They can't hide it anymore, they can't just sit around and mope at the economy (especially when its competition has weathered it far better - a peek at Red Hat's growth and even Apple's weathering of the whole thing proves that Microsoft is taking it harder than most).

For a quick and fun comparison, notice how Intel is optimistic now, but AMD is not? Which one is more confident of their future (hint: obviously not AMD). Now take that comparison and apply it to Microsoft - while Apple is confident about how things are going in spite of the economy, Microsoft is wearing sackcloth and ashes to their own earnings calls.

Says a lot about Microsoft, no?

[Rolker]

I disagree with you.
I think that MS future is promising.
Win 7 is on its way, with good reviews for the beta (didn't try it myself). Windows mobile 6.5 is going to be out and 7 is coming in the near future (regardless if people like this OS or not). A new Zune. An ew apps store (like everyone else that are building apps stores for mobiles), the new Surface Touch (don't remember the correct name), etc.
I think that MS got a bit cocky, and they thought that they can do whatever they want. But they are showing sings that things are changing, and that they are taking the costumer into account.
And of course MS is being hurt harder than Apple. Apple's market is much smaller than MS (in the PC market), so any change in this market will hurt MS more than Apple. Another thing is that Apple is doing great due to the iphone and ipod (great devices), which their sales weren't hurt as much.

[Inconnux]

#1 reason for falling profits... VISTA. Bring back XP and watch the profits skyrocket!...

[monkeyfun14]

No.

[Mr. Dee]

That does not make no sense - Apple does not bundle Windows XP or Windows at all and they had a 3 percent decline in sales.

[QuetzalcoatlUSA]

Chris Liddell looks like the cat that ate the canary. What, me worry?

[mcated]

If Microsoft would focus on the primary issues they have with their key products and put complete corrective actions in place for those, they would re-build their strong hold on the market. Their drive to develop new versions of software products without fixing the problematic software people have already purchased will continue to drive people away from Microsoft products. I have been an advocate since the 1980's and would love to see someone at Microsoft deal with this issue. Then the CFO can once again report strong earnings.

[monkeyfun14]

What problems?

They fix the problems they have been.

[Mr. Dee]

You talk like you have an idea, but all that comes out is this thing called hot air? Why don't you actually put together a list and maybe you might come across as believeable?

Stability? Windows has been delivering this with the release of NT since 1993 - memory management, pre-emptive multi-tasking.
Scalability - Windows 2000 provided this along with robustness and the ability address massive amounts of memory.
Mainstream 64-bit - Windows XP Professional x64 and Vista have provided this giving both developers and consumers new opportunities to realize new benefits in performance and further stability.
Security - Vista zipped this one up very well - UAC, Bitlocker, ASRL, Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, Device drive signing
Windows 7 - simplified networking, improved search technologies, Direct Access, AppLocker, better management of systems within and outside the network perimeter, improved performance, mobility

Yep, Microsoft has not been solving any problems. Please upgrade from Windows 3.1 mcated, its making you look bad.

[The_happy_switcher]

I thought the headline was a clever way of describing Ballmer's colon when his head is wedged up his arse.

[Mr. Dee]

Same thing happened to Jobs, that's why he had to take a 6 month recovery.

[ZetaZeta_]

I love you guys.

[sparrowhyperion]

Mickeysloth should be worried... Given how much they overcharge for their operating systems, how unstable those same operating systems can be, and the almost total lack of useful support for the individual user, I can see a lot more people switching to the numerous free OSs out there like the many flavors of Linux.

[Mr. Dee]

Unstable? For someone who doesn't use Windows you seem to think you know a lot. Why is there a 96% growth in Windows based Netbooks leaving Linux with a measly 3% market share? Why is Windows on over a billion PC's? Why has every year since 1998 been described as the year of Linux but turns out other wise? Could it be that Linux is just not living up to user expectations?

[monkeyfun14]

"and the almost total lack of useful support for the individual user"

You know I find it more enjoyable to call someone have them fix my problem not scavenge around looking for a support forum post wait an hour and may or may not get an answer depending on my question usually.

[Maccess]

'Pressures are broad and deep'

A broad range of users deeply dislike Vista and the weird file formats of Office 2007.

[billmosby]

Is Chris Liddell related to Steve Carell? Looks like he could be Steve's older brother.

[MisterTechie]

Microsoft is executing a killer strategy with a killer product, in a time when it is "kill or be killed". Check out this post and tell me if you don't agree:

http://blogs.itworldcanada.com/idol/2009/04/27/download-windows-7-eh-my-netbook-test-drive/