Would you invest in Microsoft Stocks right now?

[Semi-Retired-Dave]

It's at $23.70 a share?

[waz]

wonder how it will do once google comes out with their free OS. no clue when thats coming out.

[mynameisjim]

Originally Posted by waz

wonder how it will do once google comes out with their free OS. no clue when thats coming out.

IMHO

Even if the Google OS is 500 times better than Windows, before everyone adopts it, Mircosoft can just copy all the features into their own product the same way they did with browsers. Multiple companies have come out with better browsers than Internet Explorer, not just better, light years better, and yet Internet Explorer is still on top.

That's the advantage of having a huge installed base all over the world. You can simply update your product before everyone switches to the better offering by another company. It takes much more than just a better product to even put a dent in Mircrosoft's core products. It will take a huge disruptive technology that has yet to be seen or invented.

[onwebcam]

Why don't you ask Bill

Bill Gates continues selling off Microsoft stock

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/...rom=blog_last3

Looks to me like he's cuttin and runnin.

[waz]

Originally Posted by mynameisjim

That's the advantage of having a huge installed base all over the world. You can simply update your product before everyone switches to the better offering by another company.

ya i dont see alot of people switching to a free os when they already paid for windows but i think i was reading google is getting a few companys to sell new computers with their OS so in that case i dont know how many will uninstall it and go buy windows IF the google OS is any good.

[MovieMaster]

just wait till the EU sues google for doing same thing MS did...

[mynameisjim]

Originally Posted by waz

ya i dont see alot of people switching to a free os when they already paid for windows but i think i was reading google is getting a few companys to sell new computers with their OS so in that case i dont know how many will uninstall it and go buy windows IF the google OS is any good.

If they can start to lock up deals with PC makers, then that will be a start.

But as someone said, if they try to leverage their search and advertising with that free OS it's going to have a hard time getting past anti-trust. And they almost have to use it to gain exposure for their search and paid advertising since the OS is free.

Either way, I'm curious to see their free OS and what their strategy is.

[tiger]

Anything under 20 is probably a very safe bet if you are holding long term. Otherwise you could probably find better places to put your money. Solid company with lots of cash but they have been stuck in a trading range for years now. Things are looking up for them but they are going to need some big news to break out of the trading range.

[flip.green]

Yea was just thinking under 20 as well. MS likes to fuck up alot but they only have to get an OS release right one time clock up the billions. Windows 7 has had good reviews so far but its not exactly a game changer.

[meatbeat]

Originally Posted by tiger

Anything under 20 is probably a very safe bet if you are holding long term. Otherwise you could probably find better places to put your money. Solid company with lots of cash but they have been stuck in a trading range for years now. Things are looking up for them but they are going to need some big news to break out of the trading range.

This is exactly what I think.

[Manowar]

they get so much hassle in regards to monopoly comissions, so maybe not

[danheil]

the better products or what more people will switch too has a very small effect on the actual stock price, i would say no because they have been decreasing earnings estimates for next year, and it's not looking like they will be increasing them until they bring another avenue of income to the company, or figure out a way to make their current products and offerings more profitable.

[blazin]

I wouldn't invest simply because I don't see any significant growth for them... except maybe search.
I would go for something high growth or high dividend yeild... there's tons of bargains out there at the moment.

[sysk]

On the _long_ term, i don't see a bright future for Microsoft

[seeandsee]

Originally Posted by CyberAge-Dave

It's at $23.70 a share?

buyyyyyyyy

[woj]

probably not the best investment now a days, macs are stronger than ever, google os will become reality soon, linux is better than ever... future doesn't look too bright for them...

[Semi-Retired-Dave]

I guess this doesn't help much either.

Hole in the wall company, wins pretty big.

[Houdini]

Microsoft isn't a stock that moves a lot. They pay a dividend, which generally keep the stock's growth low, but allows you to accumulate more shares. For the past 7 years or so, the average price is around $25 dollars, which is essentially where it is now. It hasn't been really high since the late 90's, in the 60's, also when they had little competition. You have to believe that in the future, Windows and Office, Microsoft's bread and better, will be at risk. Especially when the free alternative is given out by one of the world's largest companies, Google. In a mutual fund, I wouldn't mind having this stock included for diversification. Would I buy it by itself? No. There are much better opportunities than this one.

[blazin]

Interestingly Microsoft is taking their products online.. and will be offering a lot of free online versions of it's apps... Microsofts online offerings are a lot more polished than Google's which seem to be forever in beta

[Simon_Spicecash]

windows 7 as far as I can see is getting rave reviews. Perhaps there stock will jump when it launches?

I'm not super in-tune with the markets though, so I don't really know - but would seem that if they launch a stellar product that is getting amazing feedback, it would influence there stock positively?

[Semi-Retired-Dave]

Originally Posted by Houdini

Microsoft isn't a stock that moves a lot. They pay a dividend, which generally keep the stock's growth low, but allows you to accumulate more shares. For the past 7 years or so, the average price is around $25 dollars, which is essentially where it is now. It hasn't been really high since the late 90's, in the 60's, also when they had little competition. You have to believe that in the future, Windows and Office, Microsoft's bread and better, will be at risk. Especially when the free alternative is given out by one of the world's largest companies, Google. In a mutual fund, I wouldn't mind having this stock included for diversification. Would I buy it by itself? No. There are much better opportunities than this one.

Very well said.

[CyberHustler]

Nope...

[2MuchMark]

Originally Posted by tiger

Anything under 20 is probably a very safe bet if you are holding long term. .

I disagree...look at Northern Telecom. Huge declines... and even once they leveled off they still couldn't bring themselves back up... a real shame.