So the market shaved $32 billion off Microsoft’s value last week after a perceived weak earnings report. Even BillG took it in the shorts to the tune of $3 billion. Gates had this to say about the market’s reaction last Friday:
“We announced yesterday that our [research and development spending] is going up even more,” Gates said. “Some people are very enthused about those investments. Others were wondering why we think we need to invest so much. It really comes back to the optimism we have about these advances.”
Sources are still trying to locate that elusive person who was “enthused” about Microsoft’s plans.
Gates and company must be very frustrated watching Google and Yahoo continue to garner praise for their aggressive web strategies while Apple can seemingly do no wrong with its hugely popular iPod product line and fanatical following. The only Microsoft product with any momentum right now is the Xbox 360 which is sold at a loss.
Nordquist Blog 