Why Google Is A Better Stock Than Microsoft

John Shinal MarketWatch January 16, 2012

${Html.ActionLink("My MarketWatch", "index", new { controller = "composite", area = "section", page = "my" })} | !{Html.ActionLink("Sign out", "LogOff", new { area = "User", controller = "Account" }, new { id = "signOutLink" })}

Welcome, ${UserDisplayName}

Become a MarketWatch member today

John Shinal's Tech Investor Archives | Email alerts

Jan. 13, 2012, 12:34 p.m. EST

By John Shinal

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) "” In case any tech investors are debating whether shares of Microsoft Corp., with a price-to-earnings ratio of 10, are a better value than those of Google Inc., with a P/E of 22.5, some numbers released this week are a reminder why they're not, unless you're an income investor that likes a dividend.

The latest data from research firm comScore Inc. show that the U.S. market for Internet search grew at an annual rate of almost 11% in December. That means Google's core market is still growing at a double-digit rate in the middle of a tepid economic recovery. Google controls 66% of that business.

A brawl broke out outside the flagship Apple Store in Beijing, as hundreds lined up to buy the company's latest smartphone. Police swooped in to clear the crowd, and Apple halted retail sales of the new phone. Angela Yeoh reports.

At the same time, global shipments of PCs fell at an annual rate of 1% last month, according to a report from market-research firm Gartner Inc. A separate report by International Data Corp. said the drop was 0.2%. You'll recall that Microsoft's primary market is selling software for personal computers.

This is not to say that Google has done a better job than Microsoft of either running its business or investing its capital. On the contrary: Google has pretty much flubbed both in the past five years.

Google has spent billions on acquisitions that seem to be more tactical than strategic "” as was the case with Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. /quotes/zigman/3019788/quotes/nls/mmi MMI -0.13% , which is going to add significant employee expenses yet seems to be mostly a defensive patent play. In the case of YouTube, Google is still, five years after the deal, trying to find ways to justify not only the $1.65 billion purchase price, but also why it spends millions more every year hosting the world's largest collection of amateur videos, given that YouTube isn't profitable.

In the meantime, Facebook Inc. has surpassed Google as the world's most-visited Web site.

In spite of all this, Google still gets more than 90% of its revenue from search.

Similarly, Microsoft has spent the better part of a decade trying to challenge Google in the search business, a quixotic quest that has yielded only 15% of the market "” a measly share compared with Google's.

/quotes/zigman/93888/quotes/nls/goog GOOG 624.99, -4.65, -0.74% /quotes/zigman/20493/quotes/nls/msft MSFT 28.25, +0.25, +0.89%

Microsoft just passed Yahoo Inc. /quotes/zigman/59898/quotes/nls/yhoo YHOO -1.15% for second place, which is an achievement. But the celebration should be muted, give that the feat merely required the same level of skill as avoiding a slowly falling target, which is what Yahoo's search market share has been.

At the same time, Microsoft's huge push into gaming has provided it with a well-name brand, the Xbox, but no profits, even as Apple developed a mobile-computing and communication platform that is upending the PC world.

With Android and iOS, who needs UM?

Back around the turn of the century, I can remember when Microsoft (and Cisco Systems Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. and many other companies focused on enterprise sales) talked about the importance of unified messaging, or UM, to the future of their business. Well, that future is here, and employees using smartphones, laptops and tablets are bringing unified messaging into the enterprise from the bottom up.

Microsoft's efforts are now focused on a partnership with Nokia Corp. /quotes/zigman/162154/quotes/nls/nok NOK -1.88% , even though the tech industry is littered with failed examples of former rivals trying to cooperate.

After all its efforts, Microsoft's revenue and profits are still overwhelmingly provided by PC and server software, just as they were a decade ago.

But unlike Google's cash cow, which grazes in expanding pastures, Microsoft's Windows and Office franchises operate in tired fields. If you're looking for growth, resist any urge to buy Microsoft.

/quotes/zigman/3019788/quotes/nls/mmi Add MMI to portfolio MMI Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. $ 38.45 -0.05 -0.13% Volume: 1.81M Jan. 13, 2012 4:00p var embeddedchart1240477481Chart = new EmbeddedChart('#embeddedchart1240477481', NormalChartStyleNoDecimals, 240, 80, '1dy', '5mi', null, null, null, 'US:MMI'); jQuery.data($('#embeddedchart1240477481').get(0), 'embeddedchart', embeddedchart1240477481Chart); /quotes/zigman/59898/quotes/nls/yhoo Add YHOO to portfolio YHOO Yahoo! Inc. $ 15.48 -0.18 -1.15% Volume: 11.71M Jan. 13, 2012 4:00p var embeddedchart97618243Chart = new EmbeddedChart('#embeddedchart97618243', NormalChartStyleNoDecimals, 240, 80, '1dy', '5mi', null, null, null, 'US:YHOO'); jQuery.data($('#embeddedchart97618243').get(0), 'embeddedchart', embeddedchart97618243Chart); /quotes/zigman/162154/quotes/nls/nok Add NOK to portfolio NOK Nokia Corp. ADS $ 5.21 -0.10 -1.88% Volume: 24.00M Jan. 13, 2012 4:01p var embeddedchart77678162Chart = new EmbeddedChart('#embeddedchart77678162', NormalChartStyleNoDecimals, 240, 80, '1dy', '5mi', null, null, null, 'US:NOK'); jQuery.data($('#embeddedchart77678162').get(0), 'embeddedchart', embeddedchart77678162Chart); //$(document).ready(function() { var storywidth = $('#mainstory').width(); var maxwidth = storywidth; $('#maincontent pre').each(function (index, value) { var thiswidth = $(value).width(); if (thiswidth > maxwidth) maxwidth = thiswidth; }); var offset = maxwidth - storywidth; if (offset > 0) { var margin = 13; var blanketwidth = $('#blanket').width(); var contentwidth = $('#maincontent').width(); $('#blanket').width(blanketwidth + offset + margin); $('#maincontent').width(contentwidth + offset + margin); $('#mainstory').width(storywidth + offset + margin); } //});

John Shinal, a former technology editor of MarketWatch, is based in San Francisco.

var OB_permalink= 'http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-google-is-a-better-stock-than-microsoft-2012-01-13'; var OB_Template="marketwatch"; var OB_widgetId= 'AR_1'; var OB_langJS ='http://widgets.outbrain.com/lang_en.js'; if ( typeof(OB_Script)!='undefined' ) OutbrainStart(); else { var OB_Script = true; var str = ""; document.write(str); } Comments on this story 28 Comments Most Popular Asia Markets

Asian stocks hit hard by S&P's Europe downgrades

1. Marsh on Monday

From now on, in Europe, everything gets worse

2. Europe Markets

Europe stocks edge higher ahead of French auction

3. SportsWatch

Offensive defense sends Green Bay packing

4. Peter Brimelow

Gold and energy bull charges on

5. Join the Conversation 28 Comments 1,000 characters My comments... Community guidelines » Add Comment Breaking Insight Peter Brimelow

Gold and energy bull charges on

Marsh on Monday

From now on, in Europe, everything gets worse

Craig Stephen's This Week in China

Eyeing China's response to drop in forex reserves

Chuck Jaffe

How to judge a fund by the companies it keeps

Find a Broker Partner Center » Video

Asia Week Ahead: China's Bank Reserves In Focus

The Fed: Waiting Too Long To Raise Rates?

Mark Hulbert: Don't Bank On Early-January Effect

Europe's Week Ahead: Central Banks In Focus

About John Shinal RSS News feed

John Shinal is a former technology editor of MarketWatch. He also has covered Silicon Valley as a reporter for Bloomberg, an editor at Forbes.com and a... Expand

John Shinal is a former technology editor of MarketWatch. He also has covered Silicon Valley as a reporter for Bloomberg, an editor at Forbes.com and a correspondent for BusinessWeek magazine. More recently, Shinal was managing editor of Vator.tv, then a consultant and reporter for the Wall Street Journal Digital Network, where he helped launch the tech jobs Web site FINS.com in 2010. Collapse

More from John Shinal Trading Zillow over the next month Zynga in same boat as other 2011 tech IPOs Ahead in 2012: Higher salaries, weaker demand Zynga, the real warm-up for Facebook IPO Five things H-P's Meg Whitman should do right now Featured Commentary » Next: Peter Brimelow

Peter Brimelow

Wall Street Irregulars

Gold and energy bull charges on

Next: David Marsh's Marsh on Monday

David Marsh

Marsh on Monday

In Europe, everything gets worse

Next: Craig Stephen's This Week in China

Craig Stephen

This Week in China

Eyeing response to China's fx reserve drop

Next: Ruth Mantell's On the Job

Ruth Mantell

On the Job

Paychecks will grow slightly in 2012

Next: Howard Gold's No-Nonsense Investing

Howard Gold

No-Nonsense Investing

U.S. stocks are investors' best bet

Next: Mark Hulbert

Mark Hulbert

On the Markets

A stock market versus a market of stocks

Next: Chuck Jaffe

Chuck Jaffe

Mutual Funds

Judging a fund by the companies it keeps

Next: John Shinal's Tech Investor

John Shinal

Tech Investor

Why Google is a better stock than Microsoft

Next: Jennifer Waters' Consumer Confidential

Jennifer Waters

Consumer Confidential

Your bank wants to be your new best friend

Next: Al Lewis

Al Lewis

Al's Emporium

What's on Facebook, won't stay there

Next: John Dvorak's Second Opinion

John Dvorak

Digital Dvorak

Tech-industry takeaways from CES

Next: Thomas Kostigen's Impact Investor

Thomas Kostigen

Impact Investor

Much of the economy remains underground

WSJ WSJ MarketWatch MarketWatch Facebook Twitter Barron's Barron's SmartMoney SmartMoney AllThingsDigital AllThingsDigital FINS FINS More BigCharts Virtual Stock Exchange Financial News WSJ Asia WSJ India WSJ China chinese edition WSJ Japan japanese edition WSJ Europe WSJ Deutschland WSJ Americas en Español em Português WSJ Radio WSJ Wine SEARCH 7:47 AM EST January 16, 2012 /marketstate/country/us New York Holiday /marketstate/country/uk London Open /marketstate/country/jp Tokyo Closed /marketstate/country/us /marketstate/country/uk /marketstate/country/jp View All Latest News /news/latest 7:38a

Europe stocks flat ahead of French debt auction

7:01a

EU's Van Rompuy: Jobs should be top concern

5:49a

Nigeria strikes no imminent threat to oil sector

5:46a

U.K. stocks fall; banks, oil stocks pressured

5:30a

U.K., Hong Kong set up forum to foster yuan trade

5:20a

Huntsman to quit race, endorse Romney: reports

4:30a

Beijing to ease rules on China firms listing in HK

3:39a

Carnival shares lose 20% after shipwreck

3:29a

Europe stocks choppy, banks drag after S&P cuts

3:28a

Asian stocks hit hard by S&P's Europe downgrades

3:21a

Carnival shares down 19% after Italy accident

3:03a

SocGen down 4.7% in wake of S&P France downgrade

3:02a

French CAC 40 index down 1% to 3,165.15

3:01a

German DAX 30 index down 0.5% to 6,114.40

3:01a

FTSE 100 index down 0.3% to 5,621.47

3:01a

Stoxx Europe 600 index down 0.2% to 248.61

2:48a

BASF cut, Lanxess lifted at J.P Morgan Cazenove

2:39a

Papademos: Abandoning the euro isn't an option

1:47a

Shanghai stocks extend fall in late trade

1:47a

Shanghai Composite falls 1.6% to 2,209.87

Loading more headlines... dow /quotes/zigman/627449 12,422.06 -48.96 -0.39% nasdaq /quotes/zigman/123127 2,710.67 -14.03 -0.51% s&p 500 /quotes/zigman/3870025 1,289.09 -6.41 -0.49% Kiosk 1316607300000 1316675700000

Europe's Week Ahead

Focus on Greece Negotiations between the Greek government and private-sector creditors will be in the spotlight, reports MarketWatch's Polya Lesova. /conga/kiosk/video2.html 187166 1324694700000 1324972800000

Car Review

Ron Amadon 2012 Mercedes-Benz C250 The peppy new coupe is a relative bargain for a German luxury car. "¢ More car reviews from Ron Amadon 187066 1248681600000 1311753600000

Mutual Funds

Chuck Jaffe How to judge a fund What you should do when you spot scary names in a mutual fund's portfolio. For openers: Don't overreact. Then get the facts. /conga/kiosk/funds-pages.html 187171 1325066400000 1325118300000

Weekend Investor

Gold losing its luster? Investors who have recently jumped on the gold bandwagon will need plenty of patience in 2012. MarketWatch's Claudia Assis explains why. /conga/kiosk/wildcard1.html 187143 1310436000000 1310436000000

Games

Pick ... trade ... win! Join MarketWatch's quarterly earnings-focused stock competition. Beat the stock-picking pros and MarketWatch experts to win prizes. /conga/kiosk/games.html 184592 1322907300000 1323047700000

U.S. Week Ahead

Earnings in high gear Quarterly earnings pick up, with results due from Google, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs, reports MarketWatch's Laura Mandaro. /conga/kiosk/video.html 187163 MarketWatch.com Site Index Topics Help Feedback Newsroom Roster Media Archive Premium Products Mobile Company Info Code of Conduct Corrections Advertising Media Kit Advertise Locally License our Content Broker Center Your Ad Choices MarketWatch on Facebook MarketWatch on Twitter RSS Podcasts WSJ.com Barron's Online BigCharts Virtual Stock Exchange All Things Digital MarketWatch Community Financial News Online WSJ.com Small Business FINS: Finance, IT jobs, Sales jobs

Intraday Data provided by SIX Telekurs and subject to terms of use. Historical and current end-of-day data provided by SIX Telekurs. Intraday data delayed per exchange requirements. Dow Jones Indexes (SM) from Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All quotes are in local exchange time. Real time last sale data provided by NASDAQ. More information on NASDAQ traded symbols and their current financial status. Intraday data delayed 15 minutes for Nasdaq, and 20 minutes for other exchanges. Dow Jones IndexesSM from Dow Jones & Company, Inc. SEHK intraday data is provided by SIX Telekurs and is at least 60-minutes delayed. All quotes are in local exchange time.

MarketWatch Top Stories Link to MarketWatch's Slice. 15 $(".bgCurrencyFormatting").data("bgFormat", { last: "#,###.0000", change: "#,###.0000", percentChange: "#,###.0000%" }); if (typeof s != "undefined") { s.channel = "MarketWatch"; s.server = "www.marketwatch.com"; s.prop1 = "Article"; s.prop2 = "MW_Commentary"; s.prop5 = "http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-google-is-a-better-stock-than-microsoft-2012-01-13"; s.prop6 = "http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-google-is-a-better-stock-than-microsoft-2012-01-13?link=home_carousel"; s.prop7 = "off"; s.eVar11 = "MarketWatch"; s.pageName = "MW_Article_John Shinal's Tech Investor_E1E0BB02-3E09-11E1-A661-002128040CF6"; s.prop3 = "MW_Article_John Shinal's Tech Investor"; s.prop4 = "MW_article_John Shinal's Tech Investor_Why Google is a better stock than Microsoft"; s.prop8 = "MarketWatch.com"; s.prop19 = "article"; s.prop20 = "E1E0BB02-3E09-11E1-A661-002128040CF6"; s.prop21 = "John Shinal"; s.prop22 = "MW_Article_John Shinal's Tech Investor"; s.prop23 = "1/13/2012 12:34:44 PM"; s.prop26 = "MW_Article_John Shinal's Tech Investor"; s.prop50 = "Computer Hardware|Computer Software|Software|Internet Hardware|Internet Software|Internet|Gas/Utilities|Oil and Gas|Energy|Natural Resources|Telecommunications|Fiber Optics|Insurance|Household Products|Manufacturing|Media|Opinion|Commentary|Commodities||US"; s.events = "event12,event18"; s.prop9 = "free"; s.prop10 = "home_carousel"; s.prop11 = ""; s.prop13 = "technology_techinvestor"; s.prop25 = ""; s.prop27 = "nomem"; s.eVar4 = "MW_Article_John Shinal's Tech Investor_E1E0BB02-3E09-11E1-A661-002128040CF6"; s.eVar5 = "home_carousel"; s.eVar31 = "Monday"; s.eVar32 = "06:00"; s.prop39 = "a_commentary|m1|m3|m4|m6|m7|m8|m10|m12|m16|m24|m27|"; /************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************/ var s_code=s.t();if(s_code)document.write(s_code) }//--> DM_cat("MarketWatch > Article > MW_Commentary > MW_Article_John Shinal's Tech Investor"); DM_tag(); document.write(''); (function () { var d = new Image(1, 1); d.onerror = d.onload = function () { d.onerror = d.onload = null; }; d.src = ["//secure-us.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?ci=us-403743h&cg=0&cc=1&si=", escape(window.location.href), "&rp=", escape(document.referrer), "&ts=compact&rnd=", (new Date()).getTime()].join(''); })(); var _bgProxyUrl = "/bgproxy/bgproxy/forward"; $(function() { BlueGrass.Runtime.openConnection({}, function(connection, type) { if (type == "connect") { BlueGrass.MarketState.setup(); BlueGrass.Quote.setup(); } }); }); $(function() { var ajaxUrl = "/story/story"; MarketWatch.Story.InitializeStory(ajaxUrl, "http://system.marketwatch.com/newscloud/docguid/E1E0BB02-3E09-11E1-A661-002128040CF6", "/news/headline/getheadlines", "Why Google is a better stock than Microsoft", "http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-google-is-a-better-stock-than-microsoft-2012-01-13"); }); window.fbAsyncInit = function () { FB.init({ appId: "283204329838", cookie: true, // these two are not required for partners that status: true, // only rely on stk plugins and don't use connect channelUrl: 'http://' + window.location.hostname + '/channel.html', xfbml: true }); FB.Event.subscribe('edge.create', MarketWatch.FacebookLike.Liked); }; (function () { var e = document.createElement('script'); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js'; document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e); } ()); $(document).ready(function() { $("#commentarycarousel").mouseover(function(e) { e.preventDefault(); $(this).unbind(); MarketWatch.Panels.UpdateCarousel({ carouselDivId: 'commentarycarousel', carouselSize : 5}); }); }); $(function() { }); if(MarketWatch.Member != undefined && MarketWatch.Member.setUserLevel) { MarketWatch.Member.setUserLevel(MarketWatch.Member.UserLevel.unknown); } $(document).ready(function() { jQuery.validator.setDefaults({ highlight: function(element, errorClass) { $(element).addClass(errorClass); $(element).prev().addClass(errorClass); }, unhighlight: function(element, errorClass) { $(element).removeClass(errorClass); $(element).prev().removeClass(errorClass); } }); jQuery.validator.addMethod("checkUserName", function(value) { var userNameRX = /^[a-zA-Z0-9]+[a-zA-Z0-9]+[a-zA-Z0-9]$/; return userNameRX.test(value); }, ""); $("#registerForm").validate({ rules: { UserName : { required: true, rangelength: [4, 20], checkUserName:true } }, errorPlacement: function(error, element) { } }); $("#registerForm #username").focus(); if(MarketWatch.Member && MarketWatch.Member.init) { MarketWatch.Member.init(); } });

Email address

Password

Remember me

Forgot password?

The action you requested requires a MarketWatch Community display name.

Email address

Password

Remember me

Forgot password?

Community

Get your FREE membership now »

MarketWatch Community is a free service that lets you discover, organize and share MarketWatch stories with other readers.

Learn More »

The action you requested is only available to MarketWatch members.Please log in or register.

Email address

Password

Remember me

Forgot password?

Don't have a MarketWatch account?

Get your FREE membership now »

By registering, you are agreeing to MarketWatch's Terms of Service and to receiving periodic news and special offers via email about MarketWatch enhancements, products and services.

Please log in to access your MarketWatchPremium Newsletter subscription(s).

Email address

Password

Remember me

Forgot password?

Having trouble accessing your account?

Contact customer service.

$(document).ready(function() { MarketWatch.News.setNewsBoxUrl('/news/headline/getheadlines'); }); $(function() { BlueGrass.Runtime.openConnection({}, function(connection, type) { if (type == "connect") { BlueGrass.Conga.setup(); if (typeof liveBroadcast != "undefined") { //if there are broadcasts scheduled (test should fail on any non section page) //start the live video polling MarketWatch.LiveVideo.beginPolling(); } } }); }); if(gomez != undefined) { gomez.endInterval("Page Load"); } ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_StoryToolsSponsorship', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/marketwatch.com/commentary_peekaboo;u=NULL****234x31**********;sz=234x31;tile=1;ord=', width : '234', height : '31', lateLoad : true, autoLoad : true, refresh : false, independentRefresh : false, refreshRate : 480000, refreshDomain : "", type : "iframe", refreshUrl : "/cdn_content/business/re.html" }) ); ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_quotepeek1240477481', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/marketwatch.com/sponsor_livequotes;sym=MMI;u=NULL****288x40**********;sz=288x40;tile=1;ord=', width : '288', height : '40', lateLoad : false, autoLoad : false, refresh : false, independentRefresh : false, refreshRate : 480000, refreshDomain : "", type : "iframe", refreshUrl : "/cdn_content/business/re.html" }) ); ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_quotepeek97618243', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/marketwatch.com/sponsor_livequotes;sym=YHOO;u=NULL****288x40**********;sz=288x40;tile=1;ord=', width : '288', height : '40', lateLoad : false, autoLoad : false, refresh : false, independentRefresh : false, refreshRate : 480000, refreshDomain : "", type : "iframe", refreshUrl : "/cdn_content/business/re.html" }) ); ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_quotepeek77678162', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/marketwatch.com/sponsor_livequotes;sym=NOK;u=NULL****288x40**********;sz=288x40;tile=1;ord=', width : '288', height : '40', lateLoad : false, autoLoad : false, refresh : false, independentRefresh : false, refreshRate : 480000, refreshDomain : "", type : "iframe", refreshUrl : "/cdn_content/business/re.html" }) ); ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_BrokerButton1', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/brokerbuttons.marketwatch.com/technology_techinvestor;pos=1;u=NULL****288x40**********;sz=288x40;tile=10;ord=', width : '288', height : '40', lateLoad : true, autoLoad : true, refresh : false, independentRefresh : false, refreshRate : 480000, refreshDomain : "", type : "iframe", refreshUrl : "/cdn_content/business/re.html" }) ); ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_BrokerButton2', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/brokerbuttons.marketwatch.com/technology_techinvestor;pos=2;u=NULL****288x40**********;sz=288x40;tile=11;ord=', width : '288', height : '40', lateLoad : true, autoLoad : true, refresh : false, independentRefresh : false, refreshRate : 480000, refreshDomain : "", type : "iframe", refreshUrl : "/cdn_content/business/re.html" }) ); ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_BrokerButton3', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/brokerbuttons.marketwatch.com/technology_techinvestor;pos=3;u=NULL****288x40**********;sz=288x40;tile=12;ord=', width : '288', height : '40', lateLoad : true, autoLoad : true, refresh : false, independentRefresh : false, refreshRate : 480000, refreshDomain : "", type : "iframe", refreshUrl : "/cdn_content/business/re.html" }) ); ScrillaZilla.Escort.addClient( ScrillaZilla.Client('#ad_BrokerButton4', { ord : 278955818, src : 'http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/brokerbuttons.marketwatch.com/technology_techinvestor;pos=4;u=NULL****288x40**********;sz=288x40;tile=13;ord=', widt

With Android and iOS, who needs UM?

After all its efforts, Microsoft's revenue and profits are still overwhelmingly provided by PC and server software, just as they were a decade ago.

But unlike Google's cash cow, which grazes in expanding pastures, Microsoft's Windows and Office franchises operate in tired fields. If you're looking for growth, resist any urge to buy Microsoft.

John Shinal, a former technology editor of MarketWatch, is based in San Francisco.

Asian stocks hit hard by S&P's Europe downgrades

From now on, in Europe, everything gets worse

Europe stocks edge higher ahead of French auction

Offensive defense sends Green Bay packing

Gold and energy bull charges on

From now on, in Europe, everything gets worse

Eyeing China's response to drop in forex reserves

How to judge a fund by the companies it keeps

Asia Week Ahead: China's Bank Reserves In Focus

The Fed: Waiting Too Long To Raise Rates?

Mark Hulbert: Don't Bank On Early-January Effect

Europe's Week Ahead: Central Banks In Focus

John Shinal is a former technology editor of MarketWatch. He also has covered Silicon Valley as a reporter for Bloomberg, an editor at Forbes.com and a... Expand

Peter Brimelow

Wall Street Irregulars

Gold and energy bull charges on

David Marsh

Marsh on Monday

In Europe, everything gets worse

Craig Stephen

This Week in China

Eyeing response to China's fx reserve drop

Ruth Mantell

On the Job

Read Full Article »

Comment

Show comments

Why Google Is A Better Stock Than Microsoft

Related Articles