Its not a matter of whether Microsoft can do this or not, the analysts have these predictions down to a science and they almost unanimously agree that Microsoft is becoming a slow growth dinosaur, and will cede both influence to consumers as well as money in the bank with dollars going to competitors. I think that I need to give you a long list of analysts that are pretty pessimistic of microsoft's fortunes, in fact I'll supply you with that tomorrow as these professionals can say it much better than you or I can.

Until then RP.

The analysts don't know the future. They have incomplete information at hand and can only use the information they have to predict what will happen. They do the best they can but they don't know the internal workings of Google, Microsoft, or Apple.

Look at the videogame industry. How often do "analysts" predict horribly wrong and inaccurate things? It's not an exact science.

They do indeed know the internal workings of the companies that they study, genius. They know business far better than you or I bc they have MBAs and company contacts to give news and explain things.  They don't pay these people upwards of 200k to regularly give out in accurate predictions.

Lastly, I would think that you have a point if I throw out one prediction, but if just about all of the big players seem to be pessimistic about msft, then any thinking person should be as well.

"Genius". Nice.

These analysts do not know the internal workings of these companies any more than the companies let them know. Are you really that naive to believe that these analysts know so much about these companies that surprise is impossible? If that's the case, why are so many of these analysts wrong time after time after time? We see it across every industry. Some company makes a move, surprises the competition, proves all the analysts wrong. As a forum poster on a fucking video game site, you should know exactly how much stock to put in analysts' "predictions". I'm sure Michael Pachter is an extremely well-paid man. I think he's a pretty smart guy as well (most of the time, anyway). That doesn't stop him from being completely fucking wrong all the goddamned time.

I'm not even arguing that Microsoft is going to take back a large chunk of the marketshare. I'm simply saying that it's possible and any analyst who disagrees with that is drawing far too many conclusions from limited information. MSFT is still a multi-billion dollar company with a death-grip on the conventional PC market. That counts for something, whether you want to believe it or not. Me, I don't care. Let the best company win.

Really? Wow, didnt expect it to be such a turnout.

I agree, but I want the yellow phone!  I'm getting the yellow Lumia 920 early 2013.  

Why don't ATT allow early upgrades like they do for iphones?

I just can't comprehend why you try so hard. 

Because when your life is completely void of meaning, you gain solace from knowing that your brand of phone is what the cool kids are using.

Or something like that. I have never and will never understand fanboyism.

I got him to admit he owns Google stock at one point. That may have something to do with it...

Ahh yes, ofcourse. But being a fanboy will not do anything to the stocks.