Nikkei: Sony expected to post $1.12 billion loss

[NJ5]

SlorgNet said:
We're in the midst of the worst global downturn in sixty years, so all of the major corporations are going to take a hit. Sony has creative people and very little long-term debt, so they'll be OK.

This may sound strange, but I think Microsoft is actually the most vulnerable out of the Big 3. They don't have core strengths in hardware or studio software, and their core monopoly over OS software is history. The economic crisis is going to force huge numbers of consumers to pirate or go open source, and the Mac is more than a viable alternative for folks with money. After suffering through one godawful Windoze machine after another for a decade, I recently bit the bullet and got a low-end Macbook, and was stunned at its efficiency, ease of use, versatility and quality. Apple really knows how to design things well.

Err... Why do you consider Sony's long term debt "very small"?

Regarding Microsoft you are right, it does sound strange. Microsoft has huge profit margins, less employees to feed and Windows/Office is still a huge cash cow, and will likely continue to be one for the foreseeable future.