What you just said doesn't support your argument that microsoft isn't undervalued and Apple is.

Its true that microsofts price to earnings ratio is about 10, and Apples was 15, but the lower that number the better the stock. Microsofts stock returned 1/3 more value per stock than Apples...hence it is undervalued. Both companies are somewhat undervalued, but Microsoft more so than Apple.

Also, your statement of their core business stagnating...check out Microsofts latest earnings. Windows is down only 6% and this is 3 years in to Windows 7 and just before Windows 8 launch which only has marketshare to gain as Windows 7 pretty much remains unchallenged in the desktop world. Besides, Microsoft revenue is fairly evenly divided amongst all divisions and Windows division is now actually 3rd in overall revenue.  

This. Happy you pointed it out, as soon as I read the title impying Greece could be bought for $400B I jumped on my chair. Heck, I'm Mr. Nobody, but if I ever found a way to buy Greece for that sum, any bank with enough money would be glad to lend it to me, I could repay the debt with princely interests and keep trillions profits for myself even reselling Greece at fire sales prices.

Why is apple at 400 billion?

The only fact that we consider a private company worth more than country, means that our system of values is flawed.

Only people who know nothing of economy consider that Apple is worth more than Greece.

Funny in a sick way, but why is Greece so bad right now anyway?

How's accusing a company of faulty products trolling while calling Greece useless is not? @_@

The difficulties we face right now have nothing to do with our value or worth; and Austria and Argentina, well respected countries are not too far off. Seriously people, the hate...

It's because people are all about growth.

People see Microsoft and don't really see a strong path to future growth.  Though I do agree microsoft is undervalued, if anything due to their diversity.

Apple is a lot like Nintendo.  Huge based off "innovations" and putting things in a way customers actually want it... but with little stableness behind it.   Meaning that it can be pretty volitile and go bad fast if they start making the wrong moves. 

If this is a serious and respected forum where moderators try to prevent bashing against a company, I expect them to show exactly the same sensitivity and do the same when bashing a country.

It's hard to compare Apple to Nintendo anymore. Seven years ago? Maybe. But now they have profitable divisions in their Mac line, iPhone, iPad, iPod, iTunes Store, and now they're going after school textbooks. Within the year, they're going to start pursuing the smart television market. That is beginning to turn into a pretty well-rounded set of offerings.

Microsoft is definitely more diverse but much of that diversity struggles to earn them any money and a few divisions are giant moneypits. Their "real" money comes from Windows and Office with the Xbox line starting to come around. They're in more danger over the next ten years than Apple. Microsoft's main money makers (outside of Xbox) aren't only saturated, they're in decline. And they will face real competition from iOS/Android over the next few years. In short, if people stop buying computers and start replacing them with tablets (which Microsoft has ZERO stake in at this point), Microsoft could be royally and utterly fucked.

Not that I think they will, but it is a real possibility. Best case scenario is that Microsoft's core businesses will remain stable in the next decade. There is almost zero space for growth.