Now It is a hold

Our respondents' top pick, Microsoft has rallied nicely since March, but substantial gains could lie ahead as the software titan embarks on a new product-upgrade cycle, headlined by the launch of the Windows 7 computer-operating system, which has garnered glowing reviews. Microsoft trades for 15.5 times the $1.79 it is expected to earn in the fiscal year ending next June. Back out the company's nearly $4 a share in cash, and its price/earnings multiple is only 13. Microsoft returns cash to shareholders via a 52-cent annual dividend; it yields 1.8%.

Always been good new OS out.

So let's put it all together. This is now a short-seller's paradise for the moment. Washington is against us. Oil is against us. Tech? Broadcom (BRCM) is actually trumping everything including Microsoft (MSFT), and that is part of the misery here today;

We have leaders, so we have winners. Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT) are making moves that have us thinking about tech in a positive way and make us recognize the power of the Web renewed.

Revenue growth at Microsoft (MSFT) came from the consumer side, said Joe Terranova. That’s interesting because you’d think strength would come from the PC cycle upgrade. Consumer strength in Microsoft’s numbers says to me the people are feeling more comfortable spending money, adds Gary Kaminsky.

Late last week Microsoft reported profits and revenue that beat Wall Street estimates, even though they were down. Its new Windows 7 operating system was also well received. Price's target for Microsoft is 35, versus 28 last week following a big gain. His 2010 earnings estimate is $2 a share.

retirement

Q: Barron's: For starters, why are you so high on the Pacific Northwest?

A: Delafield: Many companies in the Pacific Northwest are undercovered and underserved by both Wall Street and the institutional-investment community. Of course, you have Starbucks [SBUX], Amazon.com [AMZN], Boeing [BA], which still has its main manufacturing facilities here, even though it's headquartered in Chicago, and Microsoft [MSFT]. But beyond them, the coverage drops pretty rapidly.

bill gates, is there any else to say?

Slip sliding away

provides terrible products.

Downward spiral

too back and forth

never moves much

never moves up

I love the company, but it is becoming stale. The many benefits of Windows remain, but those arguments have become technical, and all of the things that people do with computers have transcended the OS as the foundation of the user experience. Windows users don't feel pride or awe toward the OS anymore, and the rush of people to a browser-defined or mobile Internet application experience will (one day soon) suck the Windows-derived life out of MSFT and make it truly vulnerable to competition. In fact, it's happening as I write this...

too sideways

Has done nothing for years

I lost way too much money on previous purchases.