Microsoft's vision was a computer on every desk and in every home. They accomplished their vision, and they're a mature company collecting massive amounts of rent on the software that runs on most of those computers. They don't lack vision so much as they gain illusions--illusions that they can still be a young, growing concern with one foot firmly planted in a mature business.
That's not how business ecology works, though. Microsoft's shareholders are not well served with stock in a company that's half mature, dividend-paying, high-market-share titan and half scrappy innovator. They're probably better off having stock in a Microsoft comfortable with its maturity as well as a separate, younger, scrappier company. The entire economy would be better off with that.
That's not how business ecology works, though. Microsoft's shareholders are not well served with stock in a company that's half mature, dividend-paying, high-market-share titan and half scrappy innovator. They're probably better off having stock in a Microsoft comfortable with its maturity as well as a separate, younger, scrappier company. The entire economy would be better off with that.