Microsoft post first ever quarterly loss since 1986

[techtoronto]

Microsoft just released its Q4 2012 earnings report, posting a loss of $192M due to the writedown the company took because of its failed aQuantive acquisition. Revenue for this quarter was $18.06, up from $17.41 billion in the last quarter and $17.37 billion in Q4 2011. Loss per share was $0.06
.
Nevertheless things are looking pretty rosy for Microsoft as it is heading towards the launch of Windows 8 and its sibling mobile platform.

Here are the numbers for all of Microsoft’s divisions:

Windows and Windows Live: $4.15 billion revenue, 1% decrease because of Windows Upgrade Offer deferral (see below)
Business Division: $6.29 billion revenue, up 7%
Server & Tools: $5.09 billion revenue, 13% increase
Online Services: $0.74 billion revenue, 8% increase
Entertainment and Devices: $1.79 billion revenue, 20% increase


They sure are on top of the world despite this loss!

[nsx]

:arrow:

Moved from "Off Topic" to "Computers & Electronics"

[xalex0]

So what's so cool about this?

[wilsonlam97]

So what's so cool about this?

Kinda interesting if your into analysing a bit of industry news.

[Busybuyer888]

So what's so cool about this?

It is nice to know, if one has funds to invest in the stock market ... well managed high tech are doing well.

[aemi]

about time. When was the last time they invented something useful after Windows XP?

[Adevictus]

about time. When was the last time they invented something useful after Windows XP?

We should give Win 7 some credit, it is pretty dang good.

[bandersnatch]

We should give Win 7 some credit, it is pretty dang good.

More of the same. They should have been making the future. Especially given how popular iOS and Android was, even in 2009.

[Mark77]

More of the same. They should have been making the future. Especially given how popular iOS and Android was, even in 2009.

Just like with RIM's BlackBerry platform, there's a ton of stuff in the Windows environment that has been improved dramatically over the past number of years, that isn't really seen/noticeable by the end-user, but improves the ease of which Windows systems can be acquired/deployed/developed for.

A lot of folks out there might think, "those stupid IT guys are punishing me by forcing me to use Windows, or to use a BlackBerry", but the alternatives tend to be very hard to integrate into the corporate environment both securely, and in a managed fashion.

Having said that -- this really isn't an operating loss. Microsoft made some bad purchases. Those purchases were unable to yield income or assets for the company, hence, the accountants required an impairment to earnings be recorded. Despite the issues, Microsoft's revenues continued to grow.

[sandikosh]

RIM now MS!

[mbg]

RIM now MS!

Here's a stock tip -- don't invest in the stock market.

They took a one-time writedown. Their business is doing well and is growing. They have cloud plans, and a unique offering in that area on the way. They have a viable and original tablet OS on the way, a new phone strategy, and possible XBox plans that could get them into set-top boxes.

Lots of opportunities for Microsoft to grow. They probably won't hit them all, but they are not stagnating.

[MkmBandit]

about time. When was the last time they invented something useful after Windows XP?

The TabletPC. Though Bill Gates stole the idea from Jean Luc Picard who introduced the PADD in 1989 on StarTrek TNG, who in turn stole the idea from the Ohio Art Company who created the Etch-a-sketch.

Nevertheless it changed the game. :lol:

:not meant to be taken seriously:

[george__]

The world is going into a recession. 2012 is loooming... Ahh

[techtoronto]

about time. When was the last time they invented something useful after Windows XP?

I think everyone owes a lot to Microsoft irrespective of profits it made in the past. I started from DOS but still Microsoft was the one which gave us the real GUI and make it simple for every other user. Even the novice can operate a windows now.. we have seen a lot of transition and lot's of new development but still I feel Microsoft was the pioneer and showed all these the track to future development. Anybody with me????

[xalex0]

Microsoft was the one which gave us the real GUIWhat do you mean by that?

[ichpen]

Here's a stock tip -- don't invest in the stock market.

They took a one-time writedown. Their business is doing well and is growing. They have cloud plans, and a unique offering in that area on the way. They have a viable and original tablet OS on the way, a new phone strategy, and possible XBox plans that could get them into set-top boxes.

Lots of opportunities for Microsoft to grow. They probably won't hit them all, but they are not stagnating.

Well put. And its good to see them take a serious crack at the mobile and tablet market. More competition drives innovation.

[techtoronto]

What do you mean by that?

Graphical User Interface

[techtoronto]

Well put. And its good to see them take a serious crack at the mobile and tablet market. More competition drives innovation.

Correct, they are not RIM though I desperately want RIM to bounce back.

[xalex0]

Graphical User InterfaceWell, MS didn't invent that. Try Xerox or Apple. Unless, again, you mean something in particular by the word "real".

[_Allan_]

The TabletPC. Though Bill Gates stole the idea from Jean Luc Picard who introduced the PADD in 1989 on StarTrek TNG, who in turn stole the idea from the Ohio Art Company who created the Etch-a-sketch.

Nevertheless it changed the game. :lol:

:not meant to be taken seriously:

Actually, Gene Roddenberry invented the PADD back in 1966, with the ORIGINAL Star Trek.
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/01/500x_custom_1264692600131_tos_padd_2.jpg
http://images.wikia.com/memoryalpha/en/images/f/f3/TOS_PADD_1.jpg

[mbg]

Actually, Gene Roddenberry invented the PADD back in 1966, with the ORIGINAL Star Trek.

Isn't that kind like saying that Hanna-Barbera invented the flying car when they showed it in The Jetsons?

[_Allan_]

Isn't that kind like saying that Hanna-Barbera invented the flying car when they showed it in The Jetsons?

Have we seen an actual flying car, that looks like the ones in the Jetson's?
No. Have we seen products that look/act a LOT like Star Trek stuff?
Yes ...
Flip cellphones - TOS Communicator (didn't Motorola even name one "Star Trek"?
PDAs/Tablets - TOS, TNG "PADDS". What could the PADDs do? Ah, just about everything! Show personal messages (email/video), play music, show video clips, calendar, surf the web (or what they used as the web), etc etc etc. There wasn't anything the PADD's couldn't do. THUS in technicality, the PADD was invented years and years ago, before Gates (early 2000's) and Job's (2007).