“A Microsoft official, ending an unusually downbeat earnings
call, voiced strong concern about corporate PC spending last night,
setting off a chorus of concerns about the impact that might have
on the stock market when it reopens for trading on
Monday.“
“In a conference call with reporters and analysts Thursday
evening, Microsoft Chief Financial Officer John Connors said lower
than expected sales of business PCs dampened the company’s
third-quarter revenue. Connors also had pessimistic words about
ongoing business PC growth, while an analyst interviewed after the
call wasn’t much more optimistic.”
“There is a level of saturation” of the business PC market, said
Anne Bui, an analyst at Framingham, Mass.-based International Data
Corp. (IDC). She pointed out that both IBM and Gateway Inc.
reported declines in commercial PC sales for their latest
quarters.”