“A host of problems have weighed on Microsoft’s shares:
Washington’s antitrust lawsuit; the cost of employee options; the
rise of competitors such as Sun Microsystems Inc.; and a variety of
companies that sell Linux, an operating system that competes with
Microsoft Windows.”
“But the biggest issue for the Redmond, Wash., software maker is
how rapidly the computer industry is changing. Microsoft’s earnings
still rely heavily on people and businesses buying personal
computers loaded with its software. Increasingly, though, software
is being sold via the Internet.”
“Microsoft is changing its ways, but it is unclear that it can
change fast enough to remain the king of the market. That’s why its
stock is down 54% so far this year.”