Without any pricing, release dates, etc, that's really more speculation than anything else; the broad brush term "gamer" is essentially meaningless as well - how many people does that account for of Microsoft's 46M+ Live subscribers? If you ask them, people spend more time (on average) using Live's other offerings (Netflix, music, etc) than they do gaming. More importantly, and as noted above, it's not one or the other; there's no reason why Microsoft can't offer consumers the best of both worlds in one device.
I would be more concerned with how MSFT extends this even further beyond gaming, to attract non-gamers; that's why they came out of the gates focused on TV/entertainment. I think it's all but assured that we see a lower-end, non-core gaming device spin-off from Xbox One that runs simple tablet/mobile type games (think Angry Birds, etc), as well as Netflix, Skype, etc (the other features shown in the presentation). This is how I imagine MSFT will attempt to make a big push in every living room; as the first one out of the gates, I think they set a pretty high bar for the industry.
E3 will have plenty to say about games; there's no question Microsoft is trying to expand the target market here, but the focus on gaming is as solid as it's ever been...
Microsoft (MSFT) unveils the Xbox One, a 3rd-gen console it pitches as "the ultimate all-in-one entertainment system. The device has a rectangular, set-top box-like shape, a slightly bigger controller. a revamped Xbox Live UI, improved app/game loading and switching times, and fresh voice/gesture controls. AMD is widely believed to provide an integrated CPU/GPU for the system. (live blog) (previous) [View news story]
Oh yeah, I think that feature will become most relevant in terms of Skype, fantasy stats, etc., when watching TV/sporting events. In Win8, I find that feature quite useful; would love the ability to adjust the size of the pane split (50/50 would be useful sometimes), and hoping it will come with Blue.
Microsoft (MSFT) unveils the Xbox One, a 3rd-gen console it pitches as "the ultimate all-in-one entertainment system. The device has a rectangular, set-top box-like shape, a slightly bigger controller. a revamped Xbox Live UI, improved app/game loading and switching times, and fresh voice/gesture controls. AMD is widely believed to provide an integrated CPU/GPU for the system. (live blog) (previous) [View news story]
I do it all the time - play Hold'em on Windows 8 while reading in the side pane or flicking thru music apps
Microsoft (MSFT) unveils the Xbox One, a 3rd-gen console it pitches as "the ultimate all-in-one entertainment system. The device has a rectangular, set-top box-like shape, a slightly bigger controller. a revamped Xbox Live UI, improved app/game loading and switching times, and fresh voice/gesture controls. AMD is widely believed to provide an integrated CPU/GPU for the system. (live blog) (previous) [View news story]
J.C. Penney Liquidation Value Far Lower Than Bulls Thought [View article]
"An independent appraisal has come back and it has valued JCP's entire real estate portfolio at $4.1 billion. Before you get excited about this figure (given that JCP's current market value is $4.2 billion at the current share price of $19), remember that bond holders get paid before equity holders. JCP has $2.6 billion of net debt already, so if you value the company's retail operations at zero, the net value of the real estate to stockholders is only $1.5 billion, or $7 per share."
Interesting - didn't know that you could simply ignore the rest of the balance sheet; for example, I guess the $1.1 billion in net current assets on the balance sheet as of year end is worth $0?
Same thing with EBITDA calculation - guess the increase in debt doesn't need to be netted against the CASH RAISED in that offering (or the other $850M expected at the end of Q1)?
Windows division CFO Tami Reller and Office division CFO Amy Hood are Microsoft's (MSFT -0.9%) top candidates to replace outgoing CFO Peter Klein, two sources tell Bloomberg. Online Services COO Rik van der Kooi is also said to be a candidate. One source says a replacement, who would be tasked with overseeing Microsoft's $74.5B cash/investment balance and dividend/buyback policies, could be named as soon as next week. Earlier this week, Reller affirmed Microsoft's commitment to Windows 8, while promising UI tweaks to make the OS more palatable to new users. [View news story]
"The learning curve is definitely real," Microsoft's (MSFT) head of marketing and finance tells the Financial Times, in a partial explanation of why the company will reportedly change "key aspects" of how Windows 8 works when a new version is released later this year. The company's apparent about-face is being likened to Coke's infamous New Coke debacle and it appears MSFT will attempt to appease those whose difficulties adjusting to the tablet-like interface have prompted calls for the return of a more familiar PC experience. [View news story]
Windows has just started to see tablet and phone share gains, slowly but surely - gains directly tied to the Win8 launch. We'll see a similar development with Bing over time as well.
If you think this is like "New Coke" (meaning the company will make some significant reversion to the dual interface), you're off your rocker. They know that they need continued app market growth (quality & quantity) to bridge the gap across multiple devices; the user will still be pulled to the tiles interface in the OS.
We'll likely see a start menu and the ability to boot in desktop mode - updates happen and change to meet user needs/desires. That's the beauty of a moat - customers stay with you even if they're initially unhappy with some feature in your product (and the one's who enjoyed it are likely in the process of buying Win8 tablets/phones); Microsoft was able to force millions to try their phone/tablet OS - a great way to drive some user familiarity.
With 100M licenses sold to date (roughly in line with Windows 7), MSFT got what they needed; the app store will continue to grow and improve, and PC's aren't going anywhere.
Been a nice move higher so far - with a long way to go...
Berkshire Hathaway Is Undervalued By 20%-25% [View article]
Whitehawk,
Thanks for the honest reply.
"I tried to find Buffett quoted in opposition to the pipeline and could not. He stated last year that he was a supporter. However, given the rail traffic and costs for transporting Bakken and other high production area oil that has outpaced pipeline growth, his economic gain is undeniable."
I'd love to hear the author's response to those first two sentences...
Microsoft's Strong Earnings Almost Have This Critic Impressed (I Said Almost) [View article]
"My take on the future is that PC's will disappear but docking stations, keyboards and monitors will be with us forever.
With those peripherals, you can easily "type this whole thing, and jump back and forth between SEC documents, on a tablet."
Thanks for the comment."
Maybe you're right - but that still doesn't result in the Camp 1 conclusion. Oh, and BTW, if that becomes reality - a single OS across all devices - what would you like that OS to look like? I would assume something like Win8 is right what you're looking for?
Microsoft's Strong Earnings Almost Have This Critic Impressed (I Said Almost) [View article]
"I think that Microsoft will have to settle its Windows issues one way or another but going forward, as an investor, you will probably fall into one of two camps.
Camp One: You believe that as Windows goes, so goes Microsoft and bad times for Windows are correspondingly bad for the future of the stock, or ....
Camp Two: You believe that Microsoft has several billion dollar business units and is strong with or without Windows."
Here's the problem - camp two is reality; if you completely remove W&WL from Microsoft's most recently fiscal year results, operating income was roughly $17 billion - and growing at a nice rate as well. Oh, and they've got about $9/share in cash.
This all comes with the assumption that the PC disappears; I can only imagine if i had been forced to type this whole thing, and jump back and forth between SEC documents, on a tablet. I think I'll stick with my PC...
Berkshire Hathaway Is Undervalued By 20%-25% [View article]
wdchil,
I would normally use the word error, but this is a continuous attempt by writers on this site to make such claims without any documentation; it goes beyond a simple "error" when people continue to perpeuate an idea they have no reasonable basis for.
The author should respond with a reputable source for such commentary or revise the article accordingly.
Microsoft: Where's Your Game At? [View article]
Microsoft: Where's Your Game At? [View article]
I would be more concerned with how MSFT extends this even further beyond gaming, to attract non-gamers; that's why they came out of the gates focused on TV/entertainment. I think it's all but assured that we see a lower-end, non-core gaming device spin-off from Xbox One that runs simple tablet/mobile type games (think Angry Birds, etc), as well as Netflix, Skype, etc (the other features shown in the presentation). This is how I imagine MSFT will attempt to make a big push in every living room; as the first one out of the gates, I think they set a pretty high bar for the industry.
Microsoft: Where's Your Game At? [View article]
Microsoft (MSFT) unveils the Xbox One, a 3rd-gen console it pitches as "the ultimate all-in-one entertainment system. The device has a rectangular, set-top box-like shape, a slightly bigger controller. a revamped Xbox Live UI, improved app/game loading and switching times, and fresh voice/gesture controls. AMD is widely believed to provide an integrated CPU/GPU for the system. (live blog) (previous) [View news story]
Microsoft (MSFT) unveils the Xbox One, a 3rd-gen console it pitches as "the ultimate all-in-one entertainment system. The device has a rectangular, set-top box-like shape, a slightly bigger controller. a revamped Xbox Live UI, improved app/game loading and switching times, and fresh voice/gesture controls. AMD is widely believed to provide an integrated CPU/GPU for the system. (live blog) (previous) [View news story]
Microsoft (MSFT) unveils the Xbox One, a 3rd-gen console it pitches as "the ultimate all-in-one entertainment system. The device has a rectangular, set-top box-like shape, a slightly bigger controller. a revamped Xbox Live UI, improved app/game loading and switching times, and fresh voice/gesture controls. AMD is widely believed to provide an integrated CPU/GPU for the system. (live blog) (previous) [View news story]
J.C. Penney Liquidation Value Far Lower Than Bulls Thought [View article]
Interesting - didn't know that you could simply ignore the rest of the balance sheet; for example, I guess the $1.1 billion in net current assets on the balance sheet as of year end is worth $0?
Same thing with EBITDA calculation - guess the increase in debt doesn't need to be netted against the CASH RAISED in that offering (or the other $850M expected at the end of Q1)?
Windows division CFO Tami Reller and Office division CFO Amy Hood are Microsoft's (MSFT -0.9%) top candidates to replace outgoing CFO Peter Klein, two sources tell Bloomberg. Online Services COO Rik van der Kooi is also said to be a candidate. One source says a replacement, who would be tasked with overseeing Microsoft's $74.5B cash/investment balance and dividend/buyback policies, could be named as soon as next week. Earlier this week, Reller affirmed Microsoft's commitment to Windows 8, while promising UI tweaks to make the OS more palatable to new users. [View news story]
"The learning curve is definitely real," Microsoft's (MSFT) head of marketing and finance tells the Financial Times, in a partial explanation of why the company will reportedly change "key aspects" of how Windows 8 works when a new version is released later this year. The company's apparent about-face is being likened to Coke's infamous New Coke debacle and it appears MSFT will attempt to appease those whose difficulties adjusting to the tablet-like interface have prompted calls for the return of a more familiar PC experience. [View news story]
If you think this is like "New Coke" (meaning the company will make some significant reversion to the dual interface), you're off your rocker. They know that they need continued app market growth (quality & quantity) to bridge the gap across multiple devices; the user will still be pulled to the tiles interface in the OS.
We'll likely see a start menu and the ability to boot in desktop mode - updates happen and change to meet user needs/desires. That's the beauty of a moat - customers stay with you even if they're initially unhappy with some feature in your product (and the one's who enjoyed it are likely in the process of buying Win8 tablets/phones); Microsoft was able to force millions to try their phone/tablet OS - a great way to drive some user familiarity.
With 100M licenses sold to date (roughly in line with Windows 7), MSFT got what they needed; the app store will continue to grow and improve, and PC's aren't going anywhere.
Been a nice move higher so far - with a long way to go...
Berkshire Hathaway Is Undervalued By 20%-25% [View article]
Thanks for the honest reply.
"I tried to find Buffett quoted in opposition to the pipeline and could not. He stated last year that he was a supporter. However, given the rail traffic and costs for transporting Bakken and other high production area oil that has outpaced pipeline growth, his economic gain is undeniable."
I'd love to hear the author's response to those first two sentences...
Microsoft's Strong Earnings Almost Have This Critic Impressed (I Said Almost) [View article]
And this gem:
"Newly updated firmware for Windows 8 support, in addition to 7, Vista, XP. Not Mac or Linux compatible."
If these are the docking stations of the future, it certainly will be a bright one for Microsoft...
Microsoft's Strong Earnings Almost Have This Critic Impressed (I Said Almost) [View article]
Well of course it is - these docking devices you forsee are non-existant (in any numbers) at this point in time.
And if the market loves XP & 7, that's okay for W&WL as well...
Microsoft's Strong Earnings Almost Have This Critic Impressed (I Said Almost) [View article]
With those peripherals, you can easily "type this whole thing, and jump back and forth between SEC documents, on a tablet."
Thanks for the comment."
Maybe you're right - but that still doesn't result in the Camp 1 conclusion. Oh, and BTW, if that becomes reality - a single OS across all devices - what would you like that OS to look like? I would assume something like Win8 is right what you're looking for?
Microsoft's Strong Earnings Almost Have This Critic Impressed (I Said Almost) [View article]
Camp One: You believe that as Windows goes, so goes Microsoft and bad times for Windows are correspondingly bad for the future of the stock, or ....
Camp Two: You believe that Microsoft has several billion dollar business units and is strong with or without Windows."
Here's the problem - camp two is reality; if you completely remove W&WL from Microsoft's most recently fiscal year results, operating income was roughly $17 billion - and growing at a nice rate as well. Oh, and they've got about $9/share in cash.
This all comes with the assumption that the PC disappears; I can only imagine if i had been forced to type this whole thing, and jump back and forth between SEC documents, on a tablet. I think I'll stick with my PC...
Berkshire Hathaway Is Undervalued By 20%-25% [View article]
I would normally use the word error, but this is a continuous attempt by writers on this site to make such claims without any documentation; it goes beyond a simple "error" when people continue to perpeuate an idea they have no reasonable basis for.
The author should respond with a reputable source for such commentary or revise the article accordingly.