Earlier this morning, I published a story about how the outlook for Microsoft looks rather dismal heading into the months and years ahead. Unfortunately, it was sloppy journalism. I’ll admit that. I’m a college student that occasionally writes on the fly, so sometimes my opinions get mashed into an indecent article with inadequate factual information to back up my points. So, if you will allow me, I will give it another shot.

Let me begin with the decline of the PC market, highlighted by plummeting sales and shrinking profit margins. Most analysts predict that the situation is only going to get worse, simply because PCs are becoming too good these days for consumers to merit an upgrade. Moreover, traditional PC sales are being hindered by the increasing market share of Macs and gradual shift towards the adoption of tablets over full-sized laptops.  (more…)

Microsoft’s attempt at tackling the iPad with the Surface tablet has been largely unsuccessful.

The decline of the PC era is only going to get worse, analysts predict. Netbook sales are being cannibalized by tablets, namely the iPad. Microsoft’s own Surface tablet has been largely unable to make even in a small dent in the tablet market. And even Windows Phone has been largely an aside, with significantly smaller market share over the likes of iPhone and Android-powered smartphones.

The future doesn’t look all that promising for Microsoft.

And, perhaps worse, the company is not cool anymore. Apple is cool. Samsung is cool. Microsoft? Not so much. Perhaps the Redmond-based corporation should start from the top, and seriously evaluate how effective Steve Ballmer has been in his chief executive position at Microsoft. After all, he is highly-regarded as the worst CEO of any major corporation. But, in the meantime, it could be a bumpy road for Microsoft.

How do you think Microsoft will fare in the months and years ahead?