Microsoft's future

Microsoft is looking beyond Windows. I think Microsoft recognizes the threat of Open Source Linux in the operating systems area and sees opportunities in other areas that Microsoft can develop to their advantage. Bill Gates said that the area of search software, games, consumer goodies and lab research would all help Microsoft grow. We see Microsoft competiting with search engines such as Google, Lycos and newcomer Blinkx. We will see the future of search engine services extending beyond the internet where the search tool will be able to search documents on a PC hard drive and then recommend related URLs to users. Microsoft is looking at building this service into the Microsoft Office software. Microsoft has also recently acquired a security firm and will soon provide anti-virus solutions. The growth of broadband services and online gaming has also given Microsoft the opportunity to further develop the gaming market. Microsoft is reinventing their future and I think this is a good time to do it.