Despite not being an employee, I have close personal Microsoft ties, so I regularly hear about what goes on in Redmond. Anytime I'm involved in a discussion about Microsoft's future, the first and foremost point I bring up is how Microsoft needs to divest its investments in order to succeed in the future, or have any impact on shareholder value with respect to its stock price. Microsoft is more of a giant company with several distinct product silos. The Windows and Office product silos are cash cows, while the other ones often struggle to catch up. It's like a giant, lumbering robot trying to move through molasses. Microsoft needs to divest and spin off some of its various smaller divisions and allow for more autonomy. Let them operate as they please and allow for the market forces to take effect.