Stop the Barron's Microsoft Series

In his most recent love letter to Microsoft, Savitz leads by saying that, while not many professional money managers seem to agree, "the nattering nabobs are dead wrong."

Last year, Savitz opened by talking not about nabobs, but for variation "the cynics" who thought Microsoft would keep "shuffling along." Wrote Savitz: "That would be a serious mistake. Microsoft shares, in fact, are among the technology sector's most alluring bets."

He was even more direct back in 2004, when The Business Press Maven still had his youth and looks. His first sentence was "When it comes to Microsoft, investors are missing the big picture."

Actually, Savitz, those nabobs and cynics seem to have a better handle on the situation than you, but that's not even the point.

The Business Press Maven, as (almost) always, sets the gold standard in business reporting. Does that mean that I am always right, a pillar of genius? Well, not exactly. But when I am talking about a stock I've been wrong about in the past, I will say, "Hey, I've been a dope on this one."

Look at my work on Oracle (ORCL Quote), where Larry Ellison has apparently made it his personal mission to pull earnings beats out of his sail bag to prove me wrong. But every time I talk about the company, I let you know: I have spoken about this one before and have been wrong as rain. You can then form your own opinion about whether the reality I see affecting Oracle is just taking a little longer to unfold than I originally surmised or whether Ellison is fated to beat The Business Press Maven with one hand tied behind his jib.

Interestingly enough, Savitz did once mention one of his previous Barron's cover stories trumpeting Microsoft's stand that it is still a growth company. This came halfway through his campaign in last year's article.

But this week's installation in the "Microsoft is a growth stock" series contains no references to the other related articles. And that, Mr. Murdoch, makes my soul feel like it's been sitting in a hardback chair. Fix it.