Microsoft's Snapshot Is a Portrait of Strength

REDMOND, Wash. -- Microsoft (MSFT Quote) CEO Steve Ballmer has become a horticulturalist.

Nearly as convincing as he is always passionate, Ballmer spoke at great length Thursday about the three agricultural pillars of the software giant's vision: seedlings, saplings and full-grown trees. The verdant analogy should hearten any shareowner -- if not share-renter -- of Microsoft's stock. If Microsoft delivered one clear message at its annual propaganda/educational seminar for Wall Street analysts and financial reporters, it is that this redwood forest of technology companies will prosper for a long time.

Too optimistic? Nope. In an awesome and surprisingly straightforward presentation on its immediate past and medium-term future, Microsoft demonstrated again and again Thursday just how professional and well-positioned it is compared with nearly every other company in the information-technology arena. ...