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Technology

Desktops and Laptops

Microsoft Windows in a post-PC world

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To lose a loved one to bullets that come from hatred, from violence that comes from degrading another human being... To see the women that have gathered around this young man to comfort him, and the mother having to tell her son to be strong when you know she's going through her pain too of losing her husband -- it just made me feel sad.

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Microsoft is synonymous with personal computers because its Windows operating system runs on about nine out of 10 desktops in the world.

PC sales, though, are slumping as technology users migrate to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

In fact, since the first iPad was launched in April 2010, Microsoft shares have sunk about 6% while Apple's shares have shot up nearly 90%.

The software giant, based in Redmond, Wash., is attempting to play catch-up in the mobile market. But will Microsoft ever again dominate in a touchscreen world?

Creaky Windows

Lump all devices together -- such as tablets, PCs, and mobile phones -- and Microsoft controls just 15% of the operating system (OS) market, down from 18% in 2010, according to Gartner.

To catch up it released a radically new version of Windows for the PC and tablet market last October that integrates touchscreen capability and a new start screen filled with app tiles. The company also launched the Surface tablet, along with a "Pro" version for offices.

Net Applications estimates that Windows 8 runs on 2.3% of desktops, vs. 7.7% for Windows 7 three months in. "Microsoft really whiffed with a strange interface for regular PCs," says Endpoint Technologies' Roger Kay. Analysts also believe fewer than 1 million regular Surfaces have sold.

Insulated businesses

Windows isn't the cash cow that it used to be.

Two of the company's other units -- business (which includes Office software applications such as Excel) and servers and tools (which include its database business and the Azure cloud-computing platform) -- kick in over half of Microsoft's $74 billion in annual revenue.

Those divisions are also growing at a respectable annual rate of 7% to 12%. Microsoft enjoys more than a 60% share of the server OS market. And it controls nearly a quarter of a key part of the database software market, according to IDC.

"Oracle dominates, but Microsoft keeps improving its database software and threatens to take market share," says Christian Correa, director of research at Franklin Mutual Advisers.

Cushy income

Microsoft's $68 billion cash hoard helped fund a bevy of acquisitions and product launches to see what sticks -- as was the case with Skype and Bing. Consider that gravy.

The money has really helped Microsoft become a dividend king. The stock's 3.4% yield is 50% bigger than the S&P 500's, and payouts are growing fast.

Related: Top stock picks from top pros

"It acts like a high-quality utility -- has cash, strong financials, and a good dividend for investors seeking that profile," says Bernie Williams, a vice president at USAA Investments.

Translation: Microsoft is a defensive, value stock. The price/earnings ratio for the shares is 8.7 based on projected profits, about a 45% discount to its 10-year average -- and the Nasdaq's -- P/E of 16.1.