Microsoft States the Obvious

"[O]ur Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform."

Someone give Microsoft a gold star. On page 14 of its latest 10-K filing (its annual report), the company finally admited to something that most of the investment community already knew: It's now competing with its biggest customers. While nvestors realized this within seconds of learning about their new Surface tablet, Microsoft waited a month and a half to fess up to the inherent risk that sort of relationship poses. In the following video, Brenton explains why he thinks there isn't much to worry about for Microsoft shareholders. After all, unless an OEM like Hewlett-Packard or Dell breaks onto the scene with a blockbuster tablet device, Brenton doesn't see many options for these companies, short of shuttering their consumer divisions entirely.

Microsoft used to hold the crown, but today Apple is the most influential company in technology. With the impending release of the iPhone 5 on the horizon, the stakes have never been higher for the company. If you're looking for a recommendation on how to play Apple along with continuing updates and guidance on the company whenever news breaks, we've created a brand-new report that details everything you need to know. To get started, just click here now.