How Long Can the PC Slump Last?

It's no news that the PC market is still in the dumps. The real question is how long the doldrums might last. Microsoft  (NASDAQ: MSFT  ) is hoping that Windows 8 can spark a new wave of growth, while Intel  (NASDAQ: INTC  ) is marketing its Ultrabook designs very aggressively. Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes thinks PC unit sales could fall for "years to come," driven by a number of factors like smartphone and tablet cannibalization as mobile device adoption soars. Even in the enterprise market, tablets are all the rage. That spells bad news for Dell  (NASDAQ: DELL  ) and Hewlett-Packard  (NYSE: HPQ  ) as the top PC suppliers to the enterprise space. Doesn't look like PC woes are getting better anytime soon.

It's been a frustrating path for Microsoft investors, who've watched the company fail to capitalize on the incredible growth in mobile over the past decade. However, with the release of its own tablet, along with the widely anticipated Windows 8 operating system, the company is looking to make a splash in this booming market. In this brand-new premium report on Microsoft, our analyst explains that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are many. He's also providing regular updates as key events occur, so make sure to claim a copy of this report now by clicking here.