On Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:12:59 +0000, Bob Martin wrote:

"The idea that Bill Gates has appeared like a knight in shining armour
to lead all customers out of a mire of technological chaos neatly
ignores the fact that it was he who, by peddling second-rate
technology, led them into it in the first place."
- Douglas Adams

How long ago was that written?

Bill's best beat IBM at IBM.

MicroSoft's revenues have never come close to IBM's.

Yes, they make more from software but that's never been a major part of
IBM's business.

Sales are slightly lower ($78bn vs $108bn for 2013), but income is higher
($57bn vs $49bn for 2013). Both fairly typical years, although MSFT is
climbing whilst IBM's more static.

http://www.marke****ch.com/investing...sft/financials
http://www.marke****ch.com/investing...ibm/financials