8 year MSFT FTE veteran in R&D....in my past life. MS needs spin off some dead wood and be broken up into several smaller entities. They hold all that cash because they can and mostly as a big "F You!" to Wall Street. Wall street HATES it when they can't sink their grimy claws into a company and then lead them about the nose. Good for MSFT.

There is another thread talking about railroad safety. The old SP, in order to maintain dividends, did not do necessary line maintenance and invest in rolling stock and locomotives. Came a boom in business (nationally) and they fell apart. What is the job of a business? To generate dividends or ensure that the business runs well? At some point, that choice (like conservation/ESA) must be made.