Microsoft's profit slips as Windows sales slide

Businesses and consumers alike are buying fewer new computers, and that's hurting profit at Microsoft (MSFT), the company said today.

Net income in the world's biggest software maker's most recent quarter fell 29 percent, to $3.05 billion, or 34 cents a share, compared with $4.3 billion, or 46 cents, a year ago. Excluding one-time items, Microsoft earned 38 cents a share, better than analysts' estimates.