"...and the best R&D in the world..." Xerox had the best R&D in the world as well. (PARC) What MS needs is that ability to turn R&D into products. Of the 4 c

"...and the best R&D in the world..." Xerox had the best R&D in the world as well. (PARC) What MS needs is that ability to turn R&D into products. Of the 4 companies... I would say only Apple has the DEMONSTRATED ability to turn R&D into products. I would say MS is the CLEAR leader of the 4 in terms of raw R&D. Google really does look more and more like a one trick pony. And, curiously enough, Amazon is the company I could see getting its tentacles into the most parts of the global economy over the long term. (Well... Amazon and Facebook) But all of that ignores unexpected external influences... like the NSA scandal.