Is Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) still a good investment? After the ten-bagger days of the 1990s, it's hard to get excited about a 30 year-old software company that is getting upstaged in the media these days by more popular names like Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL). Microsoft has attempted to stay in the game this year (at least from a media perspective) by acquiring aQuantive, its largest-ever purchase.

Add to that the incredible sales of Halo 3 since its debut in late September and there are many bright spots on Microsoft's armor. However, Windows Vista uptake has been slower than some forecast, and that's not the whole negative story. Although its games division is peaking right now, there are years of hard work ahead to make that area consistently profitable and growing. So, again -- why buy Microsoft?

Microsoft's corporate products get little attention from the mainstream media these days, but its Office and Exchange software franchises continue to be the lifeblood of many global companies. Sure, Google is trying to nip away at those services with semi-comparable web-based offerings, but that effort will limit itself before becoming a large threat. As noted by 24/7 Wall St., newer products are on tap, and Goldman Sachs strongly hints at a bright future for the company, at least in the short term.