I only own stock in one company. Contrary to popular opinion I’m not rich, and don’t have a large 401k plan or stuff like that. I’m working on changing that, but for now I only have my Microsoft shares. I kept them waiting for yesterday. I knew Office and Vista — even if they were failures — would bring truckloads of cash into Microsoft.

I’m getting tougher on Microsoft lately cause I still care about the company. Deeply. Yesterday should have been an even bigger day than it was — Vista is selling “OK” but isn’t a breakaway hit like Windows 95 was (when I first saw Vista, I thought it really could be a Windows 95-style hit).

Since my Mac broke I’m back on Windows XP (I was on Vista on my Mac) and I’m back on Office 2003. I really don’t miss Vista that much, but I do miss Office 2007.

I’m going to hold my stock for Monday, then decide what to do with it. I’ve seen some previews of some cool stuff, and Microsofties are buzzing about stuff I haven’t yet seen, but will come out next week at Mix.

In the meantime, I gotta remind myself not to write off Microsoft or think they can’t have huge impacts on our industry. Any company that has cash arriving by the semi-truck load can’t be counted out and can always do something interesting.

At minimum the great results are getting lots of bloggers to talk.

Here’s to Monday!

UPDATE: Nick Carr has interesting analysis on his post about whether Microsoft is dead. Microsoft isn’t gonna die. We’re not seriously thinking that when we write bombastic headlines like that. But, is Microsoft living up to its potential? Carr points out that Microsoft is many times bigger than Apple or Google. That’s true. So, is Microsoft kicking out many times more new products or services? Not really on scale with expectations. That’s why there’s this consternation over Microsoft’s strategy/execution. Yesterday I was talking to some people and noted that in Web 1.0 Microsoft acquired Hotmail. What’s Microsoft’s big Web 2.0 acquisition? I can’t think of one. Why is that?

This is a short one, but Photowalking 8 part II is up. Lots of fun stuff on the beaches of Half Moon Bay. Eight minutes or so.

See ya back in Half Moon Bay on Sunday at 9 a.m. at the front gate of Dream Machines.

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I just got a press release that Tjeerd Hoek, director or user experience design for Microsoft Windows, is now executive creative director of software and hardware convergence at Frog Design.

Tjeerd was well liked and well respected inside Microsoft.

Microsoft is seemingly in the middle of a full-bore executive cleanout. I’ve seen tons of executives leave, particularly in the MSN/Live division that’s struggling to compete with Google. Nearly every executive I knew inside that division is now gone.

Just a few days ago Mary Jo Foley reported that Dane Glasgow left, following Chris Payne. Mary Jo also has a report on Microsoft’s financial results, which were pretty darn good overall (they better be, a new copy of Windows and Office shipped). The question now is “will the sales of those sustain over several quarters?” Microsoft’s guideance says it will.