Windows 7 buoys Microsoft’s coffers

It’s a good day for Microsoft, as the firm has announced a big leap in profits for the last quarter.

Its net profit was $6.66 billion (the profit of the beast, some might joke) for the last quarter of 2009. That’s a huge 60% up on the same quarter the previous year.

Total revenue jumped 18% to a smidge over $19 billion.

The reason Microsoft are now in the cash is pretty obvious – the success of Windows 7, which has put the company’s Vista demons to bed.

But even though everyone knew Windows 7 was selling strongly, these figures still beat analysts’ expectations.