Like it or not, when a company CEO sells such a substantial amount of stock just before one of the most important product launches in the company's recent history, people will wonder whether there's a link between the two.

It's exceedingly unlikely that there's a direct link, though. And Ballmer is one of the most competitive people in the business world, so it's also unlikely that the sale means he's planning on leaving the company any time soon.

Still, the timing of the sale isn't good --- news about it is hitting the same day as the Windows Phone 7 product launch, and will compete for headlines. And it's inevitable that people will make a connection between the two events.

As for me, I don't expect the sale means Ballmer is leaving. It's just another example of his tone-deafness when it comes to public relations.