Apple may have more of a fight on its hands

Apple may find themselves with a bigger battle on their hands than they previously thought. I got the "gold" install on my work computer over the weekend and Windows 7 is even better than I expected it to be. I've been using a late beta version since May. Most things worked well with the exception of some sound drivers and IE8. I'm happy to report that both of those glitches are now fixed with the shipping version of the OS.

I would echo the perspective of Microsoft's television ad campaign. Simplicity and efficiency. I also think the shipping version of the OS has been accelerated over the one I was using, which makes it even greater. You can get so much done with this OS that you find yourself wondering what to do with your computer. It's just slam, bam and you're done. Never thought I'd actually say this about a PC, but it's downright joyful to use.

Apple is hitting the airways hard with new versions of its "same old" ads (I'm a PC and I'm a Mac). Some are clever, but they're really not that funny anymore because Windows 7 really has shattered most of the myths of Vista and previous versions of Windows. This is a no-nonsense, bread-and-butter OS that is solid as a rock, reliable, fast and the best news of all -- you can buy it on a new PC that's about half the price of what you'd pay for a comparable Mac.

No question, the new MacBooks are beautiful. They're almost works of art. They are fine design and work well, too. I've ordered a new Toshiba Satellite T135 notebook. I have connections and this is what they recommended for the type of notebook I wanted (light and portable). It's thin and light and weighs less than a comparable MacBook. Now, it's not as pretty, and I may not be as cool, but will work just as well if not better. And I can extend the warranty for two additional years for $116. Apple charges $249 for the same thing with AppleCare. (To be fair, Apple offers more with its great telephone support.)

Yes, there are those who are religious about Macs and PCs. But that is a shrinking base. Most people nowadays just want to get stuff done. I have a long history with PCs even though MFW prefers a MacBook. This is far and away the best version of Windows or any other OS Microsoft has ever invented. Combined with today's impressive hardware and rock-bottom prices, it's a steal. You should have no concerns about getting stuff -- and a lot of it -- done with the new Windows 7 computers hitting the market now.