Microsoft Battles Apple in the Wrong Market

Microsoft has launched a new Windows 7 campaign to take on Mac OS X. A new tab on the Windows 7 sites compares Windows 7 to Mac OS X in a number of areas--listing out the reasons that Windows 7 is the superior choice. Most of the points made by Microsoft are valid, but the campaign itself is a waste of resources that could be better used battling Apple where it counts.

Apple is a threat to Microsoft, but Mac isn't much of a threat to Windows.

The problem Microsoft faces is that it is the king of yesterday's hill, and Apple has already staked its flag on the hill of the future. Microsoft does need to recognize the Apple threat, but it needs to realize that the threat is on a different battlefront than PC vs. Mac and dedicate its resources to making the culture shift from desktop to mobility.

Microsoft should let Apple tilt at windmills if it chooses--pitting its Mac OS X "David" against the Windows 7 "Goliath"--and not let pride distract it from more urgent matters. Microsoft should ignore Mac OS X and worry about the iPhone and iPad.