Apple has fired back in the ad wars. See the ads here, read thoughtful analysis of the point Apple seeks to make here or here. More important than this second round of cinematic squabbling, however, are reactions to the campaigns: blogs the world over are sounding off with reactions, analysis, ranting…even remixes! In all the confusion (as though presidential campaign ads weren’t enough, right?), it can be helpful to pause and consider the messages Apple and Microsoft are sending.

The Ballmer brigade up there in Redmond really are shameless. The irony is almost as hilarious as it is ridiculous.

For those who don’t know, Microsoft recently ended their short lived Jerry Seinfeld campaign, and started a new campaign featuring a John Hodgeman look-alike and various other people ranging from celebrities like Eva Longoria and Deepak Chopra, to ordinary joes, to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates himself.

Microsoft is hoping that their new, more direct response to Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign will help revitalize the Windows brand’s tarnished image.

Strange, because Microsoft doesn’t seem to think their products are all that great for video and image editing themselves, as they’ve admitted to creating their latest ad on a Mac…

Microsoft gave Seinfeld the boot and has released two new commercials: “I’m a PC: Pride” and “I’m a PC: Not Alone.” In just these first two commercials, Microsoft still isn’t talking about the benefits of Vista? Instead, after viewing the commercial, I now realize anyone can own a Microsoft computer, regardless of your race, gender, profession, political views, or country. Like we didn’t know that before? Why is Microsoft not telling us why we need Vista?

You would think with the beating Apple has given Microsoft in its Mac vs PC commercials that when Microsoft, the sleeping giant, finally roused itself to take swipe at Apple, it would actually come out swinging. At least, that is what many thought when Microsoft announced that it was sinking a cool $300 million on commercials. Thus far, we haven’t seen it.