“Time to upgrade…to a Mac” is the theme of the latest Get a Mac ads. Targeting Windows users who hope that the new operating system will solve the problems of the widely-derided Vista, the new commercials suggest that owning a Macintosh might be the real solution to their problems. As always, John Hodgman plays the long-suffering PC, trying to convince frustrated users that Windows 7 will be different, much to Justin “Mac” Long’s subdued skepticism.

I am not going to bad mouth Microsoft or Bill Gates; there are enough people out there who choose to do that. Bill Gates donates millions of dollars every year to charity, and even has his own charitable foundation. That being said, let me describe a situation for you and explain why switching is better than dealing with the huge downsides of remaining a Windows user.

My father lives in a small town in Illinois, population of about 3,000. He was a lifetime Windows user. He has had PCs with everything from Windows 3.1 all the way to Windows XP. Being that he is in his 60s, both change and technology are things he does not take kindly to. Recently, he was in the market for a new computer…