It’s official (even across the pond); Google is expanding the Chrome brand beyond a browser and creating the Chrome OS. According to the Google Blog, the OS is founded on a three S strategy: speed, simplicity and security. In an era of operating systems whose roots stretch all the way back to time shared mainframes, it is refreshing to see someone building an OS based on current needs rather than supporting legacy applications.

Microsoft’s highly anticipated Windows 7 operating system fixes many of the problems in the tragedy that is Vista. However, when it comes to one thing, Microsoft still doesn’t understand what they are doing. It has been announced that the Windows 7 SKU (stock keeping unit) will offer six different varieties of the operating system. Six!? Really, Microsoft, you had to chop up the features in your operating system and spend the time creating six different versions of it? If you ask me, this is one area where Microsoft really falls below the standard in producing software.

Apple has put out new Get a Mac ads, one directly countering Microsoft’s “I’m a PC” ads.

“Bean Counter” opens on PC sitting at a table with a green visor on, dealing out a pile of money into two stacks, one for advertising, one for fixing Vista. The advertising stack is much larger than the Vista stack, which only has three bill-bundles in it. Mac asks PC if that is really enough money for fixing Vista’s issues, and hilarity ensues when PC decides that Mac is right and moves all the money over to the advertising pile.

BONUS FUN TIMES: Watch PC’s stack of bills. While he is dealing them out, the stacks remain the same, with five on the left and three on the right, despite the fact that PC moves at least two bundles during this time. Then, after the camera cuts away to the Mac, and back to PC again, the stacks are mysteriously equal, though during this time, PC has not moved a single bill. Consistency, folks.

“V Word” opens on PC standing with a buzzer in his hand, buzzing out every time Mac says Vista. PC says instead of “the V word,” they will use a name with much less baggage, “Windows.” Mac says that Windows is Vista, and when PC buzzes him, he proceeds to say Vista over and over and PC cannot keep up.

Videos after the break.

This is part two of a series. Read Part One here.

What I Hate About Windows

1) The Taskbar – Windows users will crow on and on about the taskbar’s superiority, but it is crap. It has no one purpose, rather it is a poorly implemented strip that serves as the main control point for the computer. The place where this becomes the biggest issue is if you hide it. You may just want more screen space, or to just hide the start menu, but you have no choice. Everything goes. Your list of programs, your minimized windows, system notifications, everything, is gone. Which brings me to my next gripe. Why would all my windows be displayed in huge buttons? I can understand it if my minimized windows were, but the maximized windows are already there. No need to have them in the taskbar. The argument is that its easy switching between windows, but I don’t find it easy to try to decipher between three Internet explorer windows, or three any windows. In the taskbar they all look the same and that doesn’t speed up the workflow at all.

Earlier this week, in response to controversy surrounding the fact that Apple had chosen to include Safari as a download in Software Update for Windows even if the user never had Safari in the first place, Apple released a Software Update 2.1 Update that now categorizes Safari 3.1 as “New Software. There are a couple more »

With recent news of Microsoft opening up retail stores, it got me thinking. Why? Microsoft already has its OS available in almost every technology retail store there is, and you can get a Xbox 360 or Zune in almost all of these places, too. Sure, it would be great to specifically promote your own brand more »

2007 was a great year for Apple in the business world. The 2007 market share results for Mac OS X showed that in businesses, Mac OS X usage tripled to 4.2%, just over 2% lower than Vista, at 6.3%. Windows XP declined during the same period, and it seems a shame that Apple doesn’t capitalize more »

What I hate about Mac

1) USB Devices Always Wake the Computer – If my computer is sleeping, and I unplug my iPod to go out, why does my computer wake up? Why, why, why? Same if I’m unplugging my display/USB hub to use my computer as a laptop. The computer should NOT wake up.

2) USB Drives Can’t Simply Be Unplugged – In a similar vein to the first one, I should be able to yank out my USB drive and go. Why do I have to eject the drive first? I don’t on Windows…

For you not brushed up on you Latin, carpe diem is a popular literary expression meaning, “Seize the day.” What do I mean by this? If Apple wants to take control of the computer world that Microsoft has dominated for so long, now is the perfect time. All the planets are aligned, so to speak, and Apple just needs to take advantage of the situation. If they do it right, the tables could start to turn on Microsoft, leaving them wondering what happened. Here are three reasons the time is perfect for Apple to take control.

1) Vista. I think it’s safe to say that the majority of the population is fairly disappointed with Vista. After years of development and delays, it didn’t deliver. For that reason, the time is right for Apple to really push the idea of switching to Mac OS X and learning how to use an easier, more responsive operating system. The company needs to take advantage of the fact that Microsoft has been playing catch up with itself after Vista and really start hitting some nails into the coffin. For example, one area that Apple is really doing a great job of pushing users to switch is in their Get a Mac ads. Another strong point in this argument is the fact that Macs can run Vista and, in some cases, even better than a PC can.

This rumor seems WAY out there but it might just be possible. Currently this one sits in the decidedly speculative section, but if it’s real it could be the the big M (no, not McDonalds) is taking a decidedly different view of their place in the market. Until now Microsoft’s stance has been that if more »