Microsoft to Apple: Bring It On

With its snazzy ads and iPhone groupies, Apple has been winning the Mac vs. PC wars, but Microsoft is ready to strike back, Peter Burrows writes in BusinessWeek. Positioning itself as a cheaper alternative, the company has launched its own slate of “uncharacteristically cool” TV ads and is offering a version of Windows, normally about $70, for $15.

Sales of Windows have rebounded since last year, and Microsoft expects to increase its momentum with the release of Windows 7, which it promises will be easier to use. Still, one analyst said consumers might resent having to pay for an upgrade, and although Microsoft has found some success with its ads, one exec says, “We’re not cool yet.” (More Microsoft stories.)