MacRumors.com

BusinessWeek reports that Apple is expected to begin an advertising push in the near future designed to lure Windows customers considering purchasing new computers due to the launch of Windows 7 on October 22nd. In an interview, Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller notes that the Microsoft launch "presents a very good opportunity" for Apple.

In the coming weeks, Apple is expected to hit those computer buyers with advertising aimed at luring them to its Macs. It will likely make the case that Macs are less susceptible to viruses and are best suited to its popular iPods and iPhones. And look for it to poke fun at Microsoft for making XP owners go through an arduous process to upgrade to Windows 7 -- one that includes backing up all their files to an external drive, reformatting their PC, and then reinstalling all of their old programs, assuming they still have the CDs. "Any user that reads all those steps is probably going to freak out. If you have to go through all that, why not just buy a Mac?" says Schiller.

The launch of Windows 7 is expected to bring a surge in new computer sales, with many customers having continued using their old hardware rather than upgrading to the much-maligned Windows Vista. Apple, which has recently lowered price points on a number of its computers and introduced Mac OS X Snow Leopard just seven weeks ago, sees itself positioned to attract some of those consumers once again thinking about purchasing new hardware.

That's Apple -- calm, cool, and confident that the tech world is marching in its direction. "We've been through these transitions before, and no matter how you look at it -- it's still Windows," says Schiller. "When all is said and done, the Mac picks up share a bit at a time."