The war of Windows 7 & Snow Leopard

leopard-windows Microsoft is an engineering company, and Apple is a marketing company, and that makes all the difference. Microsoft may have a far better product in Windows 7 than Apple has in Snow Leopard, but Apple is making the most of its OS launch because its CEO is also its marketing guru. Microsoft has put together its best marketing team ever, but it’s not led by the CEO.

Last week’s big news was that pushed up its Snow Leopard release by a month to provide a 60-day buffer between it and biggest launch of the decade. Apple can’t match either Microsoft’s resources or price, but the feat of snagging an unchallenged 60 days during the back-to-school and early holiday shopping season points to Apple’s greatest advantage: Its marketing leader is also its CEO. Microsoft is fielding its best marketing team ever for the Windows 7 launch, led by Kathleen Hall, who was hired out of a leading advertising agency — but she isn’t the CEO.