Many, if not most of my posts here, are infused with some Mac-ery goodness - no surprise to the rest of the blogging community, journalists, or social media freaks (whom many of which are Apple-heads.)

What about pretty much everyone else, though?  Doesn't it get old hearing everybody yap their traps about how awesome Apple is and constantly diss Windows like the family outcast?  Well, be annoyed no more, as Redmond's latest creation, Windows 7, is super-slick - and rights most of the wrongs perpetrated by the abomination typically known as Vista.

Windows 7 Is Stable

From my experience so far, I can declare that Windows 7 is pretty stable and doesn't crash (or otherwise get wonky) anywhere nearly as bad as Vista.  Even on my Dell Mini 9 (my test machine so far) multiple applications open, run, close, and open again with no issues.  I almost never require a reboot.  It was also much easier to set everything up and the Control Panel feels much more stable and usable.

Windows 7 Feels Faster

Yes, you're hearing this right: it feels faster to me than XP.  Applications open and run faster on my Dell Mini 9, which is pretty amazing considering the specs of the machine.  That being said, I did a completely fresh and clean install of 7 rather than an "upgrade," which many people will undoubtably do.  I'm comparing the speeds between a clean install of XP, also, so I'm inclined to believe what I'm experiencing is real.

Windows 7 Looks Awesome

The visual bling in Windows 7, Aero, is very, very nice.  It looks a lot like Vista but adds some neat shine effects on the taskbar items, and runs well even on my lower-spec machine.

Vastly Improved Taskbar and Aero Peek

I hated the simple, status quo taskbar in every version of Windows up until this one.  Compared to Expose on a Mac, it just felt sluggish to navigate from app to app, and I never liked alt-tabbing to select apps.  Windows 7 changes all that, and is arguably better than Expose.

Hover over an icon in the taskbar, and a list of all windows within that app will pop up, allowing you to easily select which one you like - much better than OS X's Stacks, in my opinion.

Alt-Tab through apps and you'll get a full window preview instead of a tiny icon.

Hover your mouse pointer over the little tab in the lower right hand corner to activate Aero Peek and reveal what's on your desktop; click to go to your desktop.

All of these functions work together to make switching windows and apps pretty seamless and arguably more efficient (and less eye-straining) than repeated use of Expose.

Window Gestures (a.k.a. Snap and Shake)

There are some handy window gestures/shortcuts you can use, too.  My favorite is the side-by-side pane view, also known as Snap; simply drag a window to the right or left side of the screen to dock it there and reduce it to exactly half your screen size.  You can easily compare two windows this way.  You can also drag a window to the top of the screen to maximize it and drag back down to restore it to its former size.  You can even "shake" a window with your mouse to close all other open windows.  OS X doesn't really do any of this and it all feels seamless and is quite useful.

Will I Switch...?

No.  My heart still lies with OS X, and I feel it's an overall superior package for looks, usability, and reliability.  I'm married to lots of Mac exclusive applications that simply can't run on Windows such as RapidWeaver, Scrivener, Boxer, and numerous others.  As such, I'll continue using OS X on my "main" machines for work and for play.

However, I've renewed my vows with my Dell Mini 9 running Windows 7.  It's become a much more useful and productive little machine due to this new OS, which I cannot and will not mock.  As far as I'm concerned, Bill's done something right, and I hope it keeps getting better.  Who knows, I might even build a tricked-out Windows 7 box someday!

In yet another flurry of Apple updates, perhaps well-timed to synchronize quite nicely with the Windows 7 launch, numerous hardware improvements and additions abound.  Here's the synopsis and some opinions from a fellow Mac geek.

iMac

The iMac lines got one of the most extensive overhauls, with an new, slicker all-aluminum design, LED backlit displays, higher resolutions, and similar pricing.   These new models are a much better value than the older ones, due to beefier performance as well as the wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse being included.  You can pick from two models: a 21" version at $1199 and a huge 27" version for $1699.

More information at Apple.com

Mac Mini

The Mac Mini series is considered by many to be a "niche" product, but I'm not quite sure why.  It's a great, low-cost way to get into desktop computing with a Mac, and they're pretty powerful in their own right.  As usual, there are two standard configurations: a $799 premium version with 4GB of RAM, a 2.53 gHz Intel Core 2 Duo, and a 320GB HDD, as well as a $599 version with 2GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, and a 2.26 gHz Core 2 Duo.  Not bad!  Apple's even introduced a $999 Mac Mini server, which will probably appeal to a limited audience, but still cool.  These new Minis are significantly faster and more decked out than mine!  Time for an upgrade?

More Information at Apple.com

Unibody MacBook

Apple also decided to upgrade the MacBook with a new, glossy plastic unibody shell.  For just under a grand, you get an LED backlit display, a multi-touch trackpad, a battery with a purported 7 hours of life, 2 gigs of installed RAM and an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 gHz processor.  Definitely a nice improvement, but I question why most users wouldn't upgrade to the slightly more expensive but way better 13" MacBook Pro.

More Information at Apple.com

Magic Mouse

Let me get one thing straight.  I love Apple, their software, and their accessories.  But I HATE the Mighty Mouse.  It is one of the most overpriced, crappiest mice I have ever used.  Don't get me wrong, I liked it... when it actually worked.  The design was so flawed, even the tiniest pieces of dirt would gum up the little BlackBerry style scrolly-ball and bork it.  It was impossible to disassemble.  I ended up completely destroying it out of anger, and am now using a $7 Dynex two button mouse.

Maybe, just maybe, the Magic Mouse will right these wrongs.  At $69, it ain't cheap, but at least there's no scroll ball to get coated with schmutz and break.  Rather, it utilizes the same beloved multi-touch interface ala iPhone and the new trackpads.  It's reported to work pretty well, and I might just pick one up after giving it a test at the Apple Store...

More Information at Apple.com

Other Minor Updates - Time Capsule, Apple Remote, and AirPort Extreme

Amidst all of the hubbub, the folks at Cupertino managed to squeak in a few smaller things.  First, both the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule get performance boosts, with backups to the Time Capsule (reportedly) up to 60% faster.

More Information at Engadget

In what I consider to be the smallest update by far, the Apple Remote has been given a brand new aluminum shell.  Looks kinda like the Nano only smaller and less cool.  Personally, I wouldn't ever have one unless it was given away for free.  It can be yours for only $19.

More Information at Engadget

I had to laugh when I saw this.  Uncomfortably.  Reason being, I am (sort of) addicted to iPhone apps.  And I am definitely guilty of the activity dubbed "apping," which I'm guessing means the process of ignoring basically everything that's going on around you in favor of checking your RSS feeds and just... one... more... hand... of Texas Hold 'Em.  I promise. 

Anyway, before I get sidetracked by conquering the barbarian villages and reading Facebook status updates, I'd like to revisit the subject of iPhone games.  There's always been a debate as to whether the iPhone is a viable gaming console, and my answer is a resounding YES, but only for "bite-size" gaming... which is becoming a favorite pastime of mine.  Here's some of my recent picks.

Mr. AahH!

Great game, stupid (potentially dirty?) title.  Remember the ultra-addictive "WarioWare" for Game Boy Advance?  This particular title is basically one of those mini-games that never ends, and you really don't want it to.  You control the action with one finger.  You're the little stick man, and you have to tap the screen to jump from pedestal to pedestal.

Slick graphics, tight gameplay, and a nifty soundtrack make the game easy on the eyes and ears, while the online scoreboards add to the addictiveness.  Throw in randomness along with wind and gravity effects and you get a winner, for only $.99.

Canabalt

I love independent games, and Canabalt is one of the best I've played recently.  It debuted as a flash, browser based game by Adam Atomic and Danny B, which became so popular it was quickly ported to the iPhone.  Another game that is controlled by only tapping, this one chronicles your "daring escape" from unnamed robotic overlords.  The gameplay consists of jumping from skyscraper to skyscraper, dodging bombs that turn you into a "fine mist," crashing through windows, and avoiding obstacles.

Timing is everything here, as with Mr. AahH, but what makes Canabalt truly special is the heart and soul that obviously went into setting the tone.  The riveting, intense soundtrack is a perfect pairing to the dark, ominous atmosphere.  Huge robots and warships loom in the background, and birds scatter as you fly past.  You can even Twitter how far you've ran... and believe me... you WILL die.  And play over and over again.  It may seem "expensive" at $2.99, but once you see the obvious effort and polish that went into it, you'll realize that it's a great value.  You will also receive +2 karma points for supporting indie devs!

Puzzle Prism

This one happens to be made by the same folks that made Mr. AahH (Ponos Software) and is equally polished.  If you like Tetris, you'll like this... maybe.  Do you recall ever taking those spacial recognition tests in school?  If you sucked at those, you can add this to your "do not want" list.  However, if you have a "mathematical" brain like I do, you might just get addicted to this one.

The concept is similar to other "falling blocks" games, except for that the tower is in 3-D.  It rotates continuously around a fixed point, and the blocks you are given can be rotated and dropped by sliding left to right or down.  Since it's not on a flat plane, you'll have to remember where the "holes" are in your tower to perform the best, adding another "dimension" (groan) of challenge to the game. $2.99, but there is a free "lite" version you can take for a spin before committing.

Skee Ball

Ahhh... the best for last!  I am so incredibly addicted to this game, for reasons unknown even to myself.  I shouldn't like it as much as I do, but it's so awesome.  Here's why.  Freeverse Software (one of my favorite Mac devs, by the way) has created about as elegant and accurate of a Skee Ball simulator as possible, short of a Wii Bowling-style experience.

Simply flick your finger to toss the ball.  Varying the speed and angle of your flick will control the ball, and you can even add a little "adjustment" to its path by tilting your iPhone.  After each game, you'll rack up virtual tickets which you can spend on virtual junk to add to your loot stash.  You can even purchase new balls, which, as far as I can tell, have varying physics.  (Please, let me know if it's all in my head.  Can anyone verify?)

What's most addictive about this game is the online ranking and the skill star system.  The better you play, the more multipliers you get to your score and tickets, encouraging you to polish your Skee skillz as much as possible; however, there's always that element of randomness to add that extra "grrr" moment, such as when balls hang on the edge of the 100 hole just before falling into the abyss.  Try it, you won't be sorry, and for $.99 it costs less than one of these.