When Apple introduced the iMac G5 with Front Row and Apple Remote, one slide on Steve Jobs’ presentation epitomized the difference between Apple and Microsoft.

The remote. Apple’s iMac remote has six buttons. Microsoft’s remote on the Windows Media Center PC has over 40 buttons.

Sure, there are other differences. Apple CEO Steve Jobs vs. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. Style. Focus. Approach. Quality control.

Apple is secretive, Microsoft is paranoid. Apple is loved, Microsoft is hated.

Wait a minute. Something’s not right. Microsoft doesn’t market the iPod. In fact, the company doesn’t even sell a portable music player. As of today, anyway.

Is there any single item we could list that truly differentiates Microsoft and Apple? No. Maybe.

Fortunately, someone else did.

For example, what if Microsoft marketed the iPod?

Apple’s simple, elegant, colorful iPod marketing scheme has not only won awards, their successful approach has produced nearly 50-million iPod customers worldwide.

The iPod’s classy packaging is a sample of what Apple’s Mac customers have experienced through the years.

What if Microsoft had invented the iPod? How would they market the iPod to the masses? What would the iPod’s packaging look like?

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this video parody is worth millions of laughs and more tears.

Prepare to be entertained, as a clever video producer takes Apple’s delightful iPod marketing and packaging, and turns it loose to Microsoft’s demonic destroyers of elegance and simplicity.

The popular web site YouTube has a great video which highlights what Microsoft would do to the iPod. View at your own risk.

Click Here for a direct link to the YouTube video.

The parody is so well done I would not be surprised to learn that Microsoft put it together; perhaps as an example of how the iPod should be marketed.

They certainly wouldn’t produce something so clever to show they have a sense of humor.