Apple's decision to release a beta version of its Safari web browser for Windows and, more importantly, its claims that Safari outperforms both Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) and Firefox 2, are two topics that have sparked serious debate in worldwide IT circles.

While differing opinions abound with regards to the ultimate success the browser will achieve in the long run, most commentators remain confused as to exactly why Apple has chosen this point in time to enter the browser game. Could Apple co-founder Steve Jobs have a Windows software strategy up his sleeve? Is this yet another of his ‘halo effect' strategies to get more users to move across to the Mac fold? Or does the Mac cult simply have a penchant for poking fun at Microsoft in any way it can?