Apple has been waging a quiet war against Microsoft’s new Windows Vista on TV and online. Now, the Mac maker is bringing the fight to its chain of 170 retail stores, as well. Are they taking things too far?

Apple is also educating its retail sales force in how to draw parallels between the functionality of Vista and features present in the existing release of Mac OS X: for example, the Aero user interface in Vista as compared to OS X’s Aqua GUI.

In the coming days, Apple will also reportedly present Vista-themed advertisements in its retail stores and distribute corresponding t-shirts for its employees to wear.

The Battle has begun, Who will win the war?