This week, those of you who love the Mac but need to use Windows 7 for some reason, just got a little more help from Apple as the company has updated Bootcamp to support Windows 7. The Boot Camp 3.1 update consists of a single .exe file download that you need to run in Windows 7 once it’s installed. Or you can just run Apple Software Update if you’re already using Windows 7 on your Mac.

The update provides the necessary Windows 7 drivers for various pieces of Mac hardware including the Mighty Mouse. Boot Camp version 3.1 supports the 32-bit and 64-bit version of Windows 7 and Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate are supported as part of the update as well.

With the upgrade in software and support for new drivers and utilities, if you need Windows 7 to run certain software, processes, or perhaps you prefer to use Windows for things like coding and development, now you can. Although, not sure why you would want to if you have a Mac. But hey, we don’t judge here.

Apple has also published a support document that details a number of installation problems for Windows 7, plus a tool to assist with upgrades from Windows Vista to Windows 7.

In the interest of being fair, we bring you news of an update to the other really good Windows virtualization software for the Mac: Parallels Desktop. Much like VMware, this software allows you to, gasp, run Windows in a , well, a window on your Intel Mac running OS X. Here’s all you need to know about this update.

This latest version of Parallels features Snow Leopard compatibility, Windows 7 support, full support for Aero, including Flip 3D in Windows Vista and 7, OpenGL 2.1 and a bunch of other new or improved features. You aren’t limited to Windows, actually, as Parallels also adds support for other operating systems like Linux.

Parallels 5.0 is a free upgrade for those who purchased version 4 on October 1st, 2009 or later. Others will have to pay U.S. $49.99 to upgrade, or U.S. $79.99 for a new license. Parallels is also offering a crossgrade licensing option to VMware Fusion 2 users. If you have a license key for Fusion 2, you can get Parallels 5.0 for the same U.S. $49.99 upgrade fee as existing Parallels customers.

Even if you’re a Mac loving die-hard like many of us here at The Flickcast, you still might have occasion to use Microsoft’s Windows software. Maybe you work at an office that is all Windows or perhaps your parents haven’t made the switch and still make you use that old PC of your Uncle’s?

Or, maybe you use a Mac most of the time but need to use one program like Outlook to get to your company’s Exchange email? Whatever your reasons for needing access to Windows as a Mac user, one of the best tools to help you accomplish this task has just gotten better.

This week VMware Fusion, one of the two main (and our current favorite) Windows virtualization applications for the Mac was updated to version 3.0. This upgrade offers significant improvements over the previous versions including the following:

• Support for both 32-bit and 64-bit Snow Leopard kernels.

• Integrated Migration Assistant guides you through migrating from a PC to a virtual machine.

• First virtualization product to support Windows Aero, including Flip 3D and Aero Peek.

• Support for DirectX 9.0EX with OpenGL 1.4 and new WDDM graphics driver.

• Reduced memory usage with Windows Vista, Windows 7 and newly created Windows XP virtual machines.

• Faster disk and graphics performance in Snow Leopard.

• Banish the Start Menu with Always-on Applications Menu on the Mac menu bar.

• Access to Windows taskbar tray items in Unity view in the Mac menu bar.

• Run 3D games and play 1080p video in Unity view.

The upgrade will run you U.S. $39.99 if you already have a previous version of the software. Or, its U.S. $79.99 if you don’t. Plus, you will still need a copy of Windows if you don’t already have one installed. For that, look for an OEM version of the software, like you can find right here.

In what may come as no surprise to some, Microsoft has backed out of the Family Guy special that would have promoted Windows 7. Well, thanks a lot Microsoft for completely undermining the article I already wrote regarding this very event. Microsoft responded in a statement:

“We initially chose to participate in the Seth and Alex variety show based on the audience composition and creative humor of Family Guy, but after reviewing an early version of the variety show it became clear that the content was not a fit with the Windows brand.

We continue to have a good partnership with FOX, Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein and are working with them in other areas.  We continue to believe in the value of brand integrations and partnerships between brands, media companies and talent.”

“…not a good fit with the Windows brand.”  Has anyone at Microsoft even watched an episode of Family Guy? How did they not see what was coming? Well, as much as I was somewhat skeptical of the whole deal it would have been interesting to see what Seth McFarlane thought up for the show. Maybe Apple should jump in and pick up where Microsoft left off to promote Snow Leopard?

When I heard about Microsoft’s Windows 7 tie-in with Family Guy I was slightly taken aback. Doesn’t Hollywood live and die by the Apple Mac? I thought so, which made me wonder why anyone in that industry would be pitching Microsoft products.

I may not have a specific answer to that (other then the most obvious one: money) but at least I now know the air date for the Family Guy special in which Windows 7 will be promoted, fiercely I imagine, to viewers of the hit series:

“The half-hour “Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex’s Almost Live Comedy Show” will air at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 8 and star series creator Seth MacFarlane and his co-star Alex Borstein. The special will air without traditional commercials and instead will feature Microsoft-branded programming that Fox said will blend with the show’s content.”

Now, this could go one of two ways: brilliant or horrible. If McFarlane and company craft something in which they don’t try and hide the baked-in advertising, it could work.  30 Rock has had pretty good success in a comedic capacity when it comes to product placement and is definitely something to emulate.

On the other hand, should the writers try and trick the audience into thinking they are not watching an ad for Windows 7, that could backfire. Considering the quality of the show, I’m less inclined to think they’ll hide what’s really going on and fess up. This should bring the audience in on the jokes and make it that much funnier.

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Even though we might be pretty big fans of the stuff that comes from that other software and hardware company, we realize that a lot of people out there are also big fans of Microsoft’s Windows products. So, in the interest of fair and balanced reporting, we are pleased to let you know that the Redmond giant has today released the latest version of its operating system, dubbed Windows 7.

The new software arrives in stores today with much better word of mouth and reviews than Windows Vista, the previous version released a few years ago. The new operating system is designed to boot up faster, look cleaner and streamline the way people work with fewer clicks and fewer annoying notifications. Windows 7 is also said to work better with plug-in devices, like cameras. Setting up home networking to share photos and music is also supposed to be easier. Several versions of the software will be sold with prices starting around $120.

In the meantime, if you are thinking about upgrading to Windows 7, first run Microsoft’s free Upgrade Advisor to make sure that your current system’s hardware and software will still work. Over at Lifehacker they have a lot more tips about preparing for a Windows 7 install, including advice on setting it up alongside an earlier copy of Windows or on a Mac.

If you do decide to upgrade, be sure to let us know how it goes in the comments.