[quote author="IrvineCommuter" date=1256617649]
One, Macs have no low end options. In a 5-second search, the lowest price desktop Mac was $1200 and the lowest priced laptop was $1000. I can get a PC desktop for $400 and a laptop for $400-$500. Obviously, we are not comparing apples to apples with respect to specs but computers have gotten to a point where one does not need the latest and fastest. Most people are perfectly happy with mid-level specs. Also, if one wants to buy a computer for kids or simply to have one, the Mac is simply too expensive.
Second, Macs are about 25-30 percent more expensive than comparable PCs. Why would I want a a computer that has basically the same parts (Intel chip, same video card makers) for 25-30 percent more? Macs often have "cool" side gadgets like firewire and webcams but most people can live without them (or get them separately).
2) Inflexibility: Apples are made by one company while there are a number of large brand assemblers of PC (not to mention the hundreds of independent local computer assemblers). Heck I could assemble a PC by going to fry's and an afternoon of my life (did that a number of times when I had more time). I can exchange/swap out parts to get a faster computer without having to buy a whole new one.
3) Universality: 90 percent (plus?) of the world runs PC/Windows and thus file exchanges and software uses are much easier for PC users. Yes, Macs "run" windows programs (like word/office) but does not do a very good job. I do not have to buy a whole new set of software when I buy a new PC...I can use the ones I had before.
4) The one button mouse: One button? Really? Instead of having different buttons to do different task, Macs simply lumps them for one button (i.e. drag and hold to save a file v. right clicking). Works as well as BMW's iDrive (one button to do everything).
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I've used computers since the TRS-80 days, and will just say that the computer is just a tool to get the job done. As long as it gets what you need done, it doesn't really matter if it runs Windows, OS X, Linux, or whatever. I have 2 desktops, 1 server, and 2 laptops in the house running XP, Vista, Win7, Ubuntu Linux, plus OS X on a MacBook. I'm a hobby iPhone developer.
Macs cost 20%-30% above comparable brand-name PC's, and much much more above the low-end PC's. If you see computers as disposable electronics devices, the $300 desktops at Fry's will serve you just fine. If it breaks in few years you just buy a replacement. Apple is like a cult and buying into the cult has its own benefits. If anything goes wrong, you take it back to the Apple store and they will take care of it -- just make sure you buy the Apple Care package.
Although the majority of the workplace use windows, data exchange with Mac is usually not an issue. E-mail is e-mail and web browsing and web browsing. If you need MS Office compatibility, you can get Office for Mac or just download OpenOffice for free. I use a wireless 2-button Microsoft mouse with my Mac and it works just like Windows.
Go to Mission Viejo mall and look at the Microsoft Store. Apple is a company that sets trends for others to follow. Windows has copied from Mac OS for decades, and Vista/Windows 7 is no exception. The Microsoft Store looks like a bad clone of the Apple store, down to the employee dress and genius bar.
If someone asked me what computer he/she should buy, I'd tell them to get a Macbook because if they have any problems, I can just send them to the local Apple store with computer in hand.
