Re:Apple is funny company (Score 2, Informative)

I think all three of your presumptions might not be accurate. I'll try and keep this objective:

They cost more.

I'll talk to this one last, since I think it relates to the other two.

They are generally slower

Slower is a -very- subjective quality. Let me explain.

We've all heard the arguments regarding MHZ, etc, so I won't go in to that. However, just because the -physical- speed of a machine is faster, it does not logically follow that I will get a task done in a shorter amount of time. I remember reading somewhere in 'The Design of Everyday Things' about how people perceive how they perform a task when using a tool. They can either feel that they're 'directing' the tool to perform a certain funtion, or they can actually feel like they're 'performing' the funtion themselves, using the tool. I feel like I spend most of my time in Windows -directing- it to do a particular task. The 'computer' doesn't fade into the background while I'm performing the task. On a Mac, it does; I don't feel like I'm directing the computer to do something, I'm just doing it. I find it generally easier (and quicker) on a Mac to do certain things, even though it may be -slower- on the processing front. Subjective, yes, but no more so than how MHz influences productivity.

There is less software available in the retail markets.

I think this kind-of relates to my previous point. On the Mac, it seems like the quality of the software is higher, and more consistent than in Windows, so there's less of an "itch to scratch" which would lead to people developing new solutions. For example, I use UltraEdit on my PC, and BBEdit on my Mac. I'd say they're pretty even feature-wise, yet the Mac doesn't need 50 competitors to BBEdit to rock. It just doesn't suck...if it did, someone would develop something better.

Back to the cost issue. I concede that the hardare is definitely more expensive (but not by much, and it's getting better every year), but when put in context of my points above, I find it actually cheaper to own a Mac since I'm able to get a lot more done. People who say the hardware is cheaper are not looking holistically at what a Mac gives you.

Hey, a cubicle is cheaper than an office, but which one do you think you're more productive in?