Microsoft's pet fanboy they keep in the back yard? lmao ;-)

If you want a full sized OS, that'll be an additional $100 please.

But what percent of computer users even use half of what their operating system can do? Isn't this the argument against MS Word? Its bloated with stuff 90% don't need?

Virus protection? Another $69.99/year, please.

Um, there's free virus software. And if you're smart enough (i.e. not going off to p*** sites, not saying "Yes, install!" on a daily basis to every pop-up you see) you can get by with none at all.

No crapware on your new PC? That 'upgrade' will cost you another $49.99.

Yes, because uninstalling is SOOOO hard.

Would you like to edit videos, pictures, create DVD's, and make your own music? That will cost you more $$$ by purchasing these three to four applications from all different companies with features that don't mix very well....."

Then again, if you don't edit videos, create your own DVDs (and physical media is dead, apple has basically stated as much), or make your own music, then you're spending money on software you never use.

The full, non-crippled version of Vista: $319.95. The equivalent full, non-crippled version of the Mac OS: $129.

Well, let's see. First off, OS X is not 'non-crippled'. Apple makes arbitrary decisions to block installation on 'older' hardware. Try installing Leopard onto a 800MHz G4. Oh, wait, you can't, because Apple specifically blocks you from doing it. Unless you use some third-party hack that allows it to install. Then it runs great (as people have said here). Thus, it is crippled.

Second, since you need to buy a Mac first, you've already paid part of the 'upgrade' cost on Leopard with your computer running tiger (where do you think those 30% margins go? R&D people!)

Third, Apple also releases updates to OS X more often. Apple has released 5 versions of OS X since 2001. MS has released 2. So while a 'new' version of OS X goes for "$129", if you've upgraded from 10.3, you've already spent $260. All 5 versions in your closet would have set you back $700.

I still can't get over this. So if I have Outlook open in the background to let me know if I have email from a client, and I'm working on a presentation, so I have Photoshop and Powerpoint open, that if I want to check something on the web I have to close out one of the other programs?

Hey, look, it's the ridiculous example!

People here claim netbooks are underpowered, but when it helps to point out an example, it all of a sudden can run photoshop?

Apple has been tempting fate this way for years now, and fate has been kind. Or could it be possibly be something Apple is doing well?


And all they do is tempt fate and ignore issues.

Or did you not notice the security vulnerability in Java posted several days ago that has not been patched, even though Sun patched it 5 MONTHS ago!

Apple doesn't take security seriously. If they did, they'd do what every other OS maker does, publish anything (ANYTHING!) that would tell you for how long they plan on supporting the OS you are running.

If you run Tiger, you have absolutely no idea how long Apple plans on releasing updates for security issues.

They give it passing concern, because they feel they are immune.

I'm done paying for windows and I don't use it much anyway. I am getting the win 7 beta and running that forever.

Apple's machines are still more expensive guys, even if they are a great value over the long term. No way around the sticker shock.

Of course, TCO is lower for macs

conning businesses for years. It's good when you're in the position to be a monopoly. There are nearly no other alternatives. What's bad is when a company stops improving on their products and continues to charge higher and higher prices because they got you over a barrel. Businesses still won't go to Macs and OSX and I don't understand why they don't want to give it a try. In a way, I have to blame Apple for not pushing harder into the enterprise, but I guess some things are just not meant to be.

Microsoft is just a smart company taking advantage of every situation to maintain control of the computer industry. If MS puts out even a half-decent Windows 7 product, it will win back all those corporations that didn't upgrade to Vista and Apple will again lose out.