People who use Apple are a unique bunch. To the general public, if you want a computer, get a Dhell or Acer or build your own. That's the normal way people would approach things.

The Apple crowd is a fanatical bunch. Back in the early 90s, we swore by our Performa, our beige G3 towers. Even when the Blue & White G3 came out, and comparative PCs were twice as cheap, we stuck with our favourite computer company. There is no turning back.

There isn't any real reason why we love Apple products. Its just because we do. Just like a football fan-boy, real Apple fan-boys are just that. I cannot convince you to sokong my favourite team. Its just that.

In short, its hard to convince people why ease-of-use, stability, and an enjoyable & efficient user-experience is worth twice the money of comparable computers (maybe Apple's pricing is better now lah, but you still pay a premium). If you like it, buy it. If you can't afford it, drool over it. That's it. That's all you have to decide.

WE give you 100 reasons why you should get a Mac. You can then tell me 1 reason why you can't and shouldn't. And for most middle class Malaysian tech-enthusiasts, the problem is MOOLAH!!!

Its all about the love.

Congrats on your decision...

But lets say I got 20 compelling reasons for you get an intel box, run Linux and skin it to look and function like OS X, would you do it???

With the extra cash, you could get the rm 3500 17" dell, or the rm 4000 12" ultra-portable dell, run linux, skin it to OS X, and walaaa.....!!! Not to mention the active OSX86 project dudes.. they're making some serious progress, you know! I think within 1 month of 10.5 (panther, cheetah, jaguar whatever), I think that a hacked bootable OS X 10.5 DVD will be available. Then you save cash.

Most new Apple users go for the looks. Looks is all that attracts them. Becuz to be 100% honest, productivity work and basic computing stuff, all can be done on the PC and there's nothing much the Mac has to offer, other than hours of fun on Photobooth, the nice Quartz Extreme graphics where windows fly around and minimise to the genie and scale effects, all that eye candy. iLife is irreplacable, and if you wanna put that into a dollar amount, I'd say its worth RM 2,000 bucks for what it does.

Ok, I'm starting not to make sense now.

Bottom line: I think its better to list down the reasons why you're buying a Mac. If not, when the next Dell comes out with faster specs and RM 2000 discount from your purchase, you'll suddenly dislike your MB!