[quote=largemammal]Then go to a site like Newegg and build a PC with the same specs. You’ll save at least $500 compared with an equivalent Mac.[/quote]

Did you include your Vista license in your comparison? How about the 2-3 hours of your time that it takes you to build the machine and install the OS and all your software? Or the time debugging if a piece of hardware is incompatible or you can’t find the drivers? Or the hours or days of time it will take you to clean off all of that spyware from your Windows machine in a couple months?

There is more to consider than just nuts & bolts when it comes to comparing computers. So while it may cost more up front for a Mac, the saved time, avoided headaches, and piece of mind saved with them is well worth it in my opinion.

Full disclosure: Raised on DOS/Win3.1, currently a UNIX network admin, AAPL stockholder, typing this on a WinXP machine, listening to music from iTunes, and currently downloading a HD movie to my AppleTV.