One edge that Macintosh computers have is that the OS does not have as many virus, spyware, and adware programs written for it. This is in part due to Apple's tight control over the software environment. Third-party applications are the death of stability for a machine, and one thing people love to do is have all their little bells and whistles. Apple discourages such third-party proliferation by attempting to provide the basic user with a variety of programs that are simple and intuitive to use so they will be discouraged from exploring alternatives - a self contained software economy. The honeymoon is over though; extensive third-party application libraries are a necessary evil, and I believe the number of viruses and spyware written for Macintosh computers is increasing dramatically (obviously in tandem with increasing market share).

Apple rapes you for every last cent

Apple also tightly controls the hardware environment for their machines. In large part, they do this to increase their profit margins, although it does provide minimal benefit to the end user in that they are unlikely to purchase hardware or peripherals for their machine that are incompatible. Upgrade parts and peripherals from the Apple store are easily twice the price I would pay for the same part off Newegg for my home-built PC. Even if you can stick non-kosher replacement parts into your machine or find ways to make shady peripherals from Indonesian manufacturers work, you still have to deal with the fact that all the hardware inside was marked-up massively when you bought it.

Approximately the same high-performance tower and monitor combo that I bought in June 2007 for about $2100 would cost you $3500 direct from Apple as of this writing. $1400 markup from the thieves at Apple. I can buy a sweet laptop with the difference! I think part of this is promoted by cognitive dissonance on the part of Apple buyers; they paid such an outlandish and unreasonable price for something that they force themselves to believe that it was justified.

I was reading an article in the New York Times today that addressed this issue of perceived value; it just happened to be an article about wildly expensive kitchens as opposed to horribly over-priced computers. From the article:

Tellingly, the high cost of certain products, as Mr. Pedraza of the Luxury Institute pointed out, might boost sales. Mr. Pedraza cited a recent study by researchers at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and the California Institute of Technology which mapped the brains of volunteers as they drank red wine. Though the wine offered was the same cheap plonk ($5 a bottle), the pleasure receptors of the brains of the study group lit up more when the subjects were told the price was $45. “Knowing you are able to pay for the best is a very special thing, and it gives you real endorphins,” he said.

In my brief glance over at the Apple online store, it seems like possibly the most egregious boundary-trouncing comes in the form of RAM; a ram upgrade that could easily cost me less than $200 to do to my PC (add 2 gigabytes - probably more like $150 for really nice RAM) would raise the price on that $3500 machine to $4000!! I don't understand how they get off charging $500 for goddamn 2 gigs of presumably 'Apple-certified' RAM, even if it's the latest and greatest speed-demon RAM. That's pure obscenity.

Macs suck for games

Very importantly for me, Apple machines suck for games; poor hardware and no one develops for the platform. I can play way more games with Linux than I could ever play on a Mac. I assume this could conceivably change as Apple increase market share, but it's going to take a while.

Oh yeah, as far as I'm concerned, Windows Vista doesn't exist. When XP becomes obsolete, I'll probably just switch to Linux full-time.

But Macs are just so easy to use!

Hogwash. No more or less complicated than a PC, and an interface is exactly that - an interface. If you want, you can skin up your Linux or Windows machine to look and behave exactly like a Macintosh; it's not until you start digging inside the bowels of the system that you'd even notice the difference.

It's packaged nicely to be sure, but is it worth a 60% mark-up over the general computer market? And if you're looking for cool and useful desktop effects, you'll find them all and more in Linux-land. Hell, you can even find them in Vista-land, although I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone.

Oh yeah, I said I hate Steve Jobs too

The reason I hate Jobs is because of an incident that happened in the past between him and Wozniak before they founded Apple. Long story short is that Jobs exploited Wozniak's engineering skills and then proceeded to under-compensate him and not let him know about it. That pretty much defined the character of their partnership from then on, but Woz never found out he was bilked in an underhanded manner on this one tiny project until 12 years later.

Finally, buying a Mac makes you their slave

Have fun with the artificially closed software/hardware eco-system you're about to buy into. I would even go so far as to say that Apple is enacting the technological version of Nazi Germany's economic policy: namely an autarky.

Oh yea, and don't tell me Macs are better for media or some crap like that.

A computer is a computer is a computer, and an Apple is just an overpriced one. Also, you can still have a 'authentic Mac experience' without paying an arm and a leg. Simply click on this handy link to a Google search to begin your journey. However, you will not get all the snazzy snazzy Aqua goodness. So Aqua and a warranty would cost me over the life the machine far more than $1400. No thanks.

Of course, most people just like how their laptops look and feel and that's why they buy them. Who am I to tell idiots how to spend their money? My computer is a tool, not some silly toy that's supposed to match my outfit. Am I to conclude that Mac worshipers are no better than LAN party geeks with neon lights inside their computer cases? Is buying into the Mac ethos any different? It's at the root of human nature; tribal relationships that are built upon and reinforced by symbols. Apple is in the business of getting you to pay a premium for those symbols of group membership.

My case in point: Why White People Like Apple Products

outbound links

I'm certainly not alone.

Yeah, it's PC World (ecch), but they have some good dirt. Key takeaways: Apple doesn't always have great design, and frequently does not respond to their market.

A revealing mixed perspective. However, I think we can all clearly see what's wrong with the following statement: "Maybe someone should just make a sticker that says "but I run linux on it" that would fit on Apple PowerBooks."

Typical Mac experience right here. Building up a bias sometimes just depends on how (un)lucky you are as this could easily . I have no bias; I know to keep my personal disgust with Steve Jobs, the hideous consumer mentality surrounding Apple, and my distaste of their company practices apart from the logical necessity of high value technology purchases. I would buy a Mac computer if it was reasonably priced and fulfilled my computing needs. Similar to the misguided fellow quoted above, I could always just run Linux or even Windows on it if I don't like the Mac OS.

"Even Apple will be hated one day." From the article:

Does anyone honestly believe that Steve Jobs and Apple will always be the beacon of hope and affection going forward? If so, that person is either a ridiculously misguided Apple zealot or someone who simply doesn't know how this industry works. . . If nothing else, Apple has shown us all that it will do everything it can to solidify its position as a leader in the industry even if that means it continues its questionable practice of locking down its software and services on its own device. And eventually, that will come back to bite it.

"Fear and loathing is Not a Great Brand Image" - hatred and fear from one of their own loyal users.

More distrust and fear from within the ranks of the converted - does Apple live up to its brand promise?

and don't even get me started on Microsoft

So, if anyone wants to buy me an iPhone (make sure it supports 3G first) or tricked out whateverBook, I'm down with that. Just don't expect me to pay for it. Oh, sorry I mentioned the iPhone and and its $200 haircut.