Originally Posted by jeanmarc87
Something else, IMHO.
Here's one of the big threads we had on Mac-vs-PC:
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Because it's easy. Apple's top priority is to make the easy things easy. The software, hardware, everything is easy. There's fewer compatibility problems because there is no one else to be compatible with. There's no viruses, because it can't run any Windows software (or if it can, it is vulnerable to the degree with which it can). There's fewer crashes from cheap hardware drivers because everyone is forced to buy the same (expensive) hardware.
Easy has a cost. You pay big bucks, and you lose some control. For example, it makes buying hardware easy, because there is only one vendor, so you don't have to worry about choosing the best hardware vendor. Nor do you have to spend any time deciding which hardware components from that vendor are the best, because they only sell one type of each component. You need a different video card? Too bad. Still waiting for a blu-ray optical drive, after 5 years? Don't hold your breath. Apple provides only the absolute minimum amount of choice, such as extremely overpriced ram/hdd upgrades.
Same with the software. A lot of what makes it easy is the same thing that removes your ability to control what it does. Just look at the difference in control panels. Windows presents you with a dizzying array of options, all alike. You will likely be eaten by a grue. There are at least a half-dozen different software vendors that provide wireless configuration dialogs, in addition to Microsoft's own. OS X configuration dialogs tend to have far fewer options. Less choices mean easier decisions. But what if what you want isn't an option? There's a billion little $15 shareware apps for OS X to make it do what you want (hopefully still "easy"). Or, if you're technically inclined, and lucky, there's a few configuration files that can bend it to your will.
It's basically a matter of priorities. For high-level pros, paying between 30% - 100% more is well worth it to make it easier. But since you are a student who is getting a degree in IT and has a lifetime of experience with Windows, I would think price and control are more important to you than easy.
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