But in no case would you have the caché that I have mang
Actually, I disagree with my brother on this point all the time. Is it possible to build a better, faster machine for less than a Mac? Absolutely. However, for those of us that are not inclined to go that route - particularly when we want gripe rights and a quick resolution to problems - then you pay for more. Here's the deal: the hardware is only a part of the purchase. If you build me machine like that, I can't come screaming in on you to get it fixed and demand satisfaction that very moment. Neither can we be sure that <x card> will work with <x driver> and I'll get <x results> - of course, there's plenty that won't work with the Mac, but at least there's a support staff to help me through the process really quickly.
Can you build a BMW from scratch? I'd suppose so. But it's the whole package that makes it of value... and that includes a premium for the logo.
But more importantly, because (you) building me a machine is not a replicable model: Dell and Gateway can't build me the experience I have with my Mac for the same price or even close - because it again, includes a lot more than just the hardware pieces. And even the hardware pieces are reasonably equivalent, apples for apples (no pun intended).
So I guess the commonly held thought that "Apple is just more expensive" just rather pisses me off, because in fact, given the VALUE of the computer it is a great deal. It's just that some folks spend their time more on the cost of components, than the value of the whole.
Just
/p
