[sjs]

This is so true. I like me some Linux, but OS X has won me over. I thought the iPod was a fad for people with money to waste, until I got a Mac and discovered how much thought Apple puts into their products. Sure I had a HDD based MP3 player (Creative Nomad Jukebox), but it took 2-3 minutes to boot if you put 2GB of music on it and it was the same size as a discman. The UI was atrocious. I went back to an MP3 discman because the Jukebox sucked.

Most people don't compare Macs to equivalent systems, often because there is no comparable alternative. Even if you spec out a similar machine from other manufacturers you are almost guaranteed to be giving up something, whether that be battery life, a good case, or just the little touches that make you happy day to day like the battery life indicator or addictive multi-touch gestures.

Even the Vaio-Z, which is pretty slick and only 13", isn't on par with a MacBook Pro when it comes to the little touches. Yet it costs as much as a 15" MBP.

People who like to compare specs think they're getting a better deal but they rarely take into account actually using the thing for 8+ hours a day. The little things make a big difference when you use your computer that much.