[b3b0p]

When I purchased my Apple machines I also took into account the cost of the tools I would be using the operating system.

Macbook Pro + Xcode + Mac OS X

vs

Lenovo or Dell upper end model + Visual Studio + Windows 7

Visual Studio adds a considerable amount to the final cost, but I'm also willing to put down a fair amount more for having Mac OS X.

[awa]

So you are comparing Visual studio to Xcode and saying you went with Xcode cause it runs on Mac OS?

[ChRoss]

Can you also add the cost for becoming Apple Developer then?

[mbreese]

Umm... $0.00?

It costs nothing to become an Apple Developer. It costs $100 to be an iPhone developer, or $100 for their Mac developer program. Both of which give you previews of OS updates and the ability to sell your software in their stores. Otherwise, you don't have to pay anything.

[recoiledsnake]

Visual Studio and SQL Server have free Express editions.