[jes]

With respect, is there evidence to support your claim?

My direct experience is that I have received value far in excess of what I have had to pay for the Apple products and services I have purchased over the years.

For example, I'm typing this reply on my PowerBook, which I use all day, every day in my work. I also have my iPhone with me constantly, and use it heavily.

Finally, the Apple brand was said to be worth about $104.7B vs. $62.8B for Microsoft in 2014. [1]

So, I am not saying you are wrong, only that I think some evidence would be helpful in making your case.

[1] http://bgr.com/2014/03/19/apple-vs-google-vs-microsoft-brand...

[smcl]

OT, but you're still using a Powerbook? That's pretty impressive. Which generation\year was it? I'm guessing you've had to swap out batteries and upgrade hard drive - have you had to modify anything else?

[coldtea]

He meant MacBook Pro.

That said, I still have an iBook G4 from 2004 in perfect operation for mail/web/music (though one button is missing).

[jes]

Sorry, my mistake. It's a mid-2012 MacBook Pro. 16GB DDR and 512GB SSD.

http://support.apple.com/kb/SP694