donh82: I just paid about $50 for a 2 year license for my virus software ('cause I got the extra special package). That's not every time I turn around, and certainly not HUNDREDS of dollars. Do you run a Mac without any protection?

I have NEVER made my computer so "gummed" up with whatever that I had to pay ANYTHING for ANYONE to come and fix it. Maybe I underestimate the power of users to screw things up. But seriously, people really do use PCs without having to fix them constantly. Really.

You live in a very confused world, don't you?

...

Oh, and Jake, fine points. I still say that built into any survey of "luxury"-feeling items is the perception that they are supposed to be better. I would be an idiot if I was saying that first class isn't a nicer way to fly--you don't think that I'm an idiot, do you? Perhaps I've been making my points too subtle, or maybe first class airlines aren't the way to make the point.

But wouldn't you say that a fancier packaged item with a higher price immediately has a higher perception of quality over something in a plainer package selling for less? Is it justified paying an extra $300 for niceness that you could have gotten for an extra $30? Would you feel more inclined to give a higher rating to the thing that you perceived as nicer because someone convinced you it was nicer? Did you ever stop to think that the people who actually review products favorably may already be have a bias towards them and that the people who feel rather mediocre about a product don't feel the need to give their opinions? Do you think that there is no bias in a publication that makes it money selling ads?

Because if you answered "no" to these questions, there are advertisers, market researchers, and psychologists to disagree with you.

I'm merely saying that airline passengers who fly first class and give a 5 star ratings have less of an impact on someone who flies coach and gives 5 stars. You already assumed that first class was good, so is your rating already padded? I would think so.

Besides, why would simply giving it higher marks make me think it has that much more value? The question remains: is the extra money actually worth what I'm getting? That's quite debatable among different folks. Obviously.

jason.

Wow. You really are the perfect person to own a Mac. That's not an insult. I'm sure you're now insulted, but what I mean is this:

If you've never built a PC, never even considered it, then you have NO IDEA what you are talking about and you shouldn't even try to make analogies about it.

Now you can be insulted, perhaps.

Look, let's get few things straight so we can all be friends again, ok?

First of all, I'm not trying to convince you that my choosing a PC over a Mac is a superior choice. Instead, that it is a FAR FAR FAR SUPERIOR choice FOR ME AND THE WAY THAT I USE MY COMPUTER. Period. I already told you I'm happy you Mac users have found something you love. Keep on lovin' it!

Secondly, understand that the point of article was to prove that Macs are cheaper than PCs. Something that was not even close to being proven. I've already stated this, and I'll quote myself here:

"There is no way, dollars to dollars and Gigs to Gigs that a Mac would serve my needs better than a PC and certainly not at a better price."

No where in that statement do I say that Macs suck for all people. No where. I say that Macs offer not all what I want in a computer, which, yes, includes the ability to build it from parts.

Based on that theory, my machine costs way more than a Mac (than again, maybe). But, that's because it was built to perform WAY better than a Mac or typical PC. Your radio example is simply unfounded. And if you really want to get into it, an item you put individual attention into will be of far better quality than something with assembly line QC (that QC includes the understanding that some components will simply fail).

Besides, if I were a different person--and there are many, many times more people buying their PCs from places with so-called QC--then maybe I'd be happy with a cheaper machine that meets my needs that I purchased from Dell or something. Again, for most that's NOT a Mac. That is a fact.

So, I think at some point, we diverged into Mac users explaining what you get for the extra dollars and that's ABSOLUTELY FINE for you. Just not the other, what, 85% of us?

Nothing at all will convince me that Mac ownership is cheaper than PC ownership, for on par machines and in the way that you define most people's computer's lifetime. You just simply cannot do it. It doesn't make sense.

Maybe we PC users are being a little to harsh with our opinions of the Mac ads. Certainly you must get what you pay for, and if it's just the OS; or the *perception* that only a Mac could be stable, reliable, and secure; or even your enjoyment of some perceived smugness and coolness; then that is what you paid MORE for. I'm just not interested in it.

jason.