Apple will never rule the market with the Mac computers as they are for one reason.

Money.

IBM running Windows is so popular because of upgrade ability and you don't have to buy an entire computer to go to the next generation of video, Processor, and in some cases, Monitors.

If Apple wants to take over the market their PC need to get into the game and away from the "full system" only people with money can buy macs, I don't own one for that reason.

They may be better, they may not be, it may only option. But until it cheaper to upgrade or buy a Mac they will never take over the PC Market.

The bottom line is that Apple makes great products and they have a great operating system. They also happen to make their products sexy and they also happen to be great marketers.

Nice calm articulate post. Certainly a different tack than the usual mac zealot crap. Problem is it is the same crap. Mac fanatics rationalize spending 3 times the money on a Mac because they are less buggy and easier to use. Now you've added because they are more reliable? I have a room full of old PC's that still work just fine but are underpowered by todays standards. To claim that somehow Mac hardware will outlast PC hardware is crazy and just not true. Computers (Mac and Pc) use solid state electronics that rarely fail before they become obsolete. Nowadays Mac and PC is pretty much all the same parts anyways (think Intel). Computers are just means to an end and to be honest pretty much all the same. I have a Mac (mini) (I use for software testing) and a bunch of PC's. They all allow me to get work done. Just never understood the need to spend 3 times the money on a Mac when I can do the EXACT same things on a PC?

As to the economy I think many people had no clue how bad things were till last fall. Even now many, if they are still working, are in denial. Even the ones with money are cutting back. My guess is most of them that wanted them already have Mac's anyways. Many will make due with what they have.

Your company just upgrading to Mac is an N of one. It's not happening everywhere and is the biggest myth that macfans disseminate. In any case your company now has all macs so they will not be buying anymore this year unless your company is in a massive growth mode which is doubtful in this economy.

Bottom line is Mac is like Starbucks and Gucci. You pay a premium for what? People are scaling back. They aren't buying $1000 purses and they are drinking McDonalds coffee. In this economy my investments are staying way from companies that sell overpriced "premium" products.

First you say people aren't spending because were in a bad economy. Right and Wrong. The people with no money aren't spending, but those that are are buying MAC products. You see there is this thing called QUALITY that Apple brings which most US PC companies don't bring. Now to back this up, we've been in a recession since 2007 in all reality and it picked up steam in 2008, YET Apple posted more gains and profit in those years. Now how do you figure that using your logic? I mean we're in a recession, no one would be buying over-priced Apple products right?

Now again you site from here that Apple and Dell and MSFT and HP will go down because the economy sucks. Again, right and wrong. 3 of those 4 will go down because they are not streamlined, nor do they make INNOVATIVE products. Our company replaces every PC we have left with a MAC, in fact, I don't even know if we have any PCs left. I still see the APPLE stores packed and people leaving them with bags. I still hear about people who don't have a job but are buying a MAC because they need something reliable and to use while they are without work. I hear people talking about with the money they do save and with what little they have that if they are going to buy something, they are going to make sure it's quality and it will work and last and thats going to be an iPod or iPhone or iMac.

Remember this. 90%+ of the US is still employed. That's still a lot of people and $$$ and if they are going to spend it, it's going to be on an APPLE.

Apple will make it through this as the top computer company out there. As for Microsoft, Dell, HP, Google, etc…some of those will be down or gone in a few years.

@maddawg

Only the technically challenged require macs? Great comment, it shows your mindset. Let me correct you. Actually it's the most creative and efficient workers that require and want Macs. I actually want my programs and software to work along with any peripherals, cameras, HDs.

The rest are just using the PC excuse to hold a job that wouldn't need you if you used a MAC. Mainly you are scared about losing your jobs because if things worked well (like Macs) you wouldn't have anything to do (kinda like the Maytag guy).

Btw I've never heard anyone say they are going out and buying a PC. But I have heard people all the time going and talking about buying a MAC or iPhone or iPod.

However, he can't count the number of PC machines piled in dumpters……

I go there and tell the sales person that I am an existing AT&T customer, I have a blackberry, but I am not happy with it and want the iPhone and I am willing to pay cash the $199 + tax to get it.

The sales person looks up my account (I have a 2 year contract) and says, because your contract is still going on the backberry, we can get you a iPhone but for $399 or $499.

I would have to open a account to get the iPhone at $199, end of story, sucks, you only get the $199 price is you sign a contract otherwise it's not that price at all, false advertising.

Now I need to go clean a virus off a PC here….you know job security…right.