You know, for years, this (obviously good natured) argument went back and forth between my son and I. Now, he is a "computer guy" who develops systems and writes complex applications. So, effectively, he is a highly compensated "computer guy" who has never known unemployment. He has job offers all over the country. Of the hundreds of applications that were reviewed for the submission of the Yucca Mtn. final application, a program with thousands of aspects, his was the submission they chose for this multi-billion dollar project. Because he is very shy by nature, he has always refused upper management positions and chosen to be hands on. I'll stop boasting about him now.
He is now the "computer guy" for UNLV and the highest paid one. He finally had to look at MAC since the university has both types. He told me that he owed me an apology - MACs are indeed "better" than Windows.
Now, better is in the eye of the beholder. I bought my first MAC in 1987 because I had a fight with my typesetter who was always late with the company newsletter. I, nearsighted as I am, learned to do my work on that 9" screen which cost thousands of dollars. As each generation went by, I updated my machine. I adjusted from System 4 all the way to 10.6. In short, I know quite a bit about MACs. But I have friends that have Windows machines for budgetary (and familiarity) reasons and when they have problems, I try to help, since I'm more "computer literate" than they are - even if not on Windows.
I can tell you right now that the reason for the price difference isn't just arbitrary. You are paying for the far more intelligent array (not to mention all the annoying stuff of Windows) and yes, my son builds his own and strips out the garbage from the OS but he's paid 6 figures for knowing how to do this.
Personally, I don't care a feather or a fig about what computers other people use. I don't have any Apple stock. But I'm a smart enough cookie who has used his computer through 25 years of self employment and I can honestly say that the MAC OIS is so superior in its layout and methods that people who are just casual users would be far better off with MAC.
Just like the cats v. dogs argument, there is no point in trying to convince people addicted to Windows. I wish you nothing but the best. But for anyone who isn't a computer natural and has options, I extend my advice, to be used or rejected.