There's no reason to buy a $2500 Mac either, especially since they're all Intel CPU's. There's technically NOTHING superior about Mac hardware. There's no reason it should cost so much.
Apple's "secret sauce" is in their OS.
VMWare wishful thinking. Their software simply allows people to run the PC version of Microsoft Office Pro on their Macs.
I’ve worked at a major university for 35 years. Standard computer fare here is an iPhone, an iPad, a laptop, and a Windows PC with dual monitors. Windows 7 is the standard with few opting for Win 8.
Liberal arts faculty are the Mac users. Business and engineering are firmly entrenched with Windows. Linux is seldom used for anything but a dual-boot PC with Windows 7 as the primary OS.
Apple is not replacing Windows. The new tablets and smart phones are being used in addition to Windows machines.
I have a Glock, but that doesn’t mean I threw away my Colt 1911 (Series 70). The same is true for computers. We just have several instead of one. Each tool has it’s own strengths and weaknesses.