[Seattle]

My wife has a new top-of-the-line Dell laptop. She spent 2 hours on the phone last night with the Dell call center in the Phillipines. Another hour this afternoon and her machine can now send email without crashing. If her company did not use a PC-based CAD program, she would definately have a Mac. As the former owner of a software development company, I can tell you that a Mac is MUCH cheaper to own and much easier to use.

Yes, you can buy lots of cheap software for the PC, but then you're stuck with lots of cheap software. You get what you pay for. Unfortunately with PC, you get the Petri Dishes of the Internet when it comes to viruses and spyware problems.

I have a Mac email and database server that has been online since 1994 and has crashed once. In over 10 years. I have several Windows 2000 servers that are not nearly as reliable as the Macs.

I don't have the time or patience to sit all day on hold with a PC support center across the globe. Dell's service is good, but a reliable computer is better. Get the Mac!

[shellshocked]

Thanks. As a software engineer, myself, and a company owner, TCO is always a consideration. The Mac is just something "different". It really is a looks thing when buying it for her. I know people just love them, and I believe their testimonials are true, so I have no problem buying one. I use PCs exclusive in my business, but I also know what to buy and how to use them properly, so I have very few problems. I always thought the Mac should have been the hardware for the industry. Too bad we got the PC instead.