Maybe not first, but an OEM wanting to produce a high-speed Linux laptop will have solid drivers for it.
I’d take an Apple server over a Linux one any day, too.
Agree in general for me personally, but there are cases where Linux would be preferable. For example, Google could not have done what it did with OS X or Windows since they needed to be able to freely modify the OS at all levels. Linux is better for a cluster where you have expert maintainers because it's fast, infinitely flexible, and $0 * thousands makes for lots of savings. OS X is better for a cluster where you want any admin to be able to run it (XGrid!).
As Google is finding out if you go with Linux you have all that baggage from whacko leftist Richard Stallman and the FSF to deal with. They’re now requesting Google hand over their internal software improvements.
http://www.macworld.com/news/2007/05/23/googlecode/index.php?lsrc=mwrss
Apple would never do something like that.