Yes, dhs12345, you are wrong. Anecdote is not the singular of data. Especially anecdotes from the dark ages of computing history. 20 years ago was before Apple switched from the PowerPC architecture and its ancient operating system to UNIX™ as its base OS, and constructed the much more robust OS X.
IBM presents REAL economic data that is checkable across multiple installations and they are putting their not inconsiderable reputation, not to mention MONEY, on the line saying so. IBM's actual data, not anecdotes, has proved to be true over now multiple years, so much so they are converting all of their 400,000 employees over to all Mac and Apple products as a money SAVING move.
You can jump up an down, repeat your ancient anecdotes, and say you're right all you want, but the facts are on our side. . . multiple times. I operate an all modern Apple business. . . and our experience doing so trumps yours. We had been all PCs and were replacing PCs on a two to three year cycle as the computers failed. During that time we were frequently fixing or re-imaging computers due to other problems. Since upgrading to Macs, which were slightly more expensive ab initio in purchase price, our cost to maintain computers has gone down drastically and our replacement cycle is now SIX years not two. That is a huge savings, making the total cost of ownership of Macs considerably LESS than the total cost of ownership of PCs.
Contrary to your implication above, software cost differences were and are either negligible or non-existent. For some, we saved considerably. For example, all Macs ship with an office suite of software that is sufficient for most office requirements. There goes the cost of Microsoft Office per workstation out the window. Macs have zero need for anti-virus protection, despite the propaganda the sellers of those programs push; what protection a Mac needs comes built into the macOS and is updated as necessary.
Should we ever find need to run anything from the Windows world, our Macs can easily run Windows either natively or in a Virtual Machine concurrently alongside macOS. In fact, various Windows centric review sites and magazines have listed the Mac and MacBook Pros as the best platform on which to run Windows.
When I was doing business consulting for a large number of clients with multiple operating systems—I'm mostly retired now, keeping my business down to only a couple of my larger clients—my main Mac routinely was running NINE different operating systems simultaneously including three different versions of Microsoft Windows and two versions of Linux in virtual machines under the UNIX™ primary operating system of the Mac, as well as two versions of OS X.
Only concern — how soon will Apple drop support of its OS. I will be watching with bated breath. If Apple does it to me again, I will have nothing good to say about them. This is their last opportunity and an opportunity to redeem themselves.
You keep harping on Apple dropping support for its OS. Apple changed from the original MacOS to OS X in 2001. . . with introducing a server version of OS X in 1998. They did not drop support of the legacy MacOS until 2007 when Apple switched from PowerPC architecture to intel processors, but that was just for including it as a viable operating system in new Macs. By that time, the old operating system had been supported for a full 30 years and was extremely long in the tooth. It was long past time for users AND developers to have upgraded to OS X.
Apple's computers have been upgradeable for a full six to seven years with the latest and greatest OS X and now macOS. There are tinkerers out there who have successfully found work arounds to install the latest upgrades to first Intel Macs that were released in 2007.
Apple supports iOS devices for five years before they announce they have been end of life. . . and for the most part Apple stops updating their iOS not because they won't work, but because they simply lack the hardware capacity for modern capabilities. They cannot take advantage of what the new iOS has to offer because they don't have the capability. Android makers most often do not even offer OS upgrades beyond the first year or so.
You are not getting the full functionality out of your AppleTV because you are not using it in conjunction with the Apple ecosystem because you don't own other Apple products because of your mis-informed anti-Apple prejudice. Too bad, but that is your choice.
No, there is little practical use for expensive, overpriced, computers. There is no compelling reason to purchase them mainstream. Why buy a Ferrari to drive to work when a Ford will get you there for a lot less money. Simple economics.
As for the Apple TV. I am cautious because I don't want to get burned again. And there is a good chance that it will happen. But I am giving Apple (and you, the Apple spokesperson) another chance.
Lastly, why purchase media that will only run on Apple platforms? RE: ITunes? Again, that is my conflict with Apple — their media only runs on their hardware and nowhere else. So, in a way, if forces me to continue being an Apple customer because of the investment in Apple proprietary media — music, movies, etc. But that is the game, isn't it?
Bottom line: Apple is closed off/locked off... so that they can increase profits and discontinue support so that I am forced to buy the next Apple widget. Apparently, that business model works for them and yes there are some fools who are stuck in the Apple rut. Apparently they are happy. Not me, I can see above the rut.
No doubt you believe in Apple. You probably work for Apple and more power to you and sometimes you have to sell ice to eskimos. Just that this eskimo has plenty of ice.
Lastly, early in my career I worked at a very large company that had similar attitudes to yours and believed that they could never fail. Their customers were locked in tight. I had similar discussions with engineers and management yet they couldn't see it. I was just a low level engineer so what did I know?
The irony is that the PC market and the commoditization of computer hardware and software destroyed their “monopoly” on computers and now they are history... long since gone. No more. Gone forever.
Without the Iphone business, Apple would be looking at a similar fate.