I guess your biggest problem is that a lot of software doesn't come available for Mac and Windows, or you have to buy the Mac version even with a Windows license and things like that. Plus, a lot of my software for school is Windows only. I run VirtualPC for at least an hour or two for every hour of homework because I don't have the space to add a Windows partition on my PC, and VMWare, Wine, qemu (et al) act sorta weird. In fact, my Java class is the only one where I'm not forced to run Windows (thank god...)
You shoulda made your dad wait for an Intel Mac...
And honestly, what does it matter? Let people use whatever they want. Let them make their own (sometimes uninformed) decisions, they can learn from their own mistakes and experience. But you do have to admit, PC's are cheaper. My Athlon 3500+ machine with gigs of ram and hundreds of gigs of hard drive space, 16x dvd burner, and a nice 17" LCD over half a year ago cost almost the same as if not less than a low end iMac right now, if not cheaper. I'm not one to start a flame war - the PC is useful to me (ppc linux is a pain in the ass) and I actually like it and it's useful to me (for being on IRC and AIM and stuff all the time
) and I can add more to it without shelling out twice the money for more limited options on a Power Mac G5 (ie getting a new video card). Gasp! I'm actually torn over what machine to get when it comes time to replace one, and usually it tends to be (for me) Macs for laptops and build-my-own for desktops. My parents can use a Mac, I don't feel like cleaning up after viruses.
I'm not one to force an operating system on anyone. Only some people who really need it (people who ask how to remove malware every 10 days for a few months, et cetera). Honestly, if you do any research (and ignore some of the FUD spread by Symantec and others, you'll understand what's good for you and what's not. And some people just arent interested, give up already. More customers == bigger market share == Apple becomes the next Microsoft.
Wait, don't flame me yet. Macs are more inherently secure than the standard Windows XP install, but that's no replacement for user idiocy. I have friends who click on the most obvious AIM worms and rootkits, if the same were to happen on a Mac, they'd do the same thing. You have to admit, not many users are smart about security (writing down passwords and such) - it's eventually going to be their problem
no matter what they use
And about the lack of media coverage - most tech writers in major newspapers and newsmagazines are Mac users. Someone, I forget who, wrote an article about that. Apple has a huge presence for their tiny market share. Look at the way everyone fawns over new product releases...
