When Mac hardware was still top notch and closely wedded to OSX, and yes, when Steve Jobs was still at the helm, I thought the solid reliability of both the hardware and the BSD based OS, along with superb software packages included, made the ownership of Macs well worth the prices. Apple customer support was also top notch, which is unfortunately increasingly no longer the case. I worked with Windows, especially Windows servers, from 1994 (with the release of Windows NT) until 2007, when I retired. Prior to that I had worked primarily with Unix, VMS, and other older DEC systems, varying from PDP-11's to Vaxes, and finally DEC Alphas. It was instructive that around 2006 most of our 12-member Windows Server staff were using Macbook Pro's for their personal machines. The combination of Apple quality and support, along with the switch to Intel architecture made the new Macs appealing to people of our backgrounds with largely Intel PCs and Servers. That was when I bought my first Mac, the old but worthy MBP (1,1) I'm currently typing this on. The keyboard is the best I've ever experienced and still works well. Once Apple stopped supporting it, I installed a Linux partition on it just so I could get Linux system updates. Once I retired, I stopped using Windows entirely, have bought 3 different iMacs (still a pretty good buy - bought my last one about 6 months ago), but only now buy PC laptops and install Linux of various flavors.
In the last 5 years, I've seen Apple laptops suffer with lack of ports, keyboard issues, and some cooling problems. They've also lagged in ease of hardware upgradability that used to be standard with MBPs. I've noticed the decline in customer support, both online and at the Apple stores in my area. The high prices of Apple laptops are no longer justified, at least for me. During this same 5 year period, PC hardware has significantly improved in both performance and in reliability, and Linux distributions have vastly improved in ease of use, both for installation and in software support. Apple decline has occurred simultaneously with PC/Linux improvements. PC hardware support has always been rather scant, as there are so many hardware vendors, and of course, with Linux you must be willing to be largely self-supporting by using the various distro forums for suggestions and guidelines when troubles come up. I would say that most folks coming from the Apple "walled garden" will mostly miss what Apple used to offer under Jobs - high hardware/software reliability and great customer support. With the decline of Apple in those areas, there isn't as much to miss by switching to the PC. I don't miss the current Apple much at all in terms of what I need in a good laptop. Since I come from a career in computers and networks, I actually enjoy tinkering with Linux - others might not appreciate that so much. Sorry this was long, and that it took me so long to respond. Just now ran across you message. Good luck!
