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"What a relief it was to move from a superior OS and hardware combination to a problematic, cheap setup???"

Yes. Yes, really.

You see, the funny thing is, its not problematic in the least. It runs faster, it has a greater variety of software available, its more configurable. I can run any flavour of Windows and any Linux distro I like. I run Mandrake and Gnome, as it happens, which I find just good looking as X, and rather easier to use. I did have some difficulties with getting a win-modem to work, but under Linux I find the choice of hardware much wider in general and much less problematic than when I used Apple. The system came with XP, which I use very rarely, but its nice to have it available in dual boot.

Yes, my machine was cheaper. The Athlon XP that I use ordinarily, several years old now, was about a third the price of a comparable mac, and its lasted perfectly well. I really cannot see that any of its parts are in any way inferior to those used in Macs. Even the case is rather robust and quite well cooled. If the only complaint is that the case is beige, paint it. My own case is under the table, I rarely notice it. And finally, when I upgrade to A64 or similar, it will end up costing about 10% of the price of moving to a comparable G5. All I need is a main board, processor and maybe some memory. As for software, Mandrake comes with more software than I will ever use.

This is very difficult for people who are still 'on the bus' to understand, but it really is true. Buying an OS tied to a particular supplier's hardware doesn't deliver better quality in either the OS or the hardware. In hardware, it probably delivers less. But what it does do is, put up the price. Not just the initial price. The price of software and hardware upgrades also, because you just cannot go out and buy a new main board and processor for your G5. Its, buy another and throw out the old one. And then there are the applications, and the annual OS upgrades. But its not just the money. I also really object to being told what to do and how to do it, and being so limited in both hardware and software.

Cut loose too. You'll be very surprised at how pleasant and easy it all is. Its just computing, its not a lifestyle thing at all, though the Cupertino marketing department would like to persuade you that it is.

The majority of computer users would be more comfortable on a Mac. Buying from a company like Dell is always risky. Building your on X86 box is really the only way to go. And most customers seem more pleased with Apple anyway----> http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=ahi5j9WcL8VM&re...