Macs have always been more expensive than PCs. The Mac has traditionally had about 6% market share, and have recently "popped" up to around 8%. It is expensive to be cool...twice as expensive. Joe Wilcox at eWeek compared the prices of Apple laptops and desk tops to PCs by Dell and HP, and found that Macs were two to three times as expensive as PCs.
It is a big market and there is room for everyone, but 92% of the market still prefers the PC. Competition drives prices. There is lots of competition in the PC market place, and none in the Mac market. That explains most of the price difference.
Nothing stirs up a debate like a comparison of the Mac to the PC. The Mac fan boys come out of the woodwork anytime there is a discussion any where.
Personal preference. Some people absolutely must have a Harley, while others prefer a Honda. Some prefer a Volvo while others like a Ford. The price differences are huge, but a small portion of the market is willing to pay it.
Personally, I have always used a PC and am very comfortable with it. I have used a Mac when visiting friends and it is just enough different to be annoying. Simple things like "right click", keyboard short cuts, setting preferences, and even differences between IE and Safari browsers just slow me down too much. Mac users probably have the same hassles when they try to use a PC.
Comfortable habits - It is all about what you get comfortable using. About 95% of the market is comfortable using PCs. That is just the way it is, and it works both ways. About 70% of the market is more comfortable using Google too. Technical comparisons and price differences don't matter for some segment of the market place. It has always been that way...and always will be.
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