As a long time PC user/owner/builder, I get so tired of hearing about the i(whatever). Besides the so-called "cool" factor of owning an Apple product, I see absolutely no benefit to the average computer user. Apple is trying so hard to win over the minds of the younger generation by being the first to be cool, they only use "Mac" and "i" as their product prefixes.

Right or wrong, I know I'm going to get rapped in the teeth for this. Anyone with any sense at all knows that OS X is just the GUI front-end sitting on top of a Unix-based file system. From what I've seen, you don't even need Windows Vista to compare to it. A tweaked Windows XP GUI works just as well. In fact, Gnome or KDE for Linux can rock your socks better if you know how to work with it.

And what about the iPod? What an overpriced piece of dung! Other mp3 players that are NOT produced by Apple have better features and capabilities. Who the heck wants the hassle of DRM and iTunes (another service I avoid like the plague). I see people here in the Philippines spending more than they make in a month to buy these little white things. I can only hope they know what they're buying.

In the end, it's not the machine or the brand name that's important for any piece of computer equipment you decide to buy. What can it do for you that a competing brand cannot? That and the price should be the deciding factors, not how much you can impress your friends.