I have a hard time believing that Windows run better on MAC hardware. Obviously you are talking about the intel chip MACs. If you have some benchmark links, it will be interesting to see.
I have no idea why you are upgrading PC in 4 - 6 months! If you are an enthusiast, you will be sticking to PC. I built my PC last Feb and it is running just fine and I do not plan to upgrade for at least one more year. And my PC never shuts down unless it is required after an update.
I do not have idea about upgrading MACs, but I will take your word for it that it is cheap. As for Windows upgrade, you do know there are family packs out there. I bought 3 licenses of Windows 7 for $124 when I upgraded from XP to Win 7.
First off, what you are referring here is akin to Harley Davidson versus our very own C14. Which do you think has better resale value? And would that by any means attribute it to be technologically superior? Its the cool-aid factor. This is not even considering the factor, IMO, that Gateway is not the greatest brand out there. There are far better brands.
Yes, Intel chip Macs. I did my own simple test on my computers using a free benchmark program and the built in "Windows Experience" score.
I don't upgrade in 4-6 months, what I was talking about is the product cycle. The Asus laptop you spec'd isn't likely to be on the market in 4-6 months. It will be a discontinued model and a new model with some minor change will have taken its place.
There are different "enthusiasts", not all stick to Windows machines. It depends on what they do and what they are enthused about. I will agree that if you are a hardcore gamer, Windows is the better platform. Games aren't my thing, so that didnt have anything to do with my choice.
Sometimes they have the "family" pack OS upgrade for three licenses. When they do, it is for a brief introductory time, it still costs 4 times what the Mac OS does, is two licenses less, and is not the "full" OS (Home premium vs. Professional vs Ultimate).
As to resale value, I did not say it had anything to do with performance. My point was that if you do upgrade, the retained value helps to mitigate the higher cost. Gateway was a better brand 6 years ago, but that isn't the point. All brands of Windows suffer similarly. Home built boxes generally are the worst for resale unless you build a top notch box make the right component choices, AND just happen to find the right buyer. I have been there and done that. Built probably 12-15 computers from scratch over the years for myself, friends, or family. I don't miss it.
I was lead to believe that you can only purchase from iTues. So do you have to transfer it to MP4 (or whatever their audio protocol is) before you play? Or can it play MP3?
iTunes handles MP3 format with no problems, issues, or complexities whatsoever.
I really don't care about the EULA stuff as it doesn't affect me. I use Kindle software for my e-book reading (what little I do), even on the iPad and Mac.
I agree Macs ain't for everyone and like you say folks should choose based on their uses and needs (true of just about anything from computers to motorcycles to women!). Problem is that a lot of folks get bad info and make decisions based on rumor and falsehoods.
Look at your own original post regarding memory upgrades and MP3 compatibility, you put that out as fact when it was absolutely not the case. Was it a lie, ignorance, or just repeating something you heard? Regardless, it was erroneous info that is now "out there". There are some folks who will see a first post or hear something, never follow up or look for confirmation, and start the "I heard that..." chain and pass it on.
I just wanted to put out another perspective from someone who did the Windows thing from 3.0 all the way to 7 (and DOS before that), spent many years questioning - and bad mouthing - Macs, but then was won over after giving them a closer look.