while, as Pete noted, parts & service are gotten through Apple or at an Apple store, I actually consider this a plus. My first two desktops were Dells & service and/or answers were difficult at best. Apple provided my daughter with two one-hour sessions of "one-on-one" training which, for her (and me), was invaluable. She doesn't use her laptop for anything difficult (her college friends that are in the "tough" college classes have Windows-based laptops as there are a ton more programs available that can be run on them versus an Apple product) so ease & speed were / are very important to her.

What really sealed the deal was my nephew -- he's a senior buyer for a major electronics chain working in their laptop division. He pretty much can get any laptop he wants for free...and he BOUGHT a MAC & he recommended that my daughter get one also. It really comes down to personal preference & having a computer that has the ability to do what you want or need it to do (and Windows-based computers have a MUCH greater base for that).

Steve B