You can buy a . But it won't have an AC adapter with hooks that let you wrap up the cord for travel, or a MagSafe connector that won't get damaged if it's accidentally yanked out of the computer. It won't have an oversized touchpad with multitouch gestures that help you navigate through documents and around the Web. And it will likely be heavier and bulkier than a comparable Mac. Next time I encounter a Microsoft executive tsk-tsking about the onerous "Apple Tax" imposed by a Mac's needless glitz, I'm tempted to ask him what car he drives--and whether he chose the model with the cloth seats and hand-cranked windows, or one with a few creature comforts.

Forget about all those Macs, iPods, and iPhones for a moment: Apple's applications are useful, enjoyable, and innovative, from the (whose presence on every new Mac is in itself an argument for the platform) to industrial-strength tools such as Final Cut Pro. Most run only on OS X. (The Windows versions of iTunes, Safari, and QuickTime are okay, but Apple does its best work on its own operating system and hardware.)

Buy a Mac, and you qualify for free in-person technical support from a patient rep with a deep knowledge of your system. I've had Geniuses do everything from reinstall my OS to replace broken keys on the spot. Microsoft has to provide similar customer care at other retailers; it's worth trying, but there's no way it's going to replicate the Genius Bar experience. There are simply too many PCs from too many companies running too many variations on Windows for any one person to be an expert on everything.