For me, the #1 reason that I have stayed with Mac for all these years is Apple's technical support. Anything goes wrong, you call these guys and you're talking to somebody in Austin, TX or such. Not offshore. Not outsourced. They're there to solve your problem, period. And no waiting either. Most calls are answered within 5 minutes. Those time savings alone pay for the so-called Apple tax.

You have to pay for the privilege though. It's called AppleCare and it costs $170-$350 depending on which Mac for 3 years of coverage. If you qualify for the Educational discount, you could easily knock $400-$500 off your total cost, including AppleCare for three years. Oh... they're running a sale right now through September where you get an iPod touch with the purchase of any Mac.