My 63 year-old mother used Windows for 10+ years and switched to a Mac 5 years ago. Since then, she migrated from OS 9 to OS X and can now do more on her Mac by herself than she would have ever been able to accomplish on a Windows box. This is someone who has trouble operating the washing machine. She has written a book, maintains a web site, uploads photos, etc.

This is a subjective point, but I disagree that the learning curve is steep. There is a curve, yes, but it's less steep and a great deal shorter than the equivalent for Windows. I think a lot of people are able to use their macs for more than the same people would manage to learn to do on Windows, primarily due to the consistent UI and integrated structure of the iApps.


Last quarter, when 7 million iPods were sold in 3 months, the iPods accounted for about a third of revenue. Profit margin on them is, of course, significantly less than the margin on CPUs. CPU sales increased more than 50% year-over-year (compared to, I think, 17% for the industry). The quarter before was much the same, as was the quarter before that. Yes, the iPod is boosting revenue and to a lesser extent profit, but Mac sales are also going through the roof and ultimately contribute much more to the bottom line.


They're doing the same thing you're doing by mentioning your favorite HP machine. --And, if the Consumer Reports, PC Magazine and other studies are to be believed, perhaps with more basis.