Err no offend here but just to correct the point make which I think very misleading and not even comparing "appple to apple".
1) The transition usually wouldn't be extremely smooth, it took me about a day before I could use the Mac at normal speed and I would actually consider that extremely quick compared to other users, since I have some experience with such technological stuff.
->Well true whenever you touches a new software e.g. MS Office 2003 to 2007 which also a huge different. There is always some learning curve.
But, if you look carefully the use of Mac is not much different from Windows since Windows copy their design from Mac so how can it have much different in usage. Most of Mac usage is just drag and down. So long you know how to use a Mouse I don't think it will take your days to learn to how to use a Mac.
2) You'd have to buy a lot of software to replace their Windows counterparts. Besides the cost factor, that might be quite a bit of a hassle. You might also hear that everything works with Mac but in actual fact you might face a slew of problems and eventually get fed-up and go buy new hardware too (hidden costs).
-> What Mac announce is it is comparable with most of the data file extension and equipments.
To be fair, does USB workable and problem free when we were using Windows 95. I believe if you install Windows 95 now and try plug in your usb printer, let's see if it can work or not.
So long all your equipments come with Mac supported logo it will confirm work.
3) Of course, the unchangeable hardware issue. You'll definitely get much more flexibility with your PC.
-> Well it depend on what you purchase don't tell me you purchase a Windows laptop and it also allow you to exchange hardware? Nowaday as laptop getting smaller and lighter, e.g. Sony or Asus EEE even their Harddisk also cannot be change.
Most mac product are mobile platform design so that it can be slim and small. Of cause if you want to have the same fell as a desktop PC, buy a Mac Pro it can house millions of different configuration of hardware for you to change.
4) Reliability? Mac is supposed to be "uncrashable" etc. But I've seen Macs go down for no reason. I also know someone who's Macbook (just over 1 year old) died completely (harddisk failure), but fortunately she purchased extended warranty. But of course all data gone.
-> What Apple announce is OSX is crash free not hardware. I'm surprise you quote this example cause maybe you can help me find a company in this world to announce that their Harddisk or hardware is failure free?
When a harddisk failure of coz all data will be gone this apply to the same to any OS(unix, windows, Linux etcs), unless you do your backup if not there is no way you can ever get your data back.
In my opinion, the operating system for Mac (I used OS X Leopard and Tiger) is also somewhat overrated. I wouldn't expect power users to find much merit in the eye-candy, which is (also in my opinion) the main advantage of OS X. (Stuff like Expose are useful but I use a 30 inch monitor so doesn't really apply to me.)
-> OSX success is not just on candy eye design. Cause you can also get the same OSX theme in WinXP.
What OSX success are example:
- virus & spam free
- ease of use which some of the post above there are ppl also posting they now spend time enjoying using the system rather then face "blue screen or system hang or crash for no reason.
- Time Machine in Leopard will solve your above mention HDD crash and data lost issue. And tell me which backup & restore software in Windows you can find that is as advance as Time Machine.
- Of coz there are other software like dashboard, desktop screen(a helpful feature for ppls to zoom in to see small items) and many more power Mac software.
Of course if you're the type who frequently reformats your computer, Mac might be better since installation of Mac OS X is MANY MANY MANY MANY times faster than Windows.
-> Sorry if you buy Mac and continue to format you are in a very big wrong. Windows need to format is because of the build up in registry and all the rubbish stuff in your harddisk over time which slow down and make the whole system unstable.
Mac don't have registry and it will not slow down or make the system unstable be it how long you run it.
Anyway who love to format your pc, since Mac design it such a way that you don't need to format your OS ever you should be very happy about it
Undoubtedly, Vista isn't good. But I wouldn't think that is an adequate reason to switch over to Mac, since Windows XP still works fine!
-> You know why Vista isn't good, cause it try to make a near full copy of OSX and yet they fail to understand the power of OSX.
So if all those that you mention above that OSX lousy then how come MS want to copy OSX and design it in VISTA.