Therein lies half the battle. Most people don't know computers and if a part is confusing.
Is an i5 520m better than a i5 5200u
One would presume the 5200 is better because it has more numbers - it has to be more up to date - right?
I do agree that Apple make computers that are sturdy and reliable, you basically know what you're getting. The more money you spend the better your product.
But I oft browse the shelves of PC World and a computer that's crap is priced at £500 and a computer that's better is priced at £350.
Why? Probably because it's the last few in stock and they dropped the price. But the consumer goes for the £500 thinking it has to be the better one due to price.
However, they get home and it works fine for a few weeks then starts to slow down.
They then go out and spend £1500 on a Mac and proclaim it's the best thing ever! But had they spent that money plus the other £500 on a top of the range PC they wouldn't have this problem.
Apple really do rely on their consumer base being clueless - and they price their low range computers at high prices, and their high range computers at even higher prices.
Therefore the consumer knows that the high priced are better.
But with a PC and off the shelf computers - Dell vs Acer vs HP vs Lenovo vs Samsung - all priced differently, some priced lower as selling off stock etc. It's really difficult for the average joe to pick a PC that will work out of the box.
That's why when someone says I need a 'PC' or I need a 'Mac' - my first instinct is to ask 'What's your budget? and What are you doing?'
As said earlier most people want a computer.
Yes personal taste can come into it - and if someone was adamant they wanted a Mac I wouldn't talk them out of it.
But if someone is open to the idea of spending their money on a better computer for their needs - then I"ll recommend away.
For example this the most recent query I answered for a client
Mac
http://m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnl...n_jtt_v_from_product=un_product_1#page_loaded
Pc for same price
http://www.saveonlaptops.co.uk/7559-8045-Dell-Inspiron-15-7000_1856981.html
They wanted to play games (video card important) as well as work.
I come across these requests almost daily. For the last 10 years I've recommended computers, Mac and PCs, and I have never had a single person complain about what I choose for them based on their budget and their needs.