Why PC-People don't chose mac, + others.

Question

Let me begin by saying this: I have always been a mac devotee; Extreme! I'm obsessed and practically addicted.
I always brag about this system, but I have to say, sometimes - as with every matter/product/etc. - I do think there are things that should be addressed... in other words, there's always room for improvement.
Okay, that was long, so I've noticed that one of the larger matters concerning the apple community is tech support.
Personally, I've never had to deal with Tech support that much because I have a mac pro come over to fix problems; AKA a consultant. Then after talking to other PC people, I heard that one of the reasons they haven't chosen mac, is because tech support isn't free (and "very expensive").
Is this true? And how so? Another common reason is the mac's "hefty price." And this almost certainly concerns people with low income. But I do know very well that you're getting what you paid for (really!). Still these are matters to consider.
Back to tech support: One person I know was aware of the benefits of macs, but stated that he couldn't afford them in the long run because of tech support, so he passed up on it!
So, in essence, can someone (and/or others) inform me of this service or its situation? I think that this computer and its other products are amazing and good enough for everyone, and as such I would like to see more people take advantage of it. How can we make macs more affordable? or just easier to acquire. +(*I want an iPhone*)+

Answer 1

Let me begin by saying this: I have never been a Mac devotee; but, given the alternative, I've recommended Mac during all my years consulting. What Macs have always been are works of art. When Jobs was booted & created the elegant NeXT cube, I almost sold my AT&T Unix PC to buy one.
The Apple's greatest advantage is, ironically, a problem: it's synergy. Windows was designed to do several fixed things. You bought a book and followed instructions. Story over. Apple's can do that too, but much more.
Mac respects ISO standards on various devices. So you can put them together as YOU want, like 'Lincoln logs'. My iPod is used one day as a backup device, another to listen to symphonies, another to upload photos from my digital camera while on a shoot, another to record conversations with my granddaughter. Because you may be the only person using a Mac device the way you are, it's hard to find 'user support' for this. But such use comes after you're very comfortable using your Mac.
Fortunately, because of Mac's respect for ISO standards, you can find professional support on bulletin boards devoted to creating the final product, such as photos, using Unix. (A Unix command lies in the center of each Apple application.) These, however, are usually at the expert level. I've written Apple suggesting User Services extend their influence to making sure answers here are answered and answered correctly. That would sell many more Macs.
The Apple interface is a strange blend of Windows-like and object-oriented (like OS/2). It's clear to me that Apple would sell many more computers if professional technical writers wrote online books on using Mac products, and the booklet with each Mac offered instructions on downloading & printing these, or ordering some by mail.
Instruction manuals needs be task-oriented, not just describe the hardware or application, as is currently done in its support section. Here's what you want, here's what Apple has given you, here's how to get there.
Magazine articles cover these subjects in outline form; I see no reason why it's outside the ability of Apple to tackle.
Should you want to know what to expect in the way of hardware problems, look up your product in the Wikipedia. I've found the descriptions on the mark. Apple pushes the envelope of engineering, and I admire this and expect problems; problems Apple has been slow to admit exist. Both my laptops have had catastophic hardware failures; but both were completely paid for by Apple, through extending its warranty for these particular problems. I have experienced no other.
Security is, or should be, a huge selling point. If one has a broadband connection, Apple's automatic patches and 3d-party website's patches to other software keep Apple's computers 'secure' ones. Using them securely is another matter altogether. Unix has its vulnerabilities too, but Mac OS X has addressed many of these.
Apple was in the enviable position of offering thousands of free software packages, written by professional Unix programmers. It has since, however, increasingly kept software proprietary, losing the enthusiasm of many programmers to port free, professional Unix applications to MacOSX. How many people are referred to Fink, or Sourceforge, by Apple? Some may remember that the unexpected death of the PC's 3d party advocate resulted in the near death of IBM.
It's not an opinion to state that Windows slowed the implementation of computing advances to a snail's pace. Now Apple has shown us what's been hidden for so long. But it seems inflexible on certain points, such as insisting its interface is so simple it needs no instruction booklet, and insisting that its quality control is flawless. No one expects these things.
By doing much more for the beginning user, Apple would be doing much more for itself. By referring the user to 3d-party, Unix porters, Apple's initial price would be offset by the low price of its software. (Remember, Apple sells hardware.) Rather than use Toast, for example, I burn most varieties of optical disk using free software ported from Unix to MacOSX. I've all the software I want, and it cost $60 (all freeware or shareware).
Apple could do much to offset its problems with initial price, instruction, and user support. None of these remarks are really opinions.
Bruce