Sorry, but you get full support with Mac hardware, software and all, with AppleCare. Unlike M$, they don't charge you for every call. For about $150-350 depending on machine and education discounts, you get 3 years full parts and labor and tech support. Oh, it's North American based, no ESL on the phone who barely knows what a hard drive does.
FYI I work in Windows NT/Linux/Unix/etc environments. I've built hackint0sh systems. I've dealt with kext's and DSDT patching, etc. For the time and effort you put into it, you're better off buying a Mac Pro. If you look at the costs for Xeon Westmere processors, and tally up what a Mac Pro system gives you, it's not much of a difference.
As for Windows, W7 runs very well on my Mac Pro. Of course, all the hardware drivers come with Snow Leopard's Boot Camp DVD, so it's not difficult on a Mac system to cold boot. As for OS X, nothing beats it for me. "Time Machine" for easy backups and system restores kills anything Windows can do. That alone is a "Time" saver
. (Don't get me started on M$ antiquated BIOS dependent software they pass off as an operating system)
Again, price out the hardware, especially for Mac Pro's. Considering that a Mac Pro uses server grade Intel Xeon chips, a Westmere Mac Pro parts alone are costly.
IMac's have been known to be one of the best priced systems on the market. As they come with LED LCD IPS panels (which alone are expensive, and in some cases more than half the costs of the system), an all in one system with an LED LCD IPS panel, quad core chips, etc, it's a pretty darn good deal.
Also, Mac's have the highest resale values on the market. Many sell their systems on eBay when it's time for them to trade up, and make a pretty good amount of money doing so. I sold my 2008 2.8 8-Core w/ 8GB RAM and a Blu-Ray on eBay for about $2800, and upgraded to a 2010 6-Core Westmere (got a good discount), in the end didn't cost me much.
Hey, there's a place for OS X, Ubuntu, Windows, etc systems. People like what they like, need what they need. If you want a great system with excellent support (Apple is rated highest in customer satisfaction and support) and that won't give you the most headaches, go with an Apple based OS X system. However, if you need a server based system for hardcore business, or if you need something on the cheap and don't mind the occasional headaches and expense of anti-viral software and tech support, go with a Windows based system (Xserve is a joke for business server systems).
TVs and music via my Sonos system. PCs do have their place, I always have one working but I don't spend time on it. My current PC is a HP, small form factor, 4RAM, Windows 7, 120HD. Doesn't have much on it, some games and pictures.
