I used to leave that windows machine on 24/7 and the noise just became part of the house, you just got use to that sound always being there. When that machine was replaced by the mini it was such a startling difference, from how loud it had been to how wdead quiet it was. Shoot, that was almost worth a cpl hundred bucks just for that.
Someone else mentioned earlier that you do pay a premium for aesthetics and form with Apple, there is no denying that. Like anything else, you can get 2 products that do essentially the same thing, but ease of use, comfort, and visual appeal can result in one costing alot more money.