AA>Hi Jean.  I sense frustration with your family.  You have demonstrated
AA>competence in things-computer, yet the family embraces something you don't
AA>recommend.

AA>Maybe get exposure to other people that use the Mac products and find out wh
AA>they are doing with them.

AA>As you know, I ended up with a used iPod Touch (via eBay) as my mp3-player
AA>upgrade. I know for a fact that I would never pay the price for a new one. Y
AA>are right, the high price of many Mac products seems out of league for many
AA>people.  I don't have much hands on experience with other Mac products (exce
AA>with a new MacBook, the brushed aluminum design) and now with an iPod Touch,
AA>and I have to tell you that I am most suitably impressed with the hardware
AA>design.  I like the form-factor, smooth lines, solid construction, and
AA>comfortable fit into my pant pocket. And.. except for the high-reliance on
AA>iTunes, the independent UI software of the Touch is well thought out.

AA>Perhaps the Mac-minions are suitably impressed with the quality of the produ
AA>line and desire to experience that.

While I am inpressed with the Quality compaired to some of the "Cheep
at ANY Price" Windows machines Apple started off rigth by it's inroads
of the School System.
As an example my doughter becasue aquanted with Mac Laptops in Colledge.
In fact some still are basicly Apple Schools and if you do not have an
apple youre at some disadvantage.
But once someone becomes comfortable with an apple they jsut do not wqnt
to chanhe and to them the extra price is well worth it.
I tried my best to direct her to a Toshiba at quite a saving over the
Mackbook Pro she got but to no avail.
---
 þ SLMR 2.1a þ Typo Tom strikes agaoin