The odds of Microsoft bringing down iPod+iTunes is about the same as Apple bringing down Windows or Office. Somewhat ironic if you think about it.

Let's make a real comparison:

Apple MacBook Pro:
2.16Ghz Intel Core Duo
100GB @ 7200RPM HD (or 120GB @ 5400RPM)
1 GB RAM
Airport
Bluetooth 2.0
1680x1050 17" display
256MB ATI Radion Mobility X1600
Remote control for Front Row
iSight

With Education discount (Please don't tell me you don't know how to take advantage of one of these):
$2838

Dell:
Option A:
XPS M1710 with upgrades to closely spec the MBP:
2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
100GB HD @ 7200 RPM
1GB RAM
1920x1200 17" display
256MB GForce Go 7900
DL DVD Burner
Remote Control for MS Media Center Edition
Bluetooth 2.0
WiFi a/b/g
3 Year Service plan (regular one, not plus)
XPX 1710 was excluded from coupons so...
$3603= $765 MORE than MBP

Option B:
Inspiron E1705
17" 1440x900 display (or $119 more for 1920x1200)
1GB RAM
100GB HD @ 7400RPM
DL DVD Burner
256MB GeForce GO 7800
Remote Control for MS Windows Media Center Edition
Wifi a/b/g
Bluetooth 2.0
3 Year Service Plan
With Discount: $2016. Sounds like a great deal but here's the kicker: Preliminary Ship Date: 6/28/2006!!!!
Sorry Dell Fan Boys, but this is NOT a viable option to compare with.

Moving on to HP...

Hate to break it, but HP DOES NOT have a comparable model. Alot of the features can come close and you get to about $2000 but there are serious shortfalls. For one, the RAM isn't upgradeable like the MBP or Dell. You either choose 1GB or drop an extra $200 for 2GB. Also, the 256 MB video card is only the NVIDIA GO 7500 which doesn't compare to either Dell's Or Apple's offerings. The Bluetooth is only 1.0 (may not be a big deal for most people). If you try to configure one yourself, you'll get about the same dollar/performance ratio as the MBP but nothing close enough to specs.

Lastly, Lenovo...

Sorry, but NO 17" options here. The closest:
1400x1050 14" display
128MB ATI Radeon Mobility X1400
100GB HD @ 5400 RPM
4X DL DVD Burner (all above options are 8x)
1GB RAM
WiFi (a?/b/g)
Bluetooth 1.0
3 year service plan
All for $2297
By far the WORST value of them all. I hope you're not going to ask me why I think so.

But there are things that make the Apple model much more attractive:

First, only 1" thick and only 6.8 pounds making this a truly portable 17". No other company (with the possible exception of superly overpiced Sony) can come close to that.

None of the other options include a digital camera for simple video confrencing.

The MBP has the most powerful video card option within the price range. While Dell does a more powerful video card available, that model comes at a huge cost.

The software package that comes with it is a huge value. With all the other options, you'd have to buy separate software packages to compete for things such as DVD creation, photo organizing and creating your own movies. Sorry, I've yet to see one good alternative to Garage Band.

Whoever thinks that a backlit keyboard is a gimmick simply has no idea what they're talking about. How about you try using a keyboard in complete darkness. Sure, you can tell someone to Learn2Type, but even people who type generally have to look at the keyboard to press any of the function keys as it does not have a standard postion on all keyboards.

The MagSafe power adapater, while not a deal breaker by any means, is a really nice plus that everyone will like.

How about the 2 finger scrolling capability of the touchpad? No one cared to mention the incredible convenience of that.

All in all, the MacBook Pro is not only a worthwhile deal when compared to the likes of Dell and Lenovo, it's a machine that has capabilities that no other manufacturer does and a design that's definitely worth the price. Even if the Dell and Apple were almost identical in specs and price, the MBP wins hands down simply because of Dells overuse of junky looking plastic and bulkiness.

Just downloaded the patch. Here are the notes:

Mac
- Added native support for Intel-powered Macs such as the iMac (Core Duo) and MacBook Pro. World of Warcraft is now a Universal Application. Be Advised that the minimum supported MacOS X version has been changed to 10.3.9; World of Warcraft version 1.9.3 and later will not launch on older revisions of MacOS X.

To #2, while I can see where your comment is coming from, when was the last time you heard Dell or HP develop something that draws attention? Like them or not, they are the hottest company in the market right now. Just look at their stock price.

FINALLY!!! Personally, it's the best newsgroup reader I've ever used for Mac. It takes away from the difficulty of figuring out how to download what you want. And now I don't have to use the impossibly difficult Toth and Osiris to manage uploading.

If it's an artist that I like then there are two places that I *may* get it from (not saying I do): Usenet or BitTorrent. Artists get nothing from album sales when you compare how much they make on tour. So support the artists by going to their shows. Screw the companies who are the real culprits.

Someone go to the corporate office of this company and shoot the executives who ordered the lawsuit. People like them only know how to piss everyone else off.

ROFL! Very funny, I loved it! Nice find.

And people just figured this out now? I knew this was going to a problem from the moment they mentioned it. Intel would have to develop a chip that's compatible to the PowerPC's instruction set. That takes quite a bit of R&D. My guess is Apple is interested in WiMax. Apple seems to be the best at pushing out new technologies into the market. Maybe they're seeing this as a potential.

A bit more user friendly installation instructions could be a big help. Not that I'm incapable of figuring stuff out on my own, but they certainly didn't even make the process idiot-proof. Before I get too wrapped up in it, would someone volunteer to tell me the installation instructions in plain, simple english? TIA.