Nor does the number of times I've seen Windows box manufacturers pull the same tricks. They all try to make an extra buck somewhere. Overpriced RAM. Extra charge to not install bloatware. Overpriced accessories such as flash drives, routers, and printers. Extra, optional games and programs. Extra charges to tweak performance settings.

Sometimes you can save money by purchasing unfinished furniture too, but not everyone wants to stain and seal their own end table. So, you can save a few bucks and do the work yourself or pay someone else to do it and spend your time in activities more important to you.

You'll get no argument from me on that. You want to pad your RAM and drive upgrade charges a bit? Fine, as a consumer I can decide whether the extra cost is worth me not doing the upgrade myself. Don't take the choice away though.

Apple killed much of my enthusiasm for their computers with non-removable batteries in their notebook computers. Special hard drive connections are even worse.

The pro apps are quite nice. Yes, there are alternatives, but the price/performance point they hit makes them enticing.