Before writing this article I had changed my list many times. There are many great things about Apple's products over rival companies, but getting the order is subject to personal opinion.

#1 - Aesthetics

Different people have different likes and dislikes. When it comes to computers price often becomes of paramount importance - and there are some fantastic bargains available as a result. On the other end of the scale there is the Apple range. You pay over the odds for the specification, but you also get a little bit of magic. Macs are perfect for those who can't stand the idiosyncrasies of Windows. I think that is really important for some people to be proud of the tools of their trade. Depending on the person and trade the tool means different things. The toilet cleaner being proud of his mop sounds ridiculous. One mop is just the same as any other mop, and what difference would it make anyway? Take a surgeon's knife and that's a different story. Using a carving knife or a pen knife for open heart surgery would be just as ridiculous, even comical. But why is this?

It may be symbolic of self worth and an indication of perfectionism in professionals. Therefore I often notice Apple computer owners are often take their profession very seriously and enjoy the embellishments of their computer. A Windows PC could do the job, but the unnecessary extra quality is a constant reminder to the user of the meaning of perfection.

# 2 Video Editing

If you're serious about making movies, Final Cut Pro is a fantastic application that is only available on the Mac platform. It is considered by many as the best tool for the job and has a good reputation in industry. For Windows users the equivalent might be Adobe's Premier Pro - which is also very good. However the magic quality of Apple is the deciding factor - as most people who know a thing or two about video editing would opt for Final Cut Pro every time.

# 3 The Apple Store

If you've never visited an Apple store, it is definitely a unique experience. The London store has an open floor which displays the entire Apple range. The interior is very spacious and is more like a fashion show room than a computer store - yet another subtle but important message about the values of the brand. Best of all, the computers are switched on, internet ready, and are loaded with software. So users can try before they buy.

Upstairs there is a small auditorium where people can learn how use OS X and the various applications made by Apple. Along another side there is a long bar, but despite the way it looks they don't serve drinks. Instead the bar tender look alikes are Mac experts, ready to dispel any Apple related problem that you can throw at them. No other computer company offers this kink of quality customer experience.

Zach Hope is the author of Speed-Up-Windows-XP.com, a site that can teach anybody to speed up Windows to invigorate old computers. You can have dramatically more PC speed today from your slow computer.