Apple v IBM computers in Poland
The title is pretty unfortunate for a copule reasons.
1. Apple used an IBM processor for about 10 years (roughly between 1995 and 2005). It was PowerPC based on RISC architecture which is superior to CISC. Processors which Apple then used were manufactured for them by IBM.
2. In 2005 Apple switched to Intel platform, inherited from IBM's x86.
It is clear that there is no difference between Apple and Windows based machines. Both use Intel, which windows having the benefit of being more flexible since it can run also on AMD processors. MAc machines use the same sub-components as the Windows based machines, although those components have been modified (mostly via firmware) to suit Mac OS and to minimize the competition.
I worked on Apple machines a few years ago and I have to say I did not like them at all. I was happy to switch to Windows and Linux. More flexibility and freedom, if you will.
Apple's big problem is shortage of enterprise level applications. If I can get a software category I can run on a Mac then I can find dozens, sometimes hundreds competing titles for a Windows based machine. It's been also a long standing myth that Apple's graphics capabilities are superior to those of Windows or Linux. That used to be true too far back in time to count now. At this time I really can't see a reason to buy a Mac to run Adobe apps, if Windows versions are available and do exactly the same thing.
Price IS a factor. It always is for most individuals and for every business. Especially when you deal with hundreds or thousands of users, and when you know that the hardware replacement cycle is 3 to 5 years. If I were to buy Macs then suddenly my IT budget needs to go up by 30 to 100% and it needs to be kept at this level. That's not gonna happen in any reasonably well run organization.
Apple seems more of a cultural thing too. This permeates also through devices such as iPod (cool but the competition is more than capable too) or iPhone. While nothing in technology stands still and iPhone may catch up, as of today BlackBerry still rules the enterprise and it is ahead of iPhone for business users.