There is a very simple basis for our adherence to a particular brand. We own one or we have owned one and we end up with a equipment or software base that would make it in all but extreme cases too expensive to change.
Canon cameras and lenses have features that I like and some that I don't, but since I started taking pictures with a Nikon FG purchased many years ago at the Ft. Campbell Post Exchange, I have accumulated an equipment base of Nikon so I am a staunch Nikon fan. Of course it does help that it is the best camera gear out there
SO that being said, understand that there are good points (and bad) to which ever platform is used and the main point is that you get used to the work flow on what you have and make it work. In this case, it is NOT the journey, but the end result. It is our desires as photographers to produce a perfect image that says something.
All of the computer brands that are out there come to you contaminated. That's right. The manufacturers put SO much bloatware on the computer that you have just purchased, that it takes a week to remove all of the built in commercials. (This is more of an issue with PCs than Apples of course).
So here is a radical thought. Build your own computer. Then YOU have control over it, not the other way around.
It is not hard at all. Anyone who knows how to figure out the affect of f-stop on an image can build a computer.
If there is a popular demand for it, I can put a primer out on the tutorial page to discuss the basics, but there are TONS of websites out there dedicated to building a computer.
Here is another flashpoint topic... Intel or AMD??
I prefer AMD. Once you decide on a processor all the pieces fall into place after that. Certain motherboards will only support certain processors and they will have features that you want (need), so next you settle on the motherboard (mainboard), then decide how much RAM you want, get a video card (a separate one with at least two video heads so you can run multiple monitors). Audio built into the motherboard is fine. The audio systems built into the motherboards now are pretty awesome. Then pick a big enough power supply to power everything. With system capabilities today, a 750 watt power supply is pretty much minimum. Now find a case.
The advantage to building your system is that you can keep your monitor(s), keyboard, mouse, hard drives, optical drives etc and not contribute those items to the local land fill.
NOW the biggest advantage. When you build a system you can partition your hard drive(s) the way you want. You can do this at any time, but it is MUCH easier as the OS is being installed. This will make you much less vulnerable to damage by virus or worms. There are a lot of programs out there that allow partitioning, but by far the easiest one to use is Partition Magic.
MY preferred way of setting up my hard drives is to put ONLY the OS on the C drive. Programs onto another partition of the same HD if large enough etc. Here is my setup of the hard drives that are in my case (four physical drives).
C - MSSystem - 30GB
D & E are DVD drives
F - Programs - 195GB
G - My storage area 50GB
H - My wife's storage area 50GB
I - Pictures - 596GB
L - Swap (for linux) 50GB
M - Briodan (business storage) 40GB
N - Download area
This does not include any of my external drives that I use primarily for long term storage.
This is the BIGGEST PROTECTION you can have for your sensitive files... if your OS gets screwed, you can re-install without losing everything else. After your OS is re-installed, you will have to re-install the programs to re-establish links to the OS, but that is minor. At least you still have your most important files.
Anyway... my 5 cents worth.