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Gaming, graphics, production, etc. aren't the only markets that can justify high-end systems. Think science & engineering. They can ALWAYS use more processing power. I built and administer high-end clusters (of 250+ $5000 systems, with 10-30Gb/s, <10 microsecond interconnects) for researchers at my alma mater. I had coworkers who built and administered $1M+ a pop supercomputers at the same place. Yet another niche, but no less important than others in my not so humble opinion. I tend to buy higher-end systems personally because, the faster my code compiles, the sooner I can break it.
For me, a laptop that is reliable, has great connectivity (so I can use other systems to do grunt work from it), is light i.e. easy to carry around, and has good battery life, is the way to go. For everything else, a workstation, server, desktop, or gaming console does the job perfectly fine. Don't overload your laptop. It's not worth it.
I had a $2300 IBM T42p laptop purchased in Jan 2005 that failed recently and IBM wanted $750 to fix it (under warranty) because there was "corrosion" on the mainboard. They blamed it on a "spill" although I can't remember spilling anything on it, other than sweat from my palms generated by how hot it got. The laptop sits on my floor unused now because I can't do anything about the problem without spending MORE money.
I've thought about getting a new MBP but I am afraid Apple will screw me over like that too. So I think I will buy an older used model for cheap and dispense with spending the money on a warranty that may not be honored. I seem to be awfully good at beating computers up anyway. Something about how laptops & some desktops/workstations were not designed to be used 8-16 hours a day.
Most people really don't need to spec/build computers. They just need something relatively basic that will handle simpler, deterministic tasks with ease. Macs excel at that. My dad just bought a MacBook for himself too, and he has been a DOS/Windows slave for 20 years. He does not need anything special or niche. I think it will work out very well for him.
While I'm ranting, Windows gaming is a huge pain in the ass and I don't understand why anybody thinks it's such a great platform. Give me a gaming console any day over wasting hours trying to figure out why the high-end graphics card doesn't put out like it ought to. I should just buy a dedicated gaming computer, but at that point, why bother? Might as well buy a Wii or Xbox 360. Now if only I can play CS: Source on that.
Ok, ok, I'm done now.
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"There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb
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