> What's going to happen, though, if it's possible to buy a PC that's just as good as an ARM Mac in terms of both performance and battery life?
Their advantage against Microsoft is that the Mac UX may be degrading, but the Windows UX is degrading much more quickly. Sure modern Mac OS is worse to use than either Snow Leopard or Windows 7, but at least you don't get the "sorry, all your programs are closed and your battery's at 10% because we rebooted your computer in the middle of the night to install ads for Draft Kings in the start menu" experience of modern Windows.
Their advantage against Linux is that while there are Linux-friendly OEMs, you can't just walk into a store and buy a Linux computer. The vast majority of PCs ship with Windows, and most users will stick with what comes with the computer. It definitely is possible to buy a computer preloaded with Linux, but you have to already know you want Linux and be willing to special order it online instead of buying from a store.
That advantage only works in countries where general population can afford to buy Mac hardware, and since Apple will never make hardware at lower prices, Windows will keep having 70% of desktop market share at global scale.
> since Apple will never make hardware at lower prices
Apple has a deal with Walmart to sell the M1 Macbook Air for $600, so that's their current low-cost option. For the future, data-miners have found evidence that Apple will be making a new low-cost Macbook with the A18 Pro (chip from the iPhone 16 Pro), set to launch in 2026. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/30/new-macbook-with-a18-ch...
That is more than one month salary in many countries.
Don't compare prices from wealthy countries like US with the rest of the world.
How many M1 do you think Apple is selling in African countries?
As an example.