After a long time Mac denier... I went Mac a few years back after working for an Aussie company that sold them and they are pretty easy to use. When I came home last year my Mac died (through my doing - it fell off a third floor balcony) and had a very limited budget so got an HP 14" win8 machine. Pretty basic little thing but isn't too bad especially for the five hundy odd I paid at JB.
Having said that; finances are healthier now so next year I can see me going back to an MBA - perfect wee thing for home (and a little work as reuired).
All brands have issues (ELF/DOA's etc) and like cars/footy boots/telly's or whatever people stick with what they know if they've not been burned... if you have no brand loyalties (yet?) then look at the other features, values, service, etc both from the laptop you buy and where you buy it. These days you can't really go to far wrong. Just go with what/who feels right .
Edited for: Win8 touchscreens are a wank.