At the same time, how many cheap Windows laptops are only so cheap because they come with a lot of pre-installed bullshit?

Also, 5 year old Air for $1k? That's almost how much they cost new. I'm seeing half that on Ebay/Craigslist. My sister has a new $450 Toshiba and my 5 year old Air runs much better. I got a new battery for it and gave it to her.

Unfortunately you went way too far with your rant and buried your point about Windows' real competition being more expensive. But the low end of Windows laptops is pretty atrocious. Someone stuck buying those aren't doing it because Airs lost their SD card port. They're doing it because they can't afford anything other than a computer that serves them ads, has 3hrs battery life, and struggles to buffer 1080p video on Youtube like my sister's new Toshiba.