The real reason I prefer Macs to PCs is that I find the 'mental environment' more pleasant. Uncluttered. Spacious. While you're working at a computer you almost inhabit it, and while you may not have a luxurious apartment, you can probably afford an iMac. I take it a step further by avoiding any software that doesn't live up to the Mac 'feel.'
I describe it to people as 'feng-shui' for computers. I'm surprised I've not seen that concept mentioned more in connection with programming. Python is probably my favourite language. Probably due to the white-spacing more than anything. And lack of those damn brackets.
I feel the same way when I'm writing python on my mac, or sitting down to try out some crazy new idea with node.js. It can be very hard to explain aside from "doing it this way makes me feel a certain way" or "it's an interesting experience trying to approach solving X in this fashion."
It seems with so much writing on how to effectively program computers, something has been lost - namely what it feels like to do so.
I find it's worth extending the mental environment into the workspace around the machine too. The ideal for my was a coworker whose office looked like something from Arabian Nights (in a very pleasant and artistic way) with just the barest hint of the technology that he used for his work (a Mac, for audio/video editing).
I wholeheartedly agree. What's more, learning python and using textmate regularly has ruined me for writing in MS Word... Not that I was particularly attached to it before, but I now find it really hard to think or write with all that junk (mostly broken - I'm looking at you styles) just sitting there.
I describe it to people as 'feng-shui' for computers. I'm surprised I've not seen that concept mentioned more in connection with programming. Python is probably my favourite language. Probably due to the white-spacing more than anything. And lack of those damn brackets.