Back in the day when I was still an IT Professional (or maybe I still am but definitely to a far lesser degree), IT Certifications were the thing to have.

For those who aren't aware what certification is, it's the IT industry's attempt to teach people to become qualified experts at using their products. Every IT brand has these, and the more popular ones here are those from Microsoft, Cisco, Lotus and IBM to name a few. There are certifications for every level, from mastering MS Word to setting up LANs and server systems.

It helps end - users and companies find qualified people to keep their systems running, but its also a great cash cow for the brand as not only does it assure the experts they train will be walking promoters of their products but getting certified per se is expensive as it involves several pricey exams.

This Dell chart I got from Maximum PC re how much Apple overprices its products isn't exactly a surprise for most people who've known Apple vs Dell (or all PC manufacturers for that matter), but it's a nice helpful guide anyway. Click to see a bigger pic.

Here's the latest iPad related video going around right now:

So I just watched MacHeads. The movie is specifically about the community that revolves around Apple. Not Apple Inc., not Steve Jobs, not the products. Just the people that comprise the user community and their beginnings, their struggle during the 90's when Apple was sinking, to their rise again in the 2000s and ironically, their impending demise due to the way the 'net and Apple's newer products are alienating and / or making user groups and communities superfluous.