Mac Forums

So I just started at a new University, and it seems pen and paper are obsolete. Everyone whips out a laptop to take notes, usually a macbook. Looking at specs, of the Macbook Pros, the Asus U52F that I use at home has better specs than the $1700 Macbooks... what is the big deal with them that people are willing to pay so much? Is it just name? if so, what are some of the alternatives? I was thinking Alienware, but I feel that is probably hyped up name as well. I would like to use the computer in addition to school for music production, gaming, and various other software. My U52F is less than 2 years old, but i've dropped it one too many times and it is too beat up to really carry around, and the battery is also shot on it.