Apple: are their laptops really that great or is it the design that sells?

So I've always kind of liked apple, I have an iPhone 4 and own an apple desktop which I occasionally use. I would just like to know why everyone loves apple so much sometimes I get the impression that people who buy apple laptops in particular just buy them because they are elegant and simple and attractive. My main point is this: an apple macbook air simply doesn't compare as far as hardware is concerned…

Macbook Air 13in at $1099:
-Intel i5-4250U Dual-Core Processor (1.3GHz)
-4GB RAM
-128GB SSD Hard Drive
-Intel HD Graphics 5000

Lenovo IdeaPad Y410p 14in at $879:
-Intel i7-4700MQ Haswell Quad-Core Processor (2.4GHz)
-8GB RAM (able to add more)
-1TB 5400RPM + 24GB SSD Hard Drive

Why get a macbook when you can get a lenovo for $200 less and better overall hardware? Is there something I'm missing? Is mac's OS really worth the extra money and step down in hardware? I want to love apple but sometimes I wonder why apple is so successful, my personal opinion is that I think apple makes excellent products with a flawless design but for what's under the hood I think they vastly overprice it. I'm in no way a PC fanboy, I use both apple and PC products but overall why buy an apple laptop when you can get a win8 one with better hardware and less money?
-NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M

Added (1). Do you think it's the design and elegance and beauty that apple sells? Their laptops truly are simple and elegant and impressive, to me that's where they make their money, what do you guys think?

I have a large imac that i use sometimes and a lenovo Y510p. Macs are really overpriced compared to other computers with the same kind of hardware. I like apple as well but i'm not one who goes head over heels for it. Its partially about the design. The new macs look pretty good but not outstanding as some of the other computers i've seen. I think its the macs reliability and the security of the os. I have not encountered any problems regarding a virus in any of the macs I have worked with. But there's a down side. There are a lot things you can do on windows computers that you can't on a mac. One thing i have also noticed is the fact that despite the specs of the new macs, they can't compete with other computers like the 410p. I really don't know why but my pc is a LOT faster than my mac. Macs also have good build quality. I think people buy macs because they are all the same and you know that what you are getting is good quality. With pc's however you don't know how good it is and how long it will last. You have to smart about you choice if you are buying a pc. I think that you should get the 410 p. You will save a lot of money and be able to do more with your computer.

Their laptops are very good. It just depends what you want to do, mostly professionals use Macs for writing, software development, graphic design, etc.

A Macbook Pro is a mac or windows computer. Both can be accessed at any time.

No they do not buy them PURELY for the design. The design does help, but the biggest selling points of the MacBook are having almost no viruses, superb security, and the biggest part, it isn't a windows computer!

I use mac at home but I have windows computers at my school and I just can't stand the windows OS.
So it's all preference and the way it works to me.

And I would say the Macs are 100% WORTH the price. With pc you have to buy software updates, buy virus protection, and it's just a mess. Can't stand windows.