PC or Mac?

Date: 13 July 2009 21:44:54

Ok friends, thank you for your help with the iPod query... once again you have the ability to help me make a decision. Recently my PC motherboard decided to join its predecessors in the trash heap. Broken. Unfixable. Fatally flawed.

So now I'm faced with the decision to 1) get a new PC computer tower 2) buy a PC laptop or 3) buy a mac laptop.

I do *not* know how much data from my old PC can be saved...but let's hope that most of it can be saved (MS Office documents, digital photos, and some music)

Usually, I use the computer to work on work-at-home (some online data programs, MS Office documents - powerpoint / word / excel, and Internet access)

Since I'm looking at laptops, I'll need to get a new external keyboard w/ USB plug, and an adapter for the external computer monitor (so i can use my current desk setup and have its 'resting place' on the computer desk)

So my big dilemma is: what's the big deal about a Mac? They're more expensive, I won't be doing video editing. I'd also need to buy the iOffice program (or whatever it's called - the apple version of MS Office: they told me at the apple store it's comparable, and other people can open my files & vice-versa)

They have a special for a printer/copier/scanner rebate, iPod Touch w/ full rebate, and an educator discount. So it may be worth the expense (when compared to a comparable PC laptop) but my big question is: help me understand the good stuff about a Mac? If I buy the more $$ one, the battery will last longer. Are there issues/things I should be concerned about with Mac's vs. PC's? I want to make a good investment, a good decision, and don't want to regret the purchase after I switch over to a whole new operating system.

Gah! So much to think about... this *is* a big change for me, so I'd welcome your thoughts :)

thank you!