I own both Macs and PCs, so I know both sides of the story. I also happen to sell computers for Best Buy, so I know all the answers to the questions you have. Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself before you decide.
1. Do you play any computer games?
Obviously, there are computer games for Mac, but most of them are developed for PC. That's simple enough.
2. Are you computer savvy enough to know what to do when you get viruses, spyware, or the like?
If you have a PC now, you probably already know about how big of a deal it is to keep virus/spyware definitions up to date. If you were to get a major infestation, would you be able to fix it in a timely manner, and without costing an arm and a leg to hire someone? Macs don't have nearly as many attacks, so they are easier to maintain.
3. Are you going to be making the switch permanently?
If you've been reading tech news lately, you may have heard the rumors of Apple switching to Intel chips in 2006. This means all the hardware that is currently on the market may be obsolete when new versions of software are released for x86 Intel chips, and not the old Motorola chips.
4. Do you want the ability to be able to upgrade?
While, yes, Macs are upgradable, and there are a few manufacturers who supply "after market" parts for Mac, PCs have the benefit of Free Market Competition. Different companies try to make their hardware/sortware the cheapest, so you end up getting the best deal. With a Mac, the selection is limited.
5. Do you now, or have you ever had problems with security on your computer?
PCs are riddled with security holes that allow many different types of people to get personal information without your knowledge. Macs, while not air-tight, do run a more secure platform.
6. Which are you more familiar with?
If you're using a PC now, have you ever used a Mac before? Would you be willing to spend $1000 on a system that you have no experience with? While the interfaces are very similar, there are differences.
7. Do you now, or do you plan to do any digital imaging/video?
Anyone who works in these markets will tell you that a Mac is, hands down, the superior in terms of graphic design and video editing capabilities. Take the new xBox 360 from Microsoft. They do their game development on Mac G5s. Not PCs running Windows XP. Goes to show Microsoft's trust in their own products.
8. Is look a thing that's important to you?
While, yes you can get PCs that look nice and have nifty lights on them, nothing comes close to the sleek, clean look of a Mac.
That's just a short list of the questions you need to ask yourself. No one here can make your mind up for you, but it's up to you in the end. At work, I've met people who made the switch to Mac from PCs and wouldn't go back in a million years. I've also met people who own Macs, who need PCs because Mac doesn't support the software they need. Really, it's all personal preference.
If it were me, I would just get Linux. :laughing: