If you can afford the MAC then yes you will love it. If you go Windows take note any new machine will have the FREE upgrade option to Windows 7 that will be released later this year and Windows 7 is very good OS. Skipping Vista was a very smart thing to do.
Keith.

Hmm. Mac..$1400 for a 13in. or $1750 for the same with a bit of speed.

Half the price one can purchase various other brands, including larger screens or for 3/4 the price, a faster system with a 17in. screens. So when it craps in a few years, get another and your still the same amount as the Mac.

What am I missing here. Longevity ?

I have a Compaq R4000 - been running for 5 years now with not a single issue -

Larger screens just mean more weight, glass as we all know is heavy. MANY of my users who ordered big screens are kicking themselves now because they have to lug the thing to and from work every day. Better to get a small screen and plug it into an external monitor when at home or work.

Blacknife.... I had the same problem with my kids acers (2) and finally too the cover off and epoxied the power connector into its little plastic clip holder. They haven't had a problem since.

My personal favorites are the Toshibas and the Acers. Acer is a good basic machine that you can get at Wally world for about $600

What you're missing is Mac OS which, IMHO, is far better than Windows, fewer problems with viruses or general computer problems or issues, great and actually useful bundled software...

Oh yeah, and longevity. Plenty of people get 6 or 8 or 10 years out of a Mac.

+1

My Macbook Pro is plugged into a 27" monitor and external keyboard and mouse for use at my desk.

FREEDOM from all the Windows bugs, crashes, viruses etc etc has been easily worth the premium for me.

Once you go Mac, you will never go back (or so says those who have drunk Steve's Koolaid - like me)

I have not had all those described windows problems, myself. For sure not $700 worth. However longevity is an important concern.

Thanks