[QUOTE Although Apple does cost more, I understand it does not get "hacked" that much b/c there are less of them and therefore not so much fun for the people who want to spoil everyone's fun .... QUOTE]

YES YES YES - presently, you DO NOT have to worry about viruses. I've had friends who have switched from PCs to Macs due to work or something else - but then changed back to the MAC because they couldn't tolerate the viruses. So far at least, that is one thing that you don't have to worry about.

wow that's really cheap! that's the price i have been seen the macbook for!

Yup, so if you have a store near you i would go there and ask if they have any. ALso, they came out with the core 2 duo recently so you may be able to get a regular core due for a little cheaper. from what my BF says, it is still hte same but slightly slower. that's the one i have and haven't had any problems. Just as fast if not faster then my dell was.

I also had a PC that would get tons of viruses and it was terrible! I couldn't even do anything on the PC.

I know this post is really late but it depends on what you want. If your into design, website, photos, videos, home movies go with mac there better with graphics. If your going into programming pc's are better. If you just want a new a computer for general purposes mac's are easier to use thats why there usually the computers you find in school's.

I can tell you with out a doubt....

Go Apple! I am 100% an Apple / Mac Gal!

I have had both & I like pc better, I buy compaq/hp. Apple frustrated me, I know its better for virus protection but I found a really good all in one virus/firewall/spyware/pop up blocker & more thats all in one box & runs scheduled scans daily-I love it. Since apple is going to be more compatable w/windows/vista I think it might be ok. I just dont like Mac programs. I had a few icons on a mac desktop & could not get them off, I can usually figure anything out...on my windows desktop
i right click hit delete & its gone. A guy I know was a Mac user, wouldnt own anything else, I told him to take a older computer I had set up on windows & he loved it, he said at first it was hard because it was different but after he looked around on there awhile he really liked it & said he was switching. I tried a apple & was so glad to get it out of my house. it made me feel so stupid & it just seemed so useless-I love my windows. Walmart has good deals on laptops & desktops. I have always bought compaq/hp but their customer service, I should say what customer service. I may be going DELL. Stay away from mail-in rebates, I should say what mail in rebate

Well, I had a PC and I couldn't wait to get it out of my house either........ I think it all depends on what you like and what you are comfortable with. I dislike everything about a PC, but Macs are like old friends - always comfortable.

The message is: "to each his own" and "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

:)

matter of preference and what you get used to at first!
 

Macs are used in schools b/c they gave the school district a better deal ... hoping that it would result in the kids all getting Macs at home (or at least asking their parents for one) ... my school got the Macs for next to nothing and all teachers got an offer to purchase for 200$ only .... Itz a biz deal with the schools .... (kinda like a loss leader!)
As for your own preference, itz a matter of taste!!!
What Apple does not make in profit from the mass sale to school districts, they make in sales to the general public ....
With all the Windows programs out there, the PCs can all run the same ...
I remember when Commodore 64 and PET were the computers of choice for schools, and I had to get my daughter one.

with the new VISTA operating system you have pictures automatically resized also .... or you can use http://www.softorbits.com/batch_picture_resize
for free .....

I LOVE macs. I have an iBook G4, and I cannot wait until I can save money and get my hands on a MacBook. First of all, aesthetically, Mac beats any other computer out there (well, maybe some competition with Sony, but not much). Second, since you want a laptop, you would want one that has lots of battery power when unplugged. My computer is about 2 years old, and I can still use it unplugged for three hours straight. The batteries of other PCs go downhill fast! Third, I have found that macs tend to slow down less over time. With Windows, after you have owned the computer for a year or so, it takes a long time to open the computer and to open programs. With macs, even if your computer is 2 years old, the computer processes what you want to do very fast.
I agree that you need some time to get used to a Mac if you've owned other computers all your life, but once you get used to your Mac, you will love it. I know I did.
Oh, and if you have any problems with your mac, you just show up at a macstore, sign in, and a mac expert tries to fix your problem for free. My mac's dvd player wasn't working, I took it to a mac store, and an expert guy worked on it for 40 minutes. Didn't pay a dime. It works very well now.
Sorry for the long message, but one more thing. If you are going to start college soon, most computer companies give education discounts. I know mac gives 10% off, I don't know about dell, but it's worth looking into.
:) Good luck picking your next computer.

It depends on your school district I guess that wasn't the case with the philadelphia school district Mac's were preferred not cheaper. In college the design schools had mac's in the lab the business school had pc's. Your choice is based on your preference and your need.

Isnt vista a pc/windows program which apple is making new computers to run because....its easier & better. So I guess if Mac starts running windows them I would consider a Mac if they were cheaper then PC but I dont think they are. But it is what ever you prefer or get use to first. I would suggest if you have friends or family with either, sit down & look around, see what you think. I think the initial thread was for which computer opposed to what operating system. As far as price Dell is cheaper then Mac . I feel windows is easier, but w/ the new windows vista used with a apple I guess it wouldnt matter, if you wanted to pay more for the same program on a different computer that would be your choice. It is really a silly thing to argue about. Good luck picking your new PC-Do what I always do, pick the pretty one:p .

As I sit here on my Dell PC at work I'm just thinking about how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE my MAC at home :)

I have the 12" powerbookG4 and wouldn't trade it for anything! I've had it for almost 4 years and never had any problems.

to the best of my knowledge VISTA is a new OS for PCs .... I could be wrong ..
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...mc_id=?FAT121A

itz also going to be available for Mac users, but itz primarily for PC users from what I understand .... (Itz from Bill Gates and MicroSoft!)