Mac and PC, it's go time.
Pick your own operating system. The only thing that really matters is your productivity needs. There is simply more software available for PC than Mac. Mac's now pack Intel processors and can boot to windows. Why would they do this? To lure PC users away from their systems, saying "yes, we can do that!"
You don't see Microsoft caring to do this. There's no reason. Microsoft XP Professional with service pack 2 is one of the most stable operating systems I've found. Anything a Mac can do, a PC can do just as well. Mac users cannot say this, instead they lay claim to not having viruses and spyware. Well folks, there's a reason for that. A virus, like any program, is designed for a specific operating system in mind. Mac's represent about 2.7% of the market share, this hardly seems worth it if you want to waste time programming evil.
So, to buy a Mac to run Windows means you have paid more money for less value. A computer, any computer (Mac, Dell, Sony, whatever) is just a box with a bunch of equipment inside. Generally speaking these motherboards, RAM, hard drives, video cards and so forth are made by manufacturers other than the brand of computer you've purchased. Meaning that a Mac with a Seagate hard drive, is no different than a PC with a Seagate hard drive. The difference in all of these manufacturers is quality.
Choosing a computer really comes down to who puts the highest quality equipment in their machines. This means two things: reliability and compatibility.
My recommendations are: Dell, Sony, Apple. They all put great equipment into cute little metal-plastic boxes.
