I suppose I shouldn't be but here I am again surprised by how fervent each side is in this argument. I've bben in IT for 45 years now and have used everything from mainframes which would almost fill Belle Vue to smartphones and tablets. Because of this people often ask me which is best PC or Mac and my fisrt question is what do want to usee it for. The next is how much do you know and eventually how much do you want to spend. It's horses for courses really. For once I agree with vastman that if you just want to to buy it plug it in and use it without even having to open a guide let alone a manual then get a Mac if you can afford it. They have (rightly) turned the computer into an item of "white goods" like a washing machine - it just works. You do pay a penalty in price, software choice (and no not all PC software is riddled with viruses despite what many may say) and customisation but if that doesn't concern you (and I guess that means most people) then it's a fine choice. Always well built, usually reliable (although any repairs are costly) and it looks good.

A PC will cost less and allow you do do many more things but that has it's price as well - it needs much more user involvement in the management of it. The hardware is usually as reliable because they use exactly the same components (video cards, motherboards even) but each manufacturer puts them together as they see fit and to a budget - usually a low one. Now there's nothing wrong with this and many PC usres have been happily using the same machine for years without a problem. One of my PC's still used for web browsing is well over 10 years old and still going strong (slowly though as any 10 year old machine is). There is though a greater degree of variability and everyone tells the tale of the ones which went wrong - not the ones that were OK. More care may be needed when choosing one and even this is difficult because of the bewildering choice.

The OS is what most people interact with and call it the PC or Mac. Yes, OSX is more reliable and is arguably better but remember the "X" came from the fact that it could be said to be a derivitave of Unix and Linux - not really an original Apple idea/product. Windows has to cope with an "open" hardware system allowing many more choices and that is its problem and its advantage - the sheer flexibility. You could go for Linux (Ubuntu) on a PC and have the best of both worlds but that is still not as polished a software product as OSX.

Where does that leave us? What do want to use it for? How much do you know? How much do you want to spend? Answer those (and a few other questions) and then you'll find the best answer for you.

Arghhhhh! The nerds have taken over the building!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i now consider anyone who hasn't got a mac to be a bit dense.

Yes - they do that don't they? All part of the marketing plan - you have been brainwashed!

to be fair it's not what i think. however after a fortnight i cannot imagine going back to pcs. i have a very high spec windows 7 laptop at work, which is only a year old. it was twice the price of the base level mac that i have bought and is about as reliable as an adam hughes kick off.

i think the brainwashing with macs takes care of itself. i have been stunned at the speed and ability of the mac to deal with multiple programs being running, and how it deals with photo/video editing.

i wouldn't buy an i-phone though. complete fashion accessory.

Not got a Mac - don't need a Mac - won't ever be getting a Mac.

I know Vastman gets a cut from every sale and he swears by them - as do most users to be fair - but I cannot bring myself to buy into the 'cult' that is Apple - something just goes against the grain to be so restricted, it's like going to Asda knowing that you can only ever go to Asda after that!

What I have works fine - thanks!

I've not used an apple computer since 1983 when us swotty kids were allowed to play with THE school computer.
I find myself spending too much time plugging holes in pc dykes, both mine and other people's. Perhaps I should consider conversion mac.
I know nothing about them, but I send and receive a lot of data using office software (word, excel, powerpointless and access); is a mac compatable with opening such files?