New laptop.

I have a Mac. Best thing i have ever owned. Never have any problems with it, never freezes, never buffers for too long, applications are super-reliable, and it is a very user-friendly machine. It is amazing if you have a creative mind, and plan on doing Video-editing, photo-editing, or recording music (as i do). I have the desktop Mac, and am currently saving up to get a MacBook, because they are just that awesome. 

The Mac is amazing. Save up the money, and get one. Way more reliable than Windows. 

I have to ask, and don't mean this as offensive, but if you've already made up your mind on what you're getting, then why post?

Additionally, I have to disagree with some of the comments made on this thread about how retarded PCs are.

MACs are indeed a decent product. it's hard to find a fault on them because you're so limited to it's own OS, they're own programs etc.  please note, I AM NOT saying the macs are limited in software. if that's what you read, then your reading it wrong.

with a desktop PC, people can experiment more.  get a program to do just about anything. build their own to do whatever they need it to do, and can far surpass to power of a mac.

yes vista is a disappointment, but why are you basing your judgement on an operating system, when you should be discussing the PC.  if the argument is PC v MAC, the operating system should be discusses as an individual product, and should not harm the subject's defence in question.

Vista was indeed a poor excuse for an OS.  but over time it got better.  Why was it so bad? because microsoft released it before it was officially windows 7.  Windows 7 is what Vista should have been.

Windows 7 is a huge improvement to Vista as it was based around vista, and improved.  64bit win7 is even more of an improvement.

another thing that irritates me is that people compare laptops to macs.  and for better reason this time.  afterall, the mac is a type of laptop.  but with it's limitations, you're much less likely to cause the problems you'll find on an average laptop due to the 'average idiot' using it.

so what's my main point here? Laptops and PCs are slow and ill-tempered mainly because of their disgruntled masters, and their inability to use the product they have purchased.

I myself have used PCs with win95, 98, 98se, 2000, ME, XP, Vista, win7, and linux.  The only REAL problems i've ever had with an operating system is 98, ME, and rarely XP.  

if you treat your PC well, it will treat you well. simple as.

Both MACs and PCs have ups and downs.

The virus argument is seriously redundant.  

The power argument is redundant.

the software argument is retarded.

and the OS argument is just silly.

The question is not: “Which one is better?”

But:

Do you know how to handle a PC properly? 

Because computers don't make mistakes, Humans do.

/rant.

dunno about that really…

latest mac book: £816 (average)

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed

1066MHz frontside bus

2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB

NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory

I can build a PC with the same spec for half the price if not less. and PC much more powerful for about £500-£600.

takes about 20 minutes to put all PC components together and about an hour to install everything and setup all your programs and such.

I understand that the average user simply can't do this kind of thing themselves, but why should change the facts that this CAN be done?  if you want a coldhearted comparison, I'd say the PC would win.

Don't get me wrong though, I do like the look and feel of a MAC.  But it would never compare to the things I can do on my PC.

I honestly dont know alot of the specifics your stating here , im currently using a HP Laptop and its my main computer . Now at one point , this thing was screwed . I mean i had no firewall or protection so sooner or later Virus' were going to invade , and so they did . After a while i got fed up , minutes to load one page , and it seemed the only place it did run smoothly on was APT itself . I decided to get the thing cleaned and a great FireWall and AntiVirus Program and it works like a charm . I have loads of programs and editors to fuel my creative mind , and if i really wanted to i can spend hours and hours editing one picture due to the loads of possibilities . A Mac would be nice , but not necessary . As long as i have the form of the Mac and atleast some of the many things it can do , im happy .

@ gnilsia

yeah completely agree. I just think it's a shame that people don't spend the time to learn about the products they have purchased.  

@ ninjacat

I honestly don't have anything against people getting mac per say, and i certainly wouldn't discredit you for going with a mac if that's what you're after. here's a couple quick tips for getting a new personal computer, that anyone can understand and should find helpful:

• If you eventually do decide on a PC, don't get something cheap! amazing as it sounds, the cheaper it is, the worse it's going to be as they can be as much as four years old out of the box.  
• Avoid nettops, avoid laptops unless you need it to be portable.  Like a mac, laptops and nettops are much more expensive to fix when something goes wrong, and in terms of upgrading, are limited.
• A desktop PC is a much better choice, as they are more powerful, the cheapest option, easily upgradable and cheaper than anything else to fix when something goes wrong.  the obvious disadvantage is that you can't take easily transport it.  however, consider using a decent high-speed USB memory stick to transport important work, rather than taking an expensive laptop or MACbook to school/work everyday with the risk of theft. 
• As horrible as it sounds to some people, try and learn a bit about computer technology before you go and purchase the product.  this will help you get the best deal for your money, and will stress the salesman. speaking of salesman, instead of going somewhere like PC world, try going to your local PC shop and see what they have first.  they'll be able to tell you much more than any large scale salesman will.
• And if in any doubt at all, bring back the specifications of a product you're interested in, and ask someone who a thing or two to check the product out for you before you impulse buy it.