h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I started out in computing in 1968! I've seen and used many operating systems from desktops to room-filling monsters. I worked with desktop computers in 1975 -- yes, they even existed then (with CTOS -- Cassette Tape Operating System -- I kid you not!). I got my first PC in 1981 and my first Mac in 1990. I've worked with big Windows networks and with big Mac networks (both with Unix servers) and in mixed networks.

All that just to let you know that there is some foundation to my personal choice.

You get the tool for the job, so there are some situations where an Intel PC could be preferable over a Mac. (There are many situations where something totally different is required, of course.) I assume, however, that the initial article was aimed at the home or small business user. Based on that and on my personal experience, Macs and MacOS is my preferred option. The hardware is astonoshingly complete (two FireWire ports, numerous USB ports, SuperDrive on higher models -- even on higher iMac models. And the software is mind-boggling, especially with the new Unix-based MacOS X starting to mature: at applications level you get AppleWorks for your basic stuff (soon, I'm sure, to have a major revamp, but this is pure speculation), but on top of that there's iMovie (a wonderful video editing suite), iTunes (music library management, MP3 player, CD burner), and (with MacOS X) iPhoto with which you can organise your digital photo collections in ways you haven't even thought of. (There's the usual set of browsers and email apps, too, of course.)

And, above, all it is all so easy to use and even in MacOS prior to MacOS X, so stable. Wonderful for carefree home computing and a big cost-saver for businesses.

Absolutly correct. However, there is one thing that people are forgetting here: cost. The PC is much cheaper, though Apple's prices are getting better and better (the Flat-Panel iMac is really cost effective, more so than some PCs). However, I, a loyal Mac user, must confess that I will be buying a PC is a matter of a week or so. I'm just a broke bloke. It's my general opinion that Macs are beyond the cost range of most high-schoolers.

Be careful with price comparisons! A decently built PC will almost always cost at least as much as a Mac; The only difference is that with a Mac you get USB and FireWire thrown in!
The cheaper brans of PC have a much higher failure rate, being built with generally pretty shoddy components. You are also likely to encounter hardware incompatibility and a poorer selection of well-written software at affordable prices (try finding the equivalent of GraphicConverter for Windows, for example!).
The initial price does not define the comparison!
Good luck with your Windows machine, anyway.

The price is getting pretty good on Macs, but the intro-level PC is cheaper than the intro-level Mac. Thanks, let's hope Windoze works.