Quote from Vespasian:
So I'm in Best Buy and I see this awesome 24 computer screen with amazing graphics and I realize there is no box.
Upon closer inspection I find incredible specs and I say to myself WHY am I staying with MS when I hate Vista and my XP is no longer being supported?
So here is my question:
Is it worth switching to Mac and running the Windows conversion software and what exactly does this entail?
Dear Vespasian -
I ran Windows XP, then Windows XP and OS X simultaneously (motivated by a spate of anti-M$ feeling), then OS X alone, then switched to Windows Vista (realising App!e have no scruples).
With apologies if I cover that which somebody else has contributed already.
---Hardware---
Apple -'s Expensive and if you buy an iMac very limited ability to upgrade.
Apple +'s Beautiful design. Seamless peripheral interoperability (full control over hardware). iMac is very quiet. Everything looks better on a glossy screen (unless you have reflection!).
PC -'s Ugly big box! (though my silver Antec looks smart).
PC +'s Easy and cheap to upgrade.
---Software---
Apple -'s Inclusive software is slowly slipping off the included list. Has as many problems as PC s/ware. Some s/ware will need to be run through a 'convertor'.
Apple +'s Pretty interface (tightly controlled UI spec).
MS ='s OS search is just as quick. New IE is as good as Safari.
Your options to run PC only s/ware are i) Dual boot ii) Use a Virtual instance of MS within OS X (as shown by a screenshot earlier). Both of these methods are simple.
My personal experience is that the grass is always greener on the other side, both have niggles but both can perform most tasks. These days it is simply a question of want. Oh yes, and Win7 looks excellent, but then you may want to ignore me entirely as I have no complaints against Vista!
Happy shopping.
Not being one to compromise I run Apple monitors and a PC box!
FYI I run: Quad Core 2.6Ghz Slackr, 4GB RAM, Radeon 2GB.