[Echo Talon]

1. If you are a total novice (and cost is not a major factor) and just want to do specific tasks, i.e. e-mail, music, Internet, etc., Apple is the way to go. More expensive initially, but less likely to cause future headaches.

I disagree a total novice will think he is invincible,
stat them off with WinXP and a good security suite, teach them early.

[Crusher138]

Good point. I have clients, however, who are very much in the mind that a computer should be like a toaster. It should do a few things really well, it should be easy to use, and they don't care how it does it. That would be a classic Apple customer.

Other clients more correctly think of the computer like a car. While they don't exactly know how it works, they realize there is maintenance involved and a general understanding of its operation will make for a better experience. These guys can use either Macs or Windows, but Windows is generally preferred.

Taking the car analogy further, a Linux user is a guy who likes to get under the hood and add after-market parts. Not a bad thing, but not everyone is like that.