Be careful!
The Mac is nice, but the real difference between the Mac and Windows has nothing to do with technology.
It's like the difference between Los Angeles and San Jose -- they're both nice, they both have strengths and weaknesses, but Los Angeles is a VASTLY larger community...
The Mac is nice and has strengths (and weaknesses) all its own. But it's like San Jose -- it's a small community.
When new things become available, they ALWAYS will become available first for Windows. When new capabilities are added to old stuff, they will always be added to Windows first. When cool, small, freaky things are marketed by small companies with small budgets, they will always appear for Windows first because that's where the largest possible return is...
Don't be suckered in by culture advertising and culture public relations campaigns. The Mac is great if you have a parituclar range of uses planned and don't expect to be flexing and experimenting in the future with all the weird things that may become available. As an old timer (I used to program the Mac in assembly using the old phone book IM) learn from my mistake -- if you can only afford one system, stick with a Windows system. San Jose is nice, but Los Angeles has many more opportunities for fun and adventure.
Mark W.
Get an iMac or an iBook with Mac OS X 10.1. It's rock solid and runs great.
I'm constantly amazed at people who think it is necessary to put up with the low-quality crap from Microsoft - the virus-infested software, abusive licensing procedures, invasions of privacy, etc. It reminds me of the Soviet Union.
Apple also has some interesting thing coming soon. They're announcing a new Digital Hub Music next week, and the PowerPC G5 benchmarks for 2002 look great (especially compared to Intel products).