I would advise going to an apple store and have them set up one for you to try out at the store. No one can tell you how you will react to it or like it they can only tell you their experience.
There's definitely a learning curve just like there has been going forward from one version of windows to the next.
The cost will be significantly greater.

I thought about getting one and I found out I could not play my games on an apple. Years ago I sent a relative something and they replied with "I can't read that, Apple does not use exe files". ????

That's a tough question to answer, it's very subjective.
My observations...being a Windows support person and Linux user - who has now a growing base of Mac clients... is that they will do essentially everything a Windows machine can do. The interface presented to the user is just fine, a slight learning curve and everything I have done to date has resulted in a "wow, that was really easy, but different" impression. The hardware is solid. The tech support I have received to date has been excellent. Just my take.

If I remember rightly you did have some troubles getting used to your PC, only you can decide if those same or similar problems are worth the effort to you to learn again with a new system.

There is of course lots of help out there just for the asking and Google and Youtube will be useful to you if you decide to go with Apple.

Will you be sorry? Probably not

Is one significantly better than the other (Apple vs a good brand Win PC)? Probably not.

Will it take some getting used to? Probably.

Are people rabid in their opinions on this topic? Absolutely

Users active with programs in the upper-end artsy/creative markets (video, music, photos) pretty much use Macs exclusively. For average users, the job gets done in either flavor.

You had better take Raven's advice before you jump into that fire.

Is there going to be a learning curve with OS X? Absolutely but it's not horrendous. In short, OS X does all the same things that Windows does but generally the button or command is in a different place. For example, the close/maximize/minimize buttons are in the upper left corner instead of the upper right. Instead of Alt-F4 to close an application, OS X uses Command-Q (Q or Quit does seem a bit more intuitive).

The one thing I absolutely love about my MacBook is the touch pad. It supports "gestures" which means that I can use 1 to 4 fingers to do all kinds of things. A 1 finger tap is right click, 2 finger tap is left click, 3 finger swipe is back, 4 finger swipe is Expose, etc.

In terms of being online, the experience is identical to Windows although Apple's Safari browser (you can't use IE, or at least easily) should be replaced with Firefox or Chrome. You can play any online game just like with a Windows machine.

Software choices are more limited and depending on what you want to do, you may need to buy new software or find an alternative.

If you have an Apple store nearby, I would strongly suggest setting aside some time and stop by to play. Apple folks are great and will pretty much let you play and answer questions until the cows come home. If you go with a Mac AND have a Apple store nearby I would encourage you to sign up for "one-on-one" training. For a hundred bucks you can go into your Apple store one hour a week for personal training for a year. It's been a while but I believe they also offer group training for some of the more popular software like iPhoto and iVideo.

Wow Mike, that would scare me away from Apple. The tutorial would be great for someone who had never used a computer, but for someone who's been using one for years, that's scary.

Wow- Thanks everyone. One hour training a week for a year would be like hitting the Big Gold Mine for me!! It has been so hard to find a decent class (took one(useless), went to first day of second).
Right now, the Urgent Care Clinic where I work as an RN one day a week uses Apple. It is so different to me- but I am also using medical forms- so their system is different all-around to me.
I know it will be more in cost- that is another question- 'is it worth it?'. But if I get a Dell (or something else), that will cost about $1,000 also.
I understand an Apple can't get a virus, so you don't need any additional 'wares'- is this really true?
Thx

I tried Apple a few years ago. At that time you could try it for 15 days then return it. If they still do that it might be a good way to go. Basically it'd be a free 2 week trial. I spelled relief R-E-T-U-R-N. :-)

For me the nearest store was 250 miles in any direction.

I will be making the switch to Apple very soon and can't wait. I've been told by several people, mostly men in their 20-30's that they do not regret for a second, making the change, in fact wish they had made it sooner.

I've had a PC for 10 years and am tired (and getting too old) of dealing with it's problems.

I have an Apple store very close and can walk in any time with a questions. Their "One to One" program is fabulous; I bought it when I got my iPod years ago. (Today you can only buy the "One to One" with a computer purchase.

I know there will be a learning curve but that will be made so much easier by going in to the Apple store for their free workshops and just popping in anytime to ask questions.

I cannot wait to make the switch!!

Ginny

The suggestions to try one out first is the way to go. I had a Mac Book Pro earlier this year and didn't like it,and so I sold it. The hardware was much slower than my Asus Zenbook, and I had constant compatibility issues with my windows machines. Software wise, people say Apple software is more intuitive and easier to use. I didn't find that to be the case. Also, everything on Apple was more expensive. Their service and support was very good.

the statement they can NOT get a virus is false any operating system including apple and linux can get a virus/infection . They are less apt to get them however due to the nature of their OS. However Apple has recently been suggesting the use of antivirus programs that are made for Apple you might look into that if you are thinking you will be completely safe.

I use linux which is also much less likely to get hit by a virus but they do make them and from time to time you do hear about linux infections, but it is much much less frequent than with windows.

There is no perfect OS they all have pluses and minuses and none are perfect.

Someone asked about exe, windows uses exe file format but not all Operating systems do, Linux does not so if you put an exe file on a linux computer it will ask you what you want to do with it LOL. Which is one of the reasons the infections that are through exe file formats don't affect Linux.

I am not sure why you think you would have to spend $1000 or more for a windows pc. I just bought one that I love it is an HP quad core with 10GB ram and 1TB hard drive and it was under $500. To me the cost factor just does not jive for Apple products so that would weigh heavily into my decision process and the proprietary aspects also.

here is a google page with links to Apple suggestions for antivirus programs for their product.
Recommendations for anti-virus

always try to find out everything you can so you can make an informed decision, don't forget to use google as a wonderful research tool.

I bought an Apple laptop and just was not able to make the transition from a Windows based computer. The Apple also will boot into Windows, but I had problems with that. Apple is very expensive to not be able to transition to.

Emma - I'm not sure what scared you so much but Apple's One on One training is incredibly cheap for what you get. Assuming one goes every week, that's less than $2 per hour for someone to answer whatever questions you may have. Even if you go once, $99 is pretty reasonable for personal training. Of course, it only makes sense if an Apple store in nearby. Beyond that, OS X is not so much better than it is different than Windows. Much like asking if English or Spanish is the better language. I'll admit to being geekier than most but my computer experience was largely limited to Windows since the early 90's.

Hald - I'm not sure what you mean by "compatibility issues" with Windows computers. My biggest challenge has been setting up printers in a Windows environment. Once set up, I've had no other issues. Beyond that, I can browse Windows drives with aplomb.

Walnutcreek - Apple machines can dual boot into Windows via Boot Camp but my limited understanding is that Parallels works much better. I haven't tried because I haven't needed to, nor do I have an extra licensed copy of Windows.

I can say that when I need a new computer, it will be a Mac.

I will say that with my one class at the Apple store, the instructor wasn't really interested in teaching anything because I had already purchased the Apple and he wasn't going to be selling me one. Towards the end of the class, he excused himself and said he would be right back. He never came back.

I had similar experiences with classes at the Apple store as walnutcreek did. On the positive side, you can take classes at any Apple store. On the downside, to sign up for a class at a store other than where you bought your Apple product is difficult because of how Apple has their site set up.

As to compatibility issues, I tried installing several programs during the time I had the Apple laptop. I gave up trying to install Finale (music notation software), and after many failed attempts at installing Rosetta Store, Rosetta Stone was able to install their software remotely somehow (I still don't completely understand how they did this), but afterwards the software wouldn't run; I removed it from the Apple and installed it on Windows and it runs fine. I also found that email attachments sent by friends often would not open on the Apple. I don't understand why...the files were generally not in any format the laptop couldn't handle.

Since Apple stores aren't as prevalent as Starbucks, they might have the site set up to default to your closest store. Perhaps things have changed but I had no problems taking classes at a different Apple store.

I've never had any problems installing software either, although I've never used Rosetta Stone. Depending on the software it can be as easy as dragging it to the Applications folder (and deleting it is as easy as dragging it to the trash). The obvious question is if you have the Mac version of the software, given you said it ran on a Windows machine.

I've had no problems use the native Apple mail client either. With attachments, I have the option of opening the attachment or having a "quick look" via Preview. I don't recall ever getting an attachment I couldn't at least preview.

In my family there are 5 Mac users and 2 humans.

mxyplx-
Who are the three non-human users?

5. #1 daughter and Husband and #2 Grandson, #2 daughter, #3 son. Sixth might be #1 Granddaughter. Didn't poll em all. Age range 18 to 50.

Hmmm. I think I missed your humorous intent there. Oh well.

Google has a new $250 notebook like contraption. For basic home web users. If it catches on heavily, it has some rather big possibilities for cheap. It's not apple, its not pc.. its a google thing.