Tech Refresh

After using a Dell Desktop for the last 5 years, I'm now looking at a tech refresh. While I'm satisfied with a PC environment and a desktop configuration, I'm thinking of either a new PC or jumping ship to Apple. Many of the people that I work with and collaborate with have both configurations and there are die hards in both camps. I am currently lanned with a 3TB server. Would appreciate opinions from the forum or steers to other threads to assist me in this decision/debacle. Thanks in advance!
DN

There are plenty of mac vs PC threads, please read one of them rather than starting a thread that turns into a religious war. Both platforms work, buy the one you like, or if money's an issue buy a PC. Remember if you change platforms you may have to buy some new software.

I was faced with the same decision a couple months ago. I like my iPhone and iPad so I decided I should take a good look at Apple because they obviously make a good product. I looked at the Mac Mini since it was the only Mac in my price range and I already have a good monitor. I spent some time at the local Apple store playing with one. I liked it and was strongly considering buying one.

In the end I decided to stick with a PC for three reasons. First cost. I would have had to upgrade to a new version of Photoshop. You can transfer from a PC license to a Mac license IF you are using the newest version of Photoshop. I wasn't, so that would have added $200 to the price of a Mac. I need MS Office. Again at least a $100 additional cost, if I buy the student edition. Same thing for a couple other programs would have added another $100. Bottom line, $400 in additional cost in software, if I bought a Mac. Yes, you can run Windows on a Mac. But, what is the point of getting a Mac, if you are going to run Windows on it? Plus, there is another $100 for a Windows license.

Second, Mac Mini is due for an upgrade. The mini is generally upgraded about once a year. I didn't want to pay a premium price for year old technology. I didn't want to wait any longer for the update because if I was going to get a PC I wanted Windows 7. Most reviews don't like Windows 8. By buying now I would get 7 and if I decided I wanted to get 8, I could upgrade for less than $20.

Third, Windows 7. You could say this goes back to reason 2. Windows 7 is a good operating system. Extremely stable and it isn't Vista.

If, the software premium wasn't there, I would have bought a Mac. If the Mac Mini would have been upgraded, I would have bought a Mac. If my only choice was Vista, I would have bought a Mac. Not because I'm convinced that a Mac is that much better than a PC. Mostly because I like My iPhone and iPad and i admire Apple's innovation and quality. So for me it mostly came down to dollars.

Like Tim pointed out, this could turn salty fast. Personally I would go and kick the tires on both at your local best buy or electronics stores. In a lot of ways your question is the same as canon vs Nikon. All have great capabilities in the correct hands, see what fits your taste.