I'm not a pro, but here's my two cents..........I switched six years ago after twenty years with PC. For me, the change has been wonderful. My down-time dropped to zero instantly and has stayed there. No hardware or software troubles and no bugs from the beginning until now....and I'm up and running 24/7/365. Of course I've had to learn new programs and aps but at least the machine doesn't fight me all the time like my PC's always did. Thing just sits here and runs.

In response to the "Macs are expensive" argument so often encountered, I would like to say this: I used to bring in computer-techs twice year, on average, to straighten out my PC stuff. Not having to do that anymore has essentially paid for the machine at this point...and those service-dollars spent don't include the annoyance and aggravation and lost work-time that accompanied the issues.

Your hot-button appears to be your particular kind of work...which I am not familiar with. Since it's important to you, I would advise finding an Apple Store and taking some of your stuff on disk or flash-drive with you. All their machines will be there up and running all the time. Let them show you how the iMac would work with your stuff and you can decide based on your actual experience.

I do have several professional friends who are compelled to work with programs that only run on Windows. Those folks run Windows on their Macs via parallels and run their proprietary programs that way. However, except for those programs, they leave Windows off and run everything else with the Mac's OS.

As far as "learning curve", you'll be amazed at what you can do within hours. In my case, having no previous experience, I was surfing within 45 minutes of the box arriving at the door. I was comfortable within days; confident in a week; proficient in a couple of weeks. And I was absolutely paranoid in the beginning because of all my PC hassles over the years. My advice would be don't worry about the learning curve. I have little doubt things will flow very naturally for you. At this point, I have many family members and friends who have made the switch and they've all said the same thing about that.

Thank you! That was very helpful. I have found an Apple store about 1.5 hours away and I'll visit there soon.

Gene

I've been using a MacBook for almost two years and have been quite pleased with it. In terms of the OS-X I don't see it being so much better than Window as it is different but I have never had a lot of problems with Windows once I switched from 95/98 to NT4.

Macs are far less susceptible to viruses but some of that (not all) is simply a function of the fact that far less people are trying to write viruses for Macs.

Macs are expensive if you look at hardware alone. You could buy equivalent PC for far less than a Mac. But unless you want to build a Hackintosh, you don't have a lot of choice.

Macs come with iWeb, which is a fairly basic web design software package. I don't see it being suitable for commercial use, but may suffice for personal use depending on what you are doing.

About the virus/bug thing.....people had all the same warnings and predictions six years ago that I'm hearing now. In terms of what's real and what's not, I offer this personal anecdote.....

Made an impulse-buy about six months ago of an anti-virus (etc.) program for Mac for no other purpose than to do a total scan and see what the situation was after 5 1/2 years of always-on surfing....and I do go wherever I want to on the web, even places where no sane person would go. Full scan took about 45 minutes and found nothing....as in zero. Due my own ignorance, my first three years of use were without even the firewall turned on.

If you've been on this forum very long, you've likely noticed that viruses and other intrusions remain a huge deal with Windows users. Starting with "tiger", then "leopard" and now "snow leopard" OS on the Mac I've had none of that. Nor do I have to futz with all the various programs Windows-people use to prevent it, each of which requires regular updating. I've enjoyed being free from all that stuff.

Will that change? Who knows? Obviously (to me, anyway) not yet.

I do appreciate all the comments. I went to the Apple store in Knoxville and got some hands on with one of the iMacs. I was impressed with it and will be buying one the next time I need a computer.

Thanks again.

Gene

Gene, it appears iWeb is not being updated at this time. I had read suggestions it may be discontinued, you might need to verify that if iWeb was part of your new strategy.

IMac computers are expensive, I got one a few years ago Apple lists a credit card company that you can use to buy Apple computers. The deal is you get a year to pay it off at 0 percent just budget your payments. Better then having come up with over $1000.00 or more. I still use my Windows XP Pro machine, I wish my PC could boot up as fast as my Mac does.

Just check the link out.

Here is a link that might be useful: Apple

I'm about as dumb as a rock when it comes to computers, but I can tell you this: Never have I encountered any difficulty with the software updates. Maybe not so much now, but in the past you had to be very cautious about Windows updates because there were problems with them that ruined some computers. That just hasn't so far happened with my Mac. Ive had it about two years.

Jann

FWIW....from Win95, Win98, and XP thru SP2 I don't recall any SP or update on my previous Windows machines that didn't cause me a little or a lot of trouble. I've read in a few places that Windows 7 isn't like that and everything's fine, now, but my personal paranoia continues.

Like jannaz, all of my OS updates and changeovers with the iMac have been smooth and easy. With the introduction of "Lion" OS, my hardware is no longer up to the requirements so I'll probably be buying again in a year or two.....one of many reasons I monitor this and other sites. I like to see what problems real owners/users are having with their systems.

Must admit, too, that I was perfectly satisfied with the operation of of ALL of my Windows machines -- WHEN they were working. If not but for the constant problems, I never would have switched. With the iMac, I've had no hardware and no OS problems. Even when I have power outages, when I turn the machine on again, everything's fine. (In my younger days (1968) I owned a Triumph 650 motorcycle. That, too, was a wonderful machine....when it was running.)