I must start by apologizing for starting another "Mac or PC" thread as i do realise that this topic comes up rather frequently in Mac forums.

I am a life long windows user and a very dissatified one of late as i'm getting tired of having to constantly carry out anti virus scans and malware removal as well as keeping numerous definitions up to date in order to keep the PC running at a respectable speed so when my laptop broke down recently i started looking for a non windows based replacement and have narrowed my options down to two viable systems. A decked out Dell Inspiron 6400 running Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 or the Macbook 1.8 ghz model with the legendary OS X.

The Dell that i've got my sights on comes with 1024 megabites of ram, a dedicated Ati Radeon graphics card with 128 megabites of dedicated memory and an 80 gig hardrive. The processor is on par with the aforementioned macbook. It also comes with a vista upgrade.

As money is a significant factor in my case, i don't think that i'll be able to afford anything more than the lowest spec macbook or to upgrade it for a while if i did decide to buy it.

So it ultimately boils down to whether i should go for a linux pc with superior hardware or a macbook with a superior operating system.

I don't have any requirements apart from the need for a mobile computer that is capable of running windows should the need arise and i do play the odd game once in a while. As both systems do the aforementioned with ease, i'm somewhat stuck and as such, i would deeply appreciate any feedback or opinions that you may have on this matter.

Apologies for being so long winded.

it really depends on your intended usage.

if you're just for browsing internet, simple document / word processing and checking e-mails - then i highly recommend a Macbook.

i have 8 rigs at home. 6 windows, 1 suse, 1 mac os x. 5 are desktops 3 are notebooks. so yeah, i've played around with most of them and i'd say the Macbook would be great.

furthermore, the Macbook could have Windows running on it if you ever need it. and i've even tried Knoppix Live CD on it, no problem!!

For money sack, definitely the Dell. No question.

get Mac, 2 OS in 1 HDD..

I am still amazed how OSX makes use of crappy graphics card such as GMA 950. On Windows , you can't even get....that kind of experience

hurmm...it depends on your needs .. gaming , office productivity,multimedia and so forth

for me..once i switched to MacOS X , i won't switch to Window$

It's pretty simple. What apps do you use and are planning to use with your new purchase? Most common apps would be Microsoft Office, browsers and graphics/multimedia which are available on both platforms.

If you are comparing OS alone, Mac OS X is elegant, mature and known for its ease of use. And no spyware/adware and malicious viruses. However, there is a learning curve as you will need a bit of playing around to know how it works as it definitely differs from Windows and Linux. But the Mac community is helpful (esp the boys at MyMUG) and are always willing to advise and help a newbie out. Don't be afraid to ask.

Personally, I'd go Mac, but hey, sit down and think about what you need the Mac/PC for and then you'll get the answer you need

What kinda games are you planning to play?

As a Mac User... I'd say... since you're on a budget, get the Dell.

Yep. same here. If ure on a tight budget go for the Dell..coz ur sure gonna upgrade the RAM on the MacBook coz 512MB just aint enough..Wachaa!

Thanks for the prompt response to my query guys. As i'm not exactly a power user, the new computer is mainly intended for word processing, web browsing and a bit of light entertainment, i.e. watching movies and music. I don't think i've got anything specific gaming wise. My previous laptop was pretty outdated so I'm not really up to speed with current titles.

As it is, after testing a couple of macs out at MacAsia and talking to the guys there, i think i'm swaying towards the dell. Although i would dearly love to be a mac convert, the price is rather prohibitive given the upgrades that i will have to undertake.

Thanks again for all the input.