Sounds like you have your mind set on buying new hardware. Just remember what ever you buy will be outdated in 6 months. That's the way they keep the business going.
I wasn't going to chime in on the MAC/Windows debate as it will never end. Both companies have made improvements over the years and a lot of the discussions on here were from folks that said they switched one side or the other many years ago and never looked back. Either one will do the job you want to do with no problems. Most businesses are still using older systems that works fine. They look at the subject from a financial operational perspective, rather than a nice to have, pretty looking standpoint.
In my experience, my son has been a computer guru since his college days, in the early 90's, when he used to build computers with windows operating systems for other students to make money for his expenses. After college, when he became one of the "new rich" he went through the phase of thinking he was impressing others by buying expensive German sports cars, Mac laptops with aluminum housings, etc. and always remembered to turn on the little light on the outside of the lid so he thought others would be impressed. When I told my old college roommate, hometown friend who went through engineering school with me many years ago that my son had switched to MAC, he just laughed and said, "he will be back"
At first it was all wonderful and how great his new toy was. After the shine wore off and he discovered how limited the available programs were he had to go the Virtual Windows route as most did that had a need for other programs.
Then when the Tiger and 0 X 10 systems, (I'm not sure what they called them) started being pushed as a necessity at an annual fee and were buggy the dream wore off. So in 5 years he was back deep into Windows and thinks it is a pretty good system.
As I understand it, MAC has now gone to an Intel chipset that is basically the same as used in Windows computers so there is less of a problem with having compatibility with Windows designed software operating on it. I do know there are compatibility issues with MAC software for genealogy when trying to convert it to a .ged that is compatible on Windows. Genealogy is another thing I use computers to accomplish. I have worked with MAC people on projects and had to learn a lot about their system so they could make a .ged that is somewhat compatible from MAC to Windows.
We genealogy buffs worry about whether the years of hard work and research we have expended and recorded on various digital mediums will even be compatible with any system 20 years from now. Look at how many mediums have dropped out in the past 10 years on modern hardware. It is a joy, and really makes one think, when you come across an old family Bible from the 1800's that has notes handwritten in it about the family and the old shoe boxes of pictures, cards, and letters from 100 years ago that have survived much longer than any digital medium.
Windows computers are about 1/3 the cost of a comparable MAC, so my conclusion, for myself only, is that I can keep up with the new hardware and systems if I need too, at a much more reasonable cost, not have to figure out how to overcome the MAC IPhoto system taking control of my images, and spend the leftover money on more tractor toys. As the saying goes, "the only difference between a man and a boy, is the price of his toys."
None of the above is meant to PO any MAC owners or demeanor their conclusions on the subject. It is just this old mans philosophy.
Everyone has their own reasons for going one way or another and most will try to justify them if you ask, as you did.
So now it is up to you. We all support you no matter which type of computer you buy.
