Mac versus Windows pc? in Scottish Meanderings

I think it comes down to what you're using the computer for. I own both, I like MAC a lot more than Windows. My MAC needs to have the operating system updated (truthfully I'd rather just buy a new one), but it's 7 years old and starts up and runs just a quick as they day I bought it. I've always had issues with viruses on PC, never had any issues with MAC. The only downfall I've seen is with my parents desktop MAC, when they needed to have some issues taken care of they had to send it out to Apple and it took a few weeks to get it back.

If you have an iPad and iPhone, you'll get seamless integration with a Mac. That's a big plus. That being said, you definitely pay more for less. I think Windows PC builds are getting better and sleeker, while Macs are regressing. Seems like Apple as a company has drifted off course since losing Steve Jobs. Just an example - I think the Magsafe power connectors on the Macbook are one of their best features - it's magnetic, and if you trip over the cord or something, it will just pull out instead of ripping your laptop off the desk and on to the floor. But Apple is getting rid of that, like the headphone jack on iPhones. Pity, really. Anyway, my two cents. :)

I prefer MACS. Much less to deal with and built in virus protection.

If you take your MAC to an Apple Store they will usually fix the problem immediately and for free!

Apple is too proprietary for my taste. And now, with the way they are treating customers who have the "touch disease", I think they are going to lose customers.
When you get your new computer, you might want to download the free Microsoft Security Essentials and set it to stay on all the time. A school board tech recommended it to me, and I have used it ever since. Another idea might be to leave your computer on and have it run a scan every night at midnight or so.

I love Macs, but the one I have was built in mid-2007 and Apple no longer offers software support for these older Macs. I use a laptop PC most of the time because I can't afford a new Mac. I have this old Toshiba netbook built around the same time as my Mac and I was able to upgrade it to Windows 10 with no problem and it works just fine, but it's slow, simply because they didn't have the faster processors we have today. My primary computer is an ASUS laptop which works just fine. I haven't had any of those blue screen errors since I purchased it 18 months ago. You can get some good buys on Windows laptops. The one drawback with laptops these days is most of them don't come with built-in DVD/CD drives and you have to purchase a peripheral DVD drive if you want to use CDs or DVDs. But I use OneDrive to store all my files and don't need a CD or DVD drive to burn files to. Most desktops come with DVD drives. I still think Macs are better computers overall.

I'm a PC user...I bought a tower and it uses Windows 7. A lot of my friends are having a horrible time with Windows 10. That being said, my daughter has had terrible luck with an Apple notebook.

I love my iPad and rarely use the Windows 10 PC. Jo my used to work for Apple for a while before he went on the ship. He loves all their stuff and has a MacBook Pro.

Have you considered building your own PC? There's a Youtuber named Austin Evans who does great tutorial videos on how to build a PC, and there are plenty of other channels covering the topic. There's also a website called pcpartpicker that shows builds at various price points, provides an itemized list for all the items you need for each build, and provides links to where you can purchase the items online. I know building a computer sounds like a daunting task, but I promise doing so is easy, and you'll get a much better value if you build one instead of buying one. I did it, and I was certainly not an especially tech savvy person.

I love mac, have used both (work had a pc) and since 1992 have had macs. So intuitive.

Very interesting discussion, although being late to the party I see you have already made your decision! Which I think is a good one. I just had the very same quandary-- my laptop, a Dell, is around five years old and getting slower and slower- and I never did like it that much. Mark, who hates laptops and has a Dell PC, shocked me by saying I should just get a new computer, and he would use my old laptop (and try to get used to using one, as he would find it useful for work). I had sworn I'd never get another Dell because I've had problems with my current laptop and the prior one too. But everything I read said Dell has really improved, and it's really either Dell or Mac for quality. Long story a LITTLE shorter, I bought a Dell Two-In-One, thinking it would be great to have a laptop that would double as a tablet because my IPad mini that I adore is also old and that way I wouldn't have to update it too. Turned out the Dell was awful, the keyboard didn't work half the time. I returned it and ended up getting an iPad Pro, the 9 inch one, because suddenly they are apparently the equivalent of real computers as far as computing power, and I really really loved my Mini-- and really wanted something very portable. I LOVE it - I also got a little keyboard case (on Amazon for way less than a Apple one) and it's just like having a teeny little Mac. I actually put it in the keyboard case to type this note since it's so much easier than typing on screen!