Best Used Bang for Buck if I Finally SWITCH ?

I use MS OFFICE alot as well. And with this software (and others) the same logic about the hardware applies. The Microsoft team that developed the MAC version admitted that it is a nicer program than the original MS version. It can be designed to higher performance because there is a single maker of the hardware (Apple) so the programmers do not have to build in functionality for numerous hardware possibilities. You will have to upgrade but you will get value for your money. BTW the files are 100% compatible back and forth.

Also, take a look at the new operating system Tiger on the Apple web site. It has features that I believe are worth the switch alone. MS is coming out with a similar upgrade but not until Dec 2006. The more you look the more you will be tempted. Anyway, they are both so much better than just a few years ago. You have some great options.

I'd never trade PC's flexibility to MAC's "reliability". Get a good, I mean - good (have I mentioned "good"?) hardware, install XP Pro, and then tell me you have to reboot your PC every minute. Most PCs are mass market crap from hardware perspective, so why would you expect them to perform better then $200 home theatre? MAC has consistent quality just because it's made by... MAC, don't compare it to Wal-Mart or "white box" PCs, but rather to ones made by IBM or the like - expensive and of high quality. As for Windows, again, it's a trade off - you either get simplicity, which is often perceived as reliability; or - flexibility.

Disclaimer: unfortunately I don't have any connection to Microsoft.

Hello - rabid Mac guy here. First, lets debunk the whole thing about more programs. There are about 10,000 programs for the mac - maybe more. Safe to say that most of them are as specialized or useless as the 10,000+ for the PC.

MSFT, Adobe and all the heavies make their key apps for both, There are utilities to do everything for both. There are at least five browsers for the Mac... What the hardcore PC types don't know - and fail to tell you - is that Mac OS X is Unix based - so the cultural, philosophical influence is from Unix which is a truly enormous body of work and along with Linux where most of the talent is sitting. MSFT inspires no one

Now lets talk about Mac hardware. The key here is integration between hardware and software. besides which, till you meet him, you cannot possibly imagine anyone as demanding, as persnickety, as hard to satisfy as Steve Jobs. The man hates crap and he won't put his name on it

As far as what to buy. I would bite the bullet and buy new with the three year AppleCare warranty program or refurbished from Apple or Small Dog.

But if you insist... For audio only I would think about a late model G4 Powerbook - maybe a 1 or 1.25Ghz machine with Airport. Advantage is that its small, quiet and its always nice to have a portable. Stick with the Panther (10.3x) OS for another rev or two - in fact there is no real reason for you to go to Tiger to start.

If you have a nice DVI or VGA monitor you like you could start with a MacMini. Just spend the money to get at least 512 and preferably 1Gb RAM. You are in for a grand with the 80Gb HD, the bluetooth/airport card so you can sync your cellphone and do AirExpress and the extended warranty.

BTW don't worry about the fact that Mac is going to change to Intel. The Macintosh experience is about the software - the hardware is simply engineered and built to BMW standards because Steve wouldn't have it any other way - it will get faster in the future like it always has.