I've decided to get a computer for our 9th grade daughter (if only to
free up ours a bit!) and are having trouble deciding between a PC and
a Mac. We have a Mac now, which she's good on, but the labs at her
school have PCs running Windows. Her interests are pretty
varied--everything from music and painting to really liking algebra.
What do you recommend would be best for her? I appreciate your help
and advice.

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Request for Question Clarification by mvguy-ga on 16 Nov 2006 15:18 PST

How much of a factor is cost for you? Do you have a maximum you're willing to spend?

Go PC; for varied used, either computer is fine.  She knows how to use
a Mac and thats great, now she can learn how to use a system used byt
he mainstream increasing her value and ability to use various computer
systems.

As mentioned above, cost is going to be the determining factor here.

The latest Intel Macs can run both Windows and OS X so there is some
flexibility there going forwards. Macs tend to be configured with
higher quality components and therefore fall in the mid-range computer
sector, as opposed to budget.

A PC cannot legally run OS X, so if this is not a concern a regular PC
should do the job just fine. You also have the benefit of being able
to select a more budget-oriented model versus the Mac. If you ever do
want to run the Mac operating system, bear in mind this will only run
on an Apple Mac computer.

Either should be adequate for the software you have mentioned.

Take Shakespeare's advice:

MacDuff

Macs are more flexible these days.  They can run Windows and OS X
using Bootcamp, CrossOver, or Parallels.  Plenty of options.  Also,
your student will find more software bundled with the computer that's
of use and straightforward.  Often times PC manufacturers bundle trial
software or dummed down versions of useful apps, but Apple doesn't do
this.  The iLife suite is quite useful.  My brother (in HS) found a
whole new world with Garageband and iTunes.  He's mixing his own music
and it's easy.

Then there's support. I switched to Macs 2 years ago and their support
(when I've rarely needed it) has been exceptional. That's a big deal
to me when I'm buying a pricey thing like a computer. Cost-wise Macs
compete very well with the market. Don't listen to people claiming
they're "more expensive" - they are simply configured with better
components so they start at a mid-level price point. You can get
budget PCs for much cheaper, but they have budget components, slower
processor, smaller hard drive, etc...

Another big deal for a student is security. Macs have zero viruses in
the wild to date. So your daughter won't have to deal with junk and
viruses making its way onto her machine and keeping up with Virus
definitions etc...

I hope that helps - good luck!

A pc has always produced the goods for me

Basically it all comes down to price. Macs are by far the most
flexible machine, and far superior (in my opinion). As many people
already stated, the new intel macs can run Windows (note: you need a
copy of windows operating system in order to run it, but it is
possible to run Windows applications without installing it with a
program called CrossOver). The one problem is they are a bit pricey
(ranging from about a grand up, and I'd also reccomend an extended
warranty with them, which is another $150-300). If you are on a
budget, you'll have to go with a PC or if you have an extra monitor
sitting around get a mac mini($600). The reason I say if you have an
extra monitor is because mac minis come without a keyboard or montior
(the keyboards from apple are cheap, but the monitors are not).
Basically, what I recomend is that if you are on a budget but still
want a mac, go with a mac mini, and get a monitor on the cheap by
searching around for good deals (my favorite place is
www.academicsuperstore.com you get great discounts but you have to
have proof that you are indeed a student), and an apple protection
plan-which will probably end up costing you in total around $850-1000.
If that is too much, go with a standard budget pc from dell or
gateway. And if money isn't an object, get an imac, I'd reccomend the
17 inch with the 2ghz processor that costs $1200 + an apple protection
program.

Definitely a Mac. I've lost way too many papers and data to crashes on
Windows.  You don't want her to see the blue screen of death when
she's working on her term paper the night before it's due.  My 7 year
old Mac runs the latest version of OS X, is acting as a server for
hosting radiology imaging, and hasn't been rebooted in over 2 months. 
The newer Macs are considerably more impressive.  She'll have plenty
of exposure to PCs and can run Windows on the Mac if she really has
to.  Go Mac and don't look back.

I am a Highschooler myself and use both windows and Mac. I got my
first mac in grade 2 and used my first PC when I was 13 months old, So
I've had a bit of experiance.  When my HP tower had a logic board
issue, they told me I would have to cover shipping both ways and buy
the part from them. When My eMac had a logic board issue Apple not
only installed the part for free and payed for shipping, but also
upgraded my Hard Drive and RAM. Macs are bundled with tons of software
including iLife, Front Row, AppleWorks MS office and WorldBook. With a
PC you may get certain software packages, but usually they are the
more crippled versions of software that's on shelves (Microsoft Works,
the less feature-oriented MS office, comes to mind). Also, moving away
from hardwae specs, Macs look better and are made of higher-quality
materials. The intel iMac has a camera built in, a built in 17", 21",
or 24" LCD display, built in speakers, and is under 2" thin. A well
configured one retails for US $1500, and the quite usable base model
is $999. Consider where the computer would be going. The iMac and mac
mini are both quite compact, with only the main computer unit and
keyboard/mouse. With a PC, you will have a tower, a monitor, a
Keyboard/mouse, speakers, and perhaps other peripherals. A $499 PC
looks appealing, but consider the upgrade path. A Mac without any
uprading off of the assembley line can run the lastest Apple software
for about 4-5 years. As it is now, PC's specs are continually changing
and getting more powerfull. If you buy a PC now, you will defentley
have to upgrade your computer within the year.This can run anywhere
for $150 for ram to $4-500 for extreme upgrades. PC's have more market
saturation and use an unprotected system core, and Macs have more of a
nieche market but have a protected UNIX core (in laymens terms, It
basically means the PC comes out of the box with it's door wide open
and the Mac comes out of the box with a surveilance system and a steel
saftey door). If you buy a PC you may have an anti-virus program
already installed, but about 5 viruses come out for a PC every week.
Thus, your virus software will require frequent updates. The updates
aren't free, however. And a one month license for one anti-virus
company is $36 a month. that's $432 a year just spent on protecting
your system. And even with a locked up system, it's still quite
unstable at times. Ultimatley it's your decision, though. I would
reccomend going to an Apple Store in your area and playing around on
some of the iMac and mac mini Models, and then heading to a BestBuy or
CircuitCity  to check out the PC models. Perhaps involve your daugther
in the decision making process? Both the PC and Mac are both quite
different, yet quite simillar machines.