sjfcontrol wrote:It doesn't need to be dual-booted. You can run windows in a Mac window using either Vmware Fusion or Parallels Desktop. This gives you the ability to run programs on the Mac that have no Mac equivalents. Legacy programs, etc. So then you can switch back and forth between Mac programs and Windows programs just by switching between windows.
Not only that, but Mac hardware lasts (and stays relevant) a LOT longer than PC hardware. We continued to use 2 "pop-click-zooms"* (the original G3 iMan all-in-ones) for the kids until we upgraded last year. They were each about 10+ years old and ran all but the absolute latest software. When we upgraded our home systems, we donated the G3s to another family for their kid's homeschool group.
Now we are running a 2006 iMac, a 2011 MacMini, a 2012 MacMini, and a 2012 27" iMac. All systems have Office 2011 for Mac installed as well as iWork '09. Even the 2006 iMac outperforms most of today's modern PCs. Unless something happens to it, we won't be upgrading it for several more years. For Windows-based apps (of which we only have one), we've installed Parallels Desktop on the 27" iMac and simply run it when that one application is needed.
Look at it this way, PCs typically need replaced every 2 years to stay current. Yet Macs continue to run current software for 10+ years. So you can buy a new PC every 2 years (at an average cost of $500/desktop/year = $2500) or by a 27" iMac for $1800 and have it last 10 years. All in all, Macs are the best bang for the buck.
* They were given the nickname "pop-click-zoom" because of the sound they make on boot.
