I think it depends on what all you do on your laptop too.. as a software developer I have to have a Windows based machine, but if I were using the computer for email, dic pics, and browsing the internet only, I may very well get a Mac as everything I have read is the user experience is nicer. I'd also pony up for Apple Care to extend the warranty as an extra level of peace of mind. Are you near an Apple Store? There is one locally and that would be a benefit to me as if a problem came up I could just make an appointment and take the computer in for any service that may be needed.

We've owned several Dells (Inspiron 1545 and an E1505) and we've always been happy with then, tho DH uses the older 1505 and is about due for an upgrade and it's almost four years old. Video sometimes gets flaky tho runs smooth on mine, plus he has it maxed out on memory at 2gb, while mine has 4gb and upgraded to it's max and about a year and a half old.

We bought a desktop during Christmas last year and got a really good deal, which is why we ended up buying. They normally do have some killer deals during the Holidays.

Shannon