Plusses for Windows machine:
• Cheaper (depending on what you buy)
• More choice of hardware
Plusses for Mac:
• Preferred by the design/arts community
True, prior to windows 7. After windows 7 launch, doing design and art on a PC is much easier than before. Mac no longer has a superior advantage over W7 in that aspect
• Can run Windows as well as Mac OS
So how is this strictly a Mac benefit? IMO, its an all around benefit, best of both worlds... and you can do it with a Mac, OR a PC
You say this like it is exclusive to Macs?
• Great after sales service
Depending on where you buy any laptop can determine what kind of service you get from the retailer. But ultimately, with a little knowledge and online support, you can fix just about any problem for mac or pc.
• Great features that you don't understand until you own one. Things like illuminated keyboard, multitouch trackpad, ambient light sensor etc.
You act as if those features haven't been on other laptops before.... My 3 year old laptop that came with vista on it had all those features. They are by no means even close to exclusive to Macs, but very nice features none the less.
• Plays well with iPod/iPhone if you have one
Again, you act as if a PC cannot do this either. I've gone through plenty of ipods, all of which worked flawlessly on my computer. Only issues were with the unbearable software of iTunes, not the actual devices and their interaction with the PC.
The bottom line is that the Mac has, for a while, been considered to be the more 'artsy' OS because it comes with fancy wing dings and programs for video, audio and other media manipulation. And it can do all of these things pretty well, leading to the wide spread of them on campus among art students.
But windows 7 levels the playing field considerably. Mac MAY have a small advantage still over the arts, but as Corny pointed out, software like photoshop works amazing on W7.
If you want a laptop just for your interior design school work, i suggest you talk to professors. Try emailing them, or perhaps email the dean of the department. I don't know how your school handles things like that, but I have talked plenty of times in length with the dean of engineering at my school. Since I'm an engineer, I'm completely PC. A mac would be as useful as a bucket of lard to my profession, but it might be a bit more useful for you. If you enjoy video gaming at all however, you may want to consider a PC. PC is compatible with just about anything, Macs, though they have been getting better, are behind in compatibility for a lot of software.
