In the Apple vs. PC decision - don't forget to take into consideration software you already own and would want to continue to use. If you own PC software, it will likely not be compatible with a Mac, and vice-versa. You can often run "emulation" software to try to mimic the other operating system, but in my experience that is usually problematic.
You may run into trouble anyway if the software is too old for the latest operating system, but sometimes you can get upgrades or patches to get around that.
I'm a programmer but I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to hardware - I tend to shop Newegg.com and trust the reviews I read there. My last 3 computers have come from there and I've been happy with all of them. (2 laptops & one desktop; all three are still in use!)