I am a programmer...a Windows programmer who uses Visual Studio and a host of other Microsoft products, but I'm also a writer, a podcaster, a photoshop nut and a musician...well, sort of a musician. My experience with the modern Mac OS is limited to a couple of days working on a G4 power book that I was helping to set up for someone else.
The power book was slow. Simply put, it wasn't fast enough for me and running Windows on it was a real pain. We never did get a PDA to sync correctly with it, nor did the Windows install play well with Microsoft Exchange, but it did make an impression on me. I like the Mac OS and even used tools like Object Dock to simulate it on my PC.
Enter the iPod. When the nano was released, I was impressed, when video was added to the full sized model, I took the leap. I use my iPod every day. I've never regretted the purchase, but the two computers I use are PC's.
I build computers and it's nice to be able to buy new components. It's nice to shop for all the pieces and put them together, manage the cables, kick the tires and fire up a brand new machine that you designed and built. My latest creation is a dual core Gamers dream that I use to program on and it looks really good sitting on my desk, the soft blue glow of the lights tinting the keyboard.
Now, can someone out there tell me why I've been wanting a Mac? My mind rationalizes that I need a machine just to write and podcast with, so why not a Mac? Now my financial mind takes pause at the cost of the Mac Book Pro. Especially the loaded version, so my eyes turn to the iBook. I'm sure an intel based model is coming soon and I'm not sure I'll be a total rational being when I see it so I ask all of you out there to give me some opinions.
UPDATE: Hey...The release of the MacBook seals the deal.



