Honestly, both platforms will get the job done and PCs are cheaper.
But, I've been really, really happy with my Mac. No viruses, no problems, real fast, great graphics, etc., etc., etc. The new 27-inch Mac has a truly amazing screen for watching uh - whatever you want to watch.
If you want a notebook, a MacBook is probably all you need.
Again, Macs are more expensive, but I've been much happier since I left the Windows platform - Vista just about did me in - although I hear Windows 7 has fixed that.
Comparing apples to apples (no pun intended), Macs are not more expensive than PC's. It's just that they don't have any low end (cheap) machines. So the value is excellent, it's just that you can't get in as cheaply.
That said, I don't personally know anyone who has switched to a Mac that has regretted it.
Good luck.
If you add up how much you have to spend every year on virus protection for a PC, the cost of a Mac is quite reasonable.
No viruses on my mac ever.
All the important Microsoft softwares works on a Mac and if you really get the PC jones, install windows on the mac and run both
If you use Outlook for your email avoid Mac like the plague. Most of the MS Office tools are fine on Mac, but Outlook for the Mac (Entourage) is worse than a virus. Limited functionality and the archive process can't easily be imported to a PC (PC to MAC is dandy).
Macs are the Hotel California of the computer world, IMO.
That said, I hate Windows with a passion, but by and by they both work (NO VISTA for you!). If you already have a wireless router and go Mac, the verbiage is different for setting up the wireless connection, so you might want to get a Mac wireless Air Extreme router.
Both are vulnerable to viruses... Keep anti virus and spam and everything running and up to date.
The built in mail application on the Mac does a pretty good job of handling mail. So you don't have to use Entourage (I have it and don't).
Mac vs Win is like implants vs. natural. Everyone has an opinion.
If you can, go to an Apple store and try one out. If it works for you there go for it. If it doesn't then stay with the Windows platform.
I use both. If your ISP does a good job of security and spam trapping then your vulnerability can be low, but the Mac (by virtue of not have as large of an installed base) is less prone to those kinds of problems. But any system can be compromised.
If you use the Safari browser it has a good technique for saving streamed flash files, if there are some er... videos you are watching. 
Based upon your intended main uses of "e-mail, sorting travel photos, reading the occasional word or pdf document,and watching porn on-line. Lots of porn.", I have had no problems using my Acer laptop with Windows Vista for the past 18 months and virtually no problems with Windows XP prior.
My laptop cost only $499 at Wal Mart. I spent top dollar in my earlier computer purchases and have not seen justification for paying a premium.
While Mac's definitely the better computer and better operating system, the people who recommended Mac didn't take into account of your stated useage.
If you did a lot of graphic work, Photoshopping, web building or movie editing, Mac is definitely the way to go... I've had several Mac's, both desktop and laptops and I loved them. Another advantage of a Mac is that it's much less prone to viruses (but not immune as many think).
But, as much as I love Apple computers, for your stated purposea, go with a PC... you get twice the hard drive capacity, twice the speed and twice the RAM for half the price.
-- Modified on 4/6/2010 10:35:33 PM
My Take....
As Bridgette set forth, once you go MAC, you will not go back. I have been using MAC'S AND PC's since 1994. Go to any Apple store and ask for help with your needs,
email-- the basic MAC email program will work fine
photo's -- MAC comes with iPhoto for storing, sorting, and minor manipulations -- it also includes iMovie for basic film editing and GarageBand for basic digital music.
Viewing PDF's --you can download Acrobat 9 reader for the MAC
For Videos -- you can download WMV player and Flash for the MAC -- QuickTime is included with the MAC.
Cost -- A PC is not necessarily cheaper -- you have to add the annual cost of virus protection.The MAC may seem more expensive at first take, but take a look at the RAM included. More RAM is better for large files including videos.
Useful life -- I have two MAC's which are 8 years old which will perform any of your needs with today's software at nearly today's speeds.
Seeing external devices-- The MAC will easily see external devices such as printers, cameras, and hard drives especially if you want to share them over a wireless network. The Apple Extreme router is perfect for these functions and has a great range.
What if you need help -- You can make an appointment online for any Apple store with an Apple genius.. if you call Microsoft They will tell you to call the PC manufacturer. If you call the PC manufacturer they will tell you to call Microsoft. What I am saying is good luck with support. I was given a HP and had nightmares getting support and reloading software.
The MAC comes with all replacement disks. The PC most likely will not.
Other that these go PC
For $79, you can purchase iWork which can read and write Microsoft Word and Excel files
Macs dont support blue-ray unless you are willing to pay More than a standard $4000 Mac Pro. Digital distribution is the future but if you'd like to rent Hi def pron you need not get a Mac. I've always been curious about getting a mac, but I've built all of my pc's and cant justify the cost of one.
From what I can see with regard to your needs, I think PC should be sufficient. Why pay the extra premium just to say you've got a Mac?
I'd steer away from Dell though.I've bought 3 pcs/laptops from them new and all have had problems. I know others who have experienced problems with Dell too.
...never a problem. Windows XP works fine. Does all the things I want it to do; pics, porn, email, pdf's, jpg's, video, audio...etc, and it was cheap.
A lot of people have talked about Mac vs PC and made some good points. There are two points I'd like to add:
1. On the Mac, you can run Windows and Windows applications if you want to. You cannot run Mac OS X or Mac applications on a PC. There are programs like Paralell and Crossover which let you run Windows programs while booted into the Mac OS. Or you can set up Bootcamp, load Windows on the machine, and then have a dual boot machine where you can boot into either Mac or Windows. A lot of people find this to be a very useful feature, especially if you're a game player. I'm told you can also boot into Linux if you like that OS but I can't think of a reason to do so.
2. Have you ever shopped for a car? One of the things people look at when shopping for a car is the cost to maintain it: mpg, average service costs, etc. It's one of the items you see on most web sites when you research cars. I've owned lots of Macs. I've owned lots of PCs. I've maintained both professionally. The Macs have a MAJOR advantage when it comes to "cost to maintain" - fewer viruses, fewer problems, and if you get the AppleCare Protection Package, you don't even have to worry hardware problems for 3 years. As for PCs: I'm almost always spending a large portion of my time keeping software up to date, stomping viruses, fixing various problems and more. The PC laptop I personally owned crashed at least once a week and at least once a month had to be wiped and the OS reloaded. On the MacBook Pro, I've yet to have a crash after 3 years and I've never had to wipe and reload the OS. The Mac is a CLEAR winner in the "cost to maintain" department both financially and time-wise. Why waste time "fixing" the machine when you can spend it doing something else like watching a movie?
One other thing: a number of people said you can't watch Blu-Ray movies on a Mac. That's not entirely true. The Mac-OS doesn't have Blu-Ray built-in although I'm told that next year there will be models with Blu-Ray capable drives. The problem isn't in the OS but rather the drives themselves - just like a regular DVD player can't handle Blu-Ray discs. However, you can still buy an external Blu-Ray player and connect it to your Mac and play your Blu-Ray discs. The device is small, and costs about $100-$200. Search online and you might find cheaper ones.
Hope this helps.
MAC vs PC.
YOU need to decide which you want. Which satisfies your personal needs. I can't use a Mac, as I have too much software development to do, and the Mac just doesn't have the tools that I need.
It's all about how you work and figure things out.
Yes this is my decision to make but it always helps to have some real world user testimonials.
MAC! The only people who say PC are the ones that have not switched to or tried one. Say goodbye to viruses and needs for drivers and other silly nonsense a PC is full of.
After well over a decade using Windows, I bought a Mac and it's leaps and bounds better. Apple is a hardware company and the advantage to the closed system is that everything works together. If you're a gamer or only have Windows support handy, then go with a Windows machine.
More time computing, less time trying to make it do what I want.
And.. you can always run Windows on a Mac, either natively or virutually 
