Has anyone switched from a PC notebook to a MacBook Pro?

I am a PC user who is considering switching my 1-year old Toshiba notebook to a MacBook Pro. My reasons for doing so are:
(1) I would like to simplify the number of applications from various vendors on my computer in order to reduce software conflicts and memory "hogs" that run in the background.
(2) I have heard that MacBooks are much more secure -- so much so that anti-virus software isn't even usually required. (However, I'm not sure what the constraints are when running a Mac on a home wireless network in conjunction with a desktop PC computer.)
(3) My understanding is that working with photo's is much more effective with a Mac than a PC. I currently run ACDSee Pro and PhotoShop Elements, and the former has really slowed down my system.
(4) I've been told that any type of setup -- be it new software, connecting to a network, or finding a wireless Internet connection -- is very easy and straight forward.
If anyone has experience with switching from a PC notebook to a MacBook Pro, I would appreciate hearing your opinion on doing so, both positive and negative. Alternatively, if you know of a good Web site that provides this type of information, please point me to the URL.
Thank you!
~Kelly

Hello,
I switched from a Pentium 4 2.2GHz Dell laptop to a Intel CD 2GHz MacBook Pro.
This what I found (the good):
- the spotlight search on a mac is soo much better and faster compared to a windows search.
- No need for all those extra programs that scan you PC for virusses, spyware, mallware,...
- No need to download additional drivers or programs before you can do anything.
- No third pary software that messes up the whole system. Apple software appears to be more reliable, even from third parties.
- Backlight keyboard with shaped keys
- You can do more with a mac trackpad than with a windows trackpad. It does not bother me when I forget the mouse on my desk. The trackpad scrolls and has a "right mouse button" as well.
- Multitasking without systemwide slow downs.
- I have an iPod, so iTunes is all I need/want.
What I also found (the bad):
- the screen resolution on my Dell was higher.
- Some apps still need Rosetta (office, photoshop,...). If pictures are your thing, iPhoto is no replacement for Adobe photoshop.
- I sometimes miss the picure viewer thing you have in windows XP. When you select picures and open them, they open in a window with nice back/forward controls,...
The Preview app in Mac just isn't the picture viewer I hoped it would be. But maybe that's just me...
- there is a lot more freeware for PC than for Mac. This can also be a good thing for Apple if you consider that most of these freeware things are crap anyway...
- iChat only works with specific accounts and other iChat programs. I hoped it would be a more "universal" chat program without these limitations. To chat to windows people you need a serious work-around (jabber) or just use MSN messenger.
- no good at games unless you have bootcamp and a windows CD.
Overall: I would not go back to windows. I really like the MacBookpro and OSX.
I have to say that I was not unsatisfied with windows, so I will not trash it. It always worked well for me and did't crash. Programs crashed, but windows did not. I believe a lot of these crashes are due too crappy third party software installed by the user at their own risk...
I'm saying this to let you know that I happely use the 2 systems, but the mac wins for me. OSX is nice to work with and nice to look at.
Hope this helps...
Bjorn

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