You have to go to an Apple store (or a friend) and try it out yourself. Second-hand opinions won’t help you in any way. You have to work with them.
Mac Pros (desktops) are among the most powerful machines you can get. Anything else is pretty much anti-Apple talk for the sake of it, just like anti-Microsoft/anti-PC babbling. Both platforms are GREAT! Get what you feel is the best tool for YOU, period, and I’d recommend filtering out all the hate and extreme bias talk.
I’ve spent a decade on PC systems exclusively and about 3 years on Mac systems. The differences aren’t as big as some people on here are making them out to be. The quality of apps for the Mac are extremely high for what you’re looking to do. You’re not missing out on ANYTHING in that regard when going for a Mac instead.
It is true that the Mac pretty much has the easiest OS around, but that neither implies that it is an inferior OS, nor does it mean it’s made for stupid people. And while the older Win versions (<= XP) have a distinct architecture, there isn’t even much of a difference with Win7 (and Vista) anymore because Microsoft has copied plenty of the mechanisms of Apple’s operating system, narrowing the gap between those two quite a bit. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing is besides the point. You need to try it yourself before you can decide which of these OSes work better for you.
As for your sales person who wanted to sell you a Mac claiming their screens are better… that is total nonsense. Get a screen with IPS technology - I have stated that in my very first response on the first page here - and you’re set. You can get a quality IPS screen for much less than Apple’s current Cinema Displays. Besides, the new line of displays are glossy. A HUGE issue and not everyone, including myself, is willing to work on a glossy screen. Matte is a lot better and you can find tons of great monitors from other manufacturers that sell quality IPS monitors for a smaller price, though be prepared to still pay a large chunk of money (+800 USD) for a 24" and above. Do a search on “IPS monitors” and you’ll get tons of recommendations. Another reason why I’d not buy a Cinema Display now is that it does not have any of the inputs a modern display should have, so if you intend on connecting an ACD to something other than your computer, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Yes, I do have the alu Apple Cinema Display myself, but I do not have a gaming console or the need to connect other devices to the screen. If I had to buy a new monitor today, I’d opt for a NEC or EIZO screen.
For the computer itself a custom built solution would likely be your best option. That is the most cost-effective path you can take and you get exactly what you want.
As for the professional Apple line, a Mac Pro would cost you at least 2.5k, and that’s for the cheapest models. They’re still tons better than some 2-in-1 iMac or the Macpro laptop, but priced too high. The real powerhouses start at 3k. You won’t get quality below that. And while I’d argue that a Mac Pro is pretty much the best system you can get (only a custom built one could live up to it), its biggest weakness is, indeed, the cost. The costs are insane, and if you conclude that therefore the choice is insane, then that is a sound argument. The biggest argument, however, is that you probably don’t need that much power anyway if you don’t do heavy-duty tasks.
Choose the system that works for you. It doesn’t have to be Apple, Dell, or any other pre-built product, though it can be. Nothing wrong with that either.
