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I know exactly where you are coming from Richard. I am now running OSX Leopard on my PC and it is a bitch (and a lot cheaper ). I don't care what the fanboys say how easy and convenient it is, it is not. I make a pretty good living knowing about computers and how they work, but even for me there is a pretty steep learning curve when you're used to something else. Even the most anal things like CTRL-C/CTRL-V don't work anymore and have to be releared (Apple-C/Apple-V).

Everything is easy when you are used to it. And I am sure anyone can learn how to use an Apple when they want. But Apple fan's claims of it being so easy, better, more intuitive, etc, etc is just not true and it pisses me off whenever they get on their soapbox and start preaching. And it is particularly a flat out lie when said to someone who has been using regular PC's for years.

My impressions after 2 weeks of playing with it: It is just as easy/hard to learn and use as running Linux in a GUI, but since you can actually get decent software for it, it can actually be used useful. But there is just as much learning to be done.

On the upside, if you have the will and perseverance you will learn how to use it properly and it will become second nature like your PC.

Here we go again, taping into the Mac-expertise on Boxertrix.

I installed OpenOffice so I could open all my old MS Word/PPT documents which is fine, but I can't get the printer to work with it. It seems this is not an unknown problem.

Do you guys know if iWork '08 will open up MS Word documents, Powerpoint etc? If so it'd be very handy.

It's ok now - problem sorted.

I've got VMware Fusion, with XP, running on Leopard (but have had it going on Tiger also) and it just works great.
I've also used Parallels, with less success.
The biggest difference between them from my point of view was the processor management.
VMware can be set to use one or both processors, and uses appropriate amounts for the task at hand. Parallels seemed to take all of one processor, and alternate occasionally. This wreaked havock with some other running apps.

As to Open Office. I've found Neo Office (a Java Open Office port) to be a better alternative, however there is now a native OSX version of Open Office (version 3.0.0), which whilst still in beta, is pretty stable, and runs without X11, which I always found annoying.

I'd say stick with the Mac. Once you get into the habit of using multiple desktops (Spaces on Leopard, or Virtue Desktops for Tiger) hot corners, widgets, "Apple Q" for quit, etc, you will find your productivity on the Mac goes up, and your frustration on the PC goes up accordingly.

I use PCs all day at work, and hate every minute of it. Since getting Macs at home I've never looked back.