I've been asked this question a lot lately as I use Apple tools every day to make a living as a Media Services Producer. The best advice I have is to shop around; check out both systems in a live environment where you can play and get to know each system. I know that advice doesn't sound exciting, but each system offers a very different experience. Either way you're about to spend a lot of money, so you should test drive before you buy.
Be sure to think about the experience and preloaded software options you plan to use the most (iLife verses the Windows tools and Microsoft Office verses iWork). Also think about capacity and everyday use considerations. If you're like my family, you'll need at least 200-500GB of hard disk space for all the photos we take. Screen size may also be a big factor for those of us who have replaced our cable box with a laptop.Not surprisingly, I would buy a Mac. While they're not for everyone, the Mac experience is fun and the interface is much easier to use. You also won't have to hassle with common computer viruses and there are many great tutorials and classes available to help you get the most out of your Mac. There are also a wealth of great utilities that can speed up video and web workflows without breaking the bank. The Apple experience isn't perfect, but I can count on my Mac to give me something to look forward to every workday.
