PHRAG said:
One other thing. All of our text documents are in Microsoft office formats. Is there an easy way to open them on Mac?
What are some cool software applications for Mac like office programs, entertainment, etc?
MS Office is available for Macs. I have it on both my laptop and my desktop.
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/
I'm currently using Adobe GoLive, but if I upgrade to Creative Suite CS3, Dreamweaver and Photoshop are parts of that package.
http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/design/standard/?xNav=DS
You are a student, John. Most schools have stores nearby where you can purchase software at greatly reduced prices. You also might try:
http://www.academicsuperstore.com
As Heather said, the interface is awesome on Macs. It always puzzles me when I hear people say that don't like Macs. All I can think of is that they must like to do things the hard way.
Matt says software availability is a problem with Macs. That is a myth, unless you are looking for certain games or specialized software. And then, as Heather says, you can use Windows on your Mac.
Regarding price, I say you get what you pay for...
One of the most useful features I find indispensable is the "Drag and Drop" capability. PC's have nothing like it, at least in my experience.
Go to an Apple store, and check them out.