Mac or PC?

[chickydoo]

My trusty old PC, running windows 7 is on the blink, I have had it for 6 years, so before it dies completely I need to replace it. Just don't know what to go for.
I have an iPad, and iphone, and find them easy to use.
I use my iPad for lots of things, even started to do presentations for work on it with keynote as I have been too scared to move the old laptop.
I am looking for something that will store all my windows documents & excel spreadsheets. Would be great if I could transfer my presentations between iPad & new PC/Mac
Needs to be easy to use & intuitive. Need to transfer all my photos.
( have put them all on external hard drive...just incase)
Need to be able to create new documents, maybe watch the odd DVD. Use iTunes easily. Use with a printer easily.
Help would really be appreciated, don't want to make an expensive mistake.
My Son has windows 8, and I'm not sure I'm that keen.
But I am the only one in the house with Apple devices, so if I can't do something I will be on my own.
Thanks very much Geeky wise ones.

Changing to Mac would probably be a bit of a culture shock. Also, Apple don't like you using non Apple stuff, so it's going to be much easier to maintain all your existing documents by staying with Windows. Windows 8 isn't really that different especially with the latest update. Plus, if you need to transfer your MS Office licence to the new computer, this is simple with a PC.

Not just a culture shock but quite a shock to one's bank balance, too, I'd expect (having seen some used kit in CEX at 600+ pounds recently, and the versions of OSX were far from current {possibly not even upgradeable to current versions}.

I'd second PYLC, and think the transition, even if it was Windows 8 (and I feel sure there are places still offering Windows 7 if you feel you must have it), would be much easier in learning curve, and financially.

I run a mix of Windows XP, 7, iMacs (5, each costing under 200 quid, but oldish models and 5+ years old), and still curse at different things that each of them do... or don't do... IYSWIM

Why is a windows laptop around £350 where as a Mac will cost nearly a £1000?

Had to use a mac laptop last week, it was horrible. Hard to know when something was loading, hard to locate files, hard to copy and paste. I'm sure it gets easier when you have one and use it all the time but be prepared for a steep learning curve.

Storage, could you use DropBox? That would store your documents and you could access from a PC, a Mac, an iPad, as long as the device could read the file format.

Don't like online storage, how about having a NAS drive at home on your own network. Some include apps for iPads that allow remote access.

Thanks for your advice.
I am still not 100% sure which way to go! I the familiarity of all the apple icons, but need the ease of the Microsoft office. Oh I don't know.
Thanks anyway