What you get:
1) Apple quality (which is pretty good)
2) Mac OS X (which is fairly secure)
What you lose:
1) Cost-effective performance (Apple is expensive)
2) PC Gaming (Good luck)
Apple notebooks tend to be lightweight and quiet for their relatively high-power specs but have low battery life. Occasionally they have heat problems, particularly on the bottom.
As a note, if you really need power (we're talking desktop replacement), the 17" Powerbook is outclassed by its Windows-based competitors.
Since you're a student, make sure you purchase your Apple with the educational discount or it will cost you a body part to acquire.
I'm a student and I am looking for a new notebook. I recently got a demonstration of what a powerbook can do from a professor and was pretty impressed, now I am thinking about switching over. How does it stack up to the competition in terms of power and capabilities? Is it worth the price premium? Any advice or experiences appreciated.

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