Should I switch to a Mac for durability?

I'd say if you're looking for durability, there are definitely PCs out there that fit the bill. I mean, if you're really worried about a rough-and-tumble life for your PC, there are Toughbooks and the likes out there. As far as the Mag-safe (r) cords on Macs, that's one feature. If you knock it off the table, it's still a PC falling to the floor.

I've actually had friends who "kid-proofed" their at-home workstations by adding a ridge to the lip of their desks - no only keeping their PCs in place, but keeping things like pens and such from dropping into the kid zone. Also, if you opt for an SSD rather than a traditional hard drive, things like drops become a bit less-scary.

Take a look at the PC scout from Microsoft and see if maybe one of the PCs there meets your needs and go from there: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pc-scout/laptop-set-criteria.aspx?mode=landing.

Cheers,
Ron

How about a desktop instead, lot harder to move and can keep it locked behind a cabinet?

If not I also suggest a Toughbook or other ruggedized laptop. I used one at work, they are expensive but they are the only computers that you hit with a sledge hammer and keep right on working. You pay a premium for the ruggedness.

A third option is get a laptop with accident protection plan. Covers drops and spills and such. You also pay a premium for that, but it is nice to have,

I never got the impression that Macs were less prone to falling damage than PCs. I would like to see some consumer reports like tests done on that.

Have you seen the video on youtube of the guy stabbing the MacBook Air screen with a knife? It too three stabs before the screen shorted out! Assuming your kids aren't armed with knives, it's gonna be difficult to damage one of these things!

I know the guys above have suggested getting a big heavy desktop, but here are a couple of counter arguments: 1. kids love to punch the DVD drive buttons to make the drive go in and out. Eventually, they'll end up sticking quarters and other small objects in the open drives, or simply breaking them off. 2. A MacBook laptop could easily be shut, and stuck up high somewhere out of reach while you do other things, then brought back down again when you need to work. When you shut them, they go into sleep mode to save the battery, but are instantly on the moment you open them back up. You can aslo stick these things virtually anywhere since they're so thin, and they're light enough that this doesn't feel like a weight lifting exercise. 3. Your never going to find a PC (even a desktop) that will last 8 years and still work as good as the day you bought it. On the other hand, I've got a 10 year old Original Apple iMac that is just as fast as it was the day I got it.

Anyway, added pros for a mac are the obvious professional quality photo/video/music software, high quality components, top of the line performance, excellent customer support, etc etc etc...