kitzur_dot_net: so big deal mac os is based on linux, it still is not built in its core for teh intel chip. this is a fact. the linux they use is modified for use with their original mac chipset.
as for microsoft being the one to care about the looks over teh power of the software, that is truely teh furthest from the truth. mac has been known to fire engineers because they could not figure out how to make what the art dept at mac drew up, and got steve jobs to go along with. mac places the highest amount of proriety on asthetics.
and what professional applications is your wife using the mac for. adobe’s runs better nowadays on a pc, as does office.