I used to be a hardcore PC fan and then I went to grad school...

With only four PCs in the computer lab, I was quite literally forced to use a Mac desktop during my Technology in Education class. After just a few weeks, I was hooked. I am now a teacher with her very own MacBook!

There are so many more features on a Macbook than on a PC. I LOVE the dock. This is a strip of programmes you can align on any side of your screen that makes it easier to access. I set it to small-ish icons that stay down near the bottom of my screen. I've personalised it by adding and deleting programmes until I'm left with my own line of most used programme icons. It's great! No more going to "Start" to find it or having 18,000 shortcuts on the desktop.

The Dashboard is also a huge advantage. I keep my handy translator, calculator, weather, calendar, and post-it notes on my dashboard. So, when I'm in the middle of a class and a student asks a question needing any of the above tools, in one sweeping motion of my mouse I've got it all at my fingertips!

This MacBook has it all - the new iLife programmes make editing and filming a breeze. I use iMovie and Garage Band all the time in class and my students have picked it up well. It runs very fast and is so easy to use that you barely need to read the instructions manual.

I was using an Apple iBook G4, but the school I teach at updates our laptops every couple years and I happened to get in on that early. The G4 is still better than a PC, but not nearly as nice as the MacBook. First off, the MacBook has a wonderfully large screen which makes viewing photos, movies, and even webpages an absolute breeze. I never need to wear my glasses when I'm working on the computer.

The keyboard is quite handy and comes standard with all the shortcut keys Mac users are sure to know and love. The biggest difference, and consequent addition, is the play/pause, rewind, and forward buttons for video control above the numbers. This is a great feature when you're stuck on a long road trip or the plane.

The battery life is PHENOMENAL. I owned a PC laptop years ago and pretty much had to leave it plugged in or I would run out of juice real quick. Both Mac laptops I've had are great at battery life. To maximise your time, keep the settings lower and/or click "Better Energy Savings" under your battery for maximum efficiency. Working at a school (where all our students also have laptops), I'm constantly on my computer all day long. On average, my battery will last a good 5 or 6 hours of constant use. Charging takes very little time - average of an hour to an hour and a half (while I'm still using the computer) - so it's perfect for long trips where you won't have regular access to a plug-in.

The MacBook also comes complete with BlueTooth, enabling you to connect to your bluetooth capable phone for sending/receiving pictures and music and to other bluetooth capable computers. My students will often Bluetooth me a file instead of sending it via email during class.

This is the perfect laptop for students and educators alike. It's easy to use, incredibly user-friendly, and offers a wide variety of programmes and shortcuts. Though much more expensive than a PC, it's well worth it!