I have read all the posts and the one that had the most sway was the 96 bit floating point (Mac) vs. the 64 bit floating point (pc).
My two cents: I have been using Nuendo 4 for several years now and have gotten some pretty good results. I just purchased Pro Tools 10 and am about to install it on my PC running Windows 7.
Before I go any further, I would like to comment on the Windows 7 platform. Back when Windows 98 came out, it was a crashy little beach, I hated it. Then XP was released and stability was acheived. As time went on Windows 2000 and Vista came and went while I stayed with XP. I've purchased Windows 7 and found the same contrast in stability between 7 and XP, as I did between XP and 98.
I also build PC's and if you know which componants to link together, it is possible to build a rock solid system with SSD's and much faster than a mac at 1/8th of the cost, componant for componant.
Some of the componants are made in the USA, some are not. (Note: Intel chips used by Mac are made overseas)
Everyone in the production or post production industry will say that Mac is the industry standard. You will not see a PC at the show floors, period. You will also lose customers if you don't have a Mac. Portable drives with Mac to PC drivers are a pain.
I have been sitting in the wings and comparing Native systems, DSP systems, and HD systems. Now Avid has released the HD-X system. My buddy is already into his HD system 40,000.00 and I can see the pain in his face. I think I may make the jump to HD-X which is not that bad, 12,000 - 20,000 with 4X the processing power, new interfaces 750.00, and a MAC 12,500. All my preamps are boutique and will never go out of style.
Long story short, when I have 12,500.00 to get the Mac of my choice, I will. And now is probably a good time now that there is a major platform change by Avid (headroom is now 1000 dBs). Until then, I will make do and will avoid telling my clients I have rock solid PC.
It's kind of like having an ugly wife that you're afraid to take out in public because people will make fun of you and your feelings are bound to get hurt, but she works hard and I can count on her. But baby, you know I'm gonna leave you someday for that ever changing honey that makes me money.