Mac attack: Apple's computers have become hot commodities in recent years, but should you consider buying one?(Back to School)

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Apple's computers have been a staple in schools since the early days of the Apple II. In recent years, the latest Macs have become high-performance, souped-up systems that give their PC cousins a run for their money. But what makes a Mac a great buy? Here are a few reasons why you should put one on your shopping list.

Educational Discount

The education market is an important sector for Apple, and college-bound students can take advantage of special pricing at Apple's online store or, in many cases, at their university bookstores. Depending on the type of computer, discounts range from $20 to $200. The base MacBook model, for example, generally starts at $1,099, but students can purchase one for $999. Apple also holds promotions for education purchases; currently, students can get an iPod Nano or iPod Touch when they buy a new computer.

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Compatibility in a World of Windows

In a perfect world, all computers would work together seamlessly. We're nowhere near that technology utopia--you still can't install Windows software on the Mac's operating system--but Macs play nicer with Windows than they did many years ago. The two systems are compatible, for example when it comes to file sharing; because heavily used file formats such as JPEG, MP3, and MPEG are universal, they can be opened on a Mac as easily as they can on a Windows machine.