Well, if you are going to use a computer to do work, both MAC and a PC will suit you fine. A MAC has many features that a laptop or PC holds, such as Microsoft word, Powerpoint, or Firefox, and Internet Explorer. If you'rr going to carry the computer around, I personally wouldn't get a MAC, because most mac's these days are very thing and light, so if you drop it, that's about $2,000 down the drain.
A PC i would recommend getting.[Or laptop]. Laptops that have a Windows system have much more capabilities than a MAC, even thought they are both ideal for schoolwork. If you get a laptop that you're going to use frequently, you might as well use it for your personal needs also, such as music, game ETC. A MAC is extremely limited in gaming, as it produces crap graphics and not many games are built for the MAC. A PC has lots of potential, and it can play any game made for the PC. On a Mac many things tend to load slower than a laptop, but only if you use lots of space. Also, people using a mac have had fewer technical problems than a laptop.
Bottom line, I wouldn't get a MAC, or a ibook, or anything made from the apple company. A PC is way cheaper, faster, and has lots of capabilities that you can take advantage of in the future when using it.
If you simply just want a cheap computer that get things done efficiently, take a look at walmart>http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng....
If you're looking for a multipurpose computer that can perform fast and at the same time play games, store files, ETC, don't get them from wal-mart. Try stores like Fry's, Best buy, or curcuit city.