:argue:

Well, if you're writing or using lots of plug-ins, that is a point.

However, if you're not, you should pick the laptop you like best and forget about platform.

Moving Maya files between platforms (including MEL scripts) works fine, except for plug-ins. When I was working on the book project, I'd do some work on the PC and then load it all up on the Mac and go for a coffee... finish the work there, then move it back to the PC again. At the time the only weird thing about this was that the Mac was at version 3.5 and the PC was at 4, but now even that issue's gone.

BTW, most universities have plenty of support for Mac users, at least here in the U.S.

-- Mark