There aren't too many downsides to the Mac.  Some software will never be on there (3DSMax, AutoCAD), some may be eventually, but most are.  The biggest problem is ubiquitous support.  For instance, my plugins and software always support both Windows and MacOSX.  But others do apps that are only targetted at Windows.

As Miss Nancy noted,  there are plenty of apps that have counterparts on MacOS (including Daz|Studio, Maya, Cinema 4D, Adobe et al).  One problem is side-grading licenses.  Cinema 4D requires separate purchases - which hurts for plugin development in my case as it requires double upgrades.  Some companies take this type of situation into account for license transfer but not enough in my opinion to make it financially feasible.

If you can go back to Windows XP Pro or XP Pro x64, that is the best bet.  I've already been flooded with problems using my Cinema 4D plugin on Vista.  Not a single machine here has it (three computers at this time).  When I purchased my laptop recently, I specifically required that it not have Vista.  When I purchased my current main system, I specifically wanted XP Pro and XP Pro x64 dual boot.  Vista is a consideration for maybe two years from now.  There are too many issues to 'protect' users that are not worth the upgrade (driver support, schmiver support - bah, I want an OS that doesn't make me jump through hoops every five seconds - Vista is the OS that has miles of hoops).  The Mac commercials may be caricaturish but they pretty much sum up the current state of affairs.

C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot. C++ makes it harder, but when you do, you blow your whole leg off.

 -- Bjarne Stroustrup

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