With the Mac, you're less likely to crash. Admittedly, you could probably configure your Windows machine just right for what you do with it that it probably treats ya pretty well. But, there's those occasional crashes that make ya scream.

I haven't been playing with OS 10.2 too long, but it seems VERY stable.

Now, when it comes to programming, I would probably consider recommending the OS X to you because of the fact that it's built on top of a UNIX kernel. You could actually mess around with programming on your own computer, without having to rely on using your school's servers. Trust me, it's definitely nice to be able to work at home, rather than being cooped up in a computer lab in the school's basement where you don't know if it's night or day.