As a user who owns both I can tell you that either can fill the needs that your are requesting.  Your decision will be largely based on what you feel is best for you and your personal preferences. 

Some key features of Mac machines you may not know that will help explain some of the price differences: 

1.  MagSafe power cords are held in by magnets.  This technology allows the power cord to “break away” (fall off) the machine without damaging the internal components if it suddenly becomes tugged or snagged.  If you own pets, have children or any clumsy roommates this can be a laptop saver.
2. Ventilation - All computers generate heat.  Most PC based laptops vent this heat by pulling cool air in from the bottom and pushing hot air out the sides or back. With a PC based laptop you must take care to not allow the ventilation system to be blocked at either end (bottom & back / sides).  Most Mac machines ventilate through seams near the LCD making it difficult to block while the machine is in use.
3. Aluminum case offers a material that tends to be more durable than hard plastics
4. The ability to add Windows (There is the additional fee of the Microsoft Windows software but you can have a Mac that runs both Mac OS X and Windows) the same is not true in reverse.

All that being said you still need to follow your personal feelings on this subject because despite personal preferences and opinions that people may share with you both types of machines are fully capable of doing exactly what you want.

Hope this was helpful