Well, let me take a contrary view here.

You're not buying an OS, you're buying an applications platform (particularly the OP and his/her stated needs). So you'll end up with pretty much the same software on either: Netscape or Firefox as the browser, Thunderbird or some other very similar mail client, Office or look-alike.

Yes, Mac hardware is niftier looking, but the single button mouse is a mistake, the white case soaks up hand-sweat and is impossible to clean, there's a very annoying sharp edge right where your palm rests, and the OS has become annoyingly non-intuitive. And yes, I have three Mac laptops and at least as many PC laptops.

MY take...buy a bottom-feeder laptop for travel and spend the difference on a good...[take your pick, bottle of Scotch, night in Las Vegas...!]

[Now, having said all that, most people will be a lot happier with a Mac ]

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BACKGROUND
Ph.D. in computer science, one of the original designers of the Star UI, long history with Unix and a bunch of others, etc., etc.