Is a Macbook right for ME?

[Computer]

hey all. so for the last few days i've been having the idea of getting a laptop. and just the other day I heard someone raving about how wonderful macs are. Now i've never used a mac, other than observing my cousin/random people using one from time to time.
I don't particularly NEED a new computer. my current desktop is OK. one of those p4 dell-like machines i bought for $1000 2 years ago. i mean it runs. but I'm sick and tired of something ALWAYS going wrong. whether it's freezing, crashing. randomly corrupting files. needing to reformat and then not being able to get all the hardware/drivers working smoothly again.
I don't mean to be lame but I just want some that works!
recently i've been getting into photography and dealing with a lot of pictures on my computer. so other than working some heavy photoshop I don't really do anything computer intensive.
The worry I have about macs is having to learn how everything works. is it hard? I just want my camera to work with it. i'll have to get photoshop for mac. and there is a panoramic photo stitching program that I use often, but i suspect that I won't be able to run that on a mac.

a few questions,

how does MSN work with a mac? is there a totally different program that i'll have to use?
what about music players? I use winamp on my machine right now and love it. will I be forced to use iTunes on a macbook?
I would like to be able to hook the macbook up to my larger monitor connected with my desktop. right now i have that monitor hooked up via DVI with my desktop. could I just get one of those vga adaptor things that I see for sale with the macs, hook it to the other jack in my monitor, and whenever I plunk my macbook down at my desk just plug it in to the monitor?
what about mouse and keyboard? Could I use what I have right now with a mac If I like?
file transfering with my other computer? how simple and painless would it be? can i connect up via usb between the computers? obviously macs have the superior firewire. but I don't have that port on my pc as far as i know (actually I'm not certain I don't now that I think about it)
what about file transfering from my camera? how does a firewire cable work does it have a mini usb jack at one end for cameras and the likes?

I'm not looking for a overly technical discussion, as I'd no doubt quickly become lost. I'm an average user. I know a bit more than ur typical consumer, and I have access to people that know a signifcant amount about computer. but it seems always the more I know the more that seems to get screwed up on my computer, and I'm sick of it. That's why I just want something that works.
Will a mac be able to give me this?

Thanks!
BTW I'm looking at the lowest end macbook. POSSIBLY with upgraded ram. (would that help?) or POSSBLY the next one up cause it has a dvd burner... but if I can transfer files (pictures, songs & movies) easily between the macbook and my pc then I wouldn't really need the mac to have a burner I suppose.

[Computer]

ok so i think clearly I'd want to upgrade my ram myself. is that doable on a macbook? i've never taken a laptop apart before. I'm assuming it's relatively simple and problem free though, no?
from what I've dug up. it seems that the mac book takes PC2-SO5300 memory.

would this be the same stuff? it doesn't say anything about SO5300 just 5300. Is there a difference?

[Computer]

nevermind, that's clearly not the right stuff *hits face*

would any of THIS generic laptop memory do the trick?

[GiPilot12]

Yeah, I like the MAC iphoto and their picture programs and organizers. I think you will be happy with a mac. But Vista seems to be very picture friendly. I would definitely look at a mac that fits your budget. But macbooks seem to bee expensive to their equivalent PC notebooks.