>>>I just had a big unexpected windfall....and am thinking about buying a Mac....never though I'd say that.
>

I've been on the iPhone since 2013 and I also have an iPad mini.

Part of me is tempted.....but I have read stories (anecdotal) about software developers using Microsoft tools (and I spend my day in Visual Studio, Excel, and SQL Server) running into some virtualization quirks and performance issues. (And I see you referenced that in your last sentence)

I have a Dell Inspiron that's very fast with 32 GB, but it's 3.5 years old and I do fear the CPU is doing to take a dive soon.

Also.....I'm finding I do "less" in a laptop setting - so also thinking about getting a workstation. So trying to decide.....thanks.