5) Macs will be just as compatible for your regular uni stuff as any other system. You'll have two issues: if you're a heavy gamer, you don't want one (I'm pretty sure you don't fit into this bracket from your question), and also that Macs may not be offically supported by the uni. However, networking standards etc. are universal; Macs will work just fine. In fact, I have less issues connecting to printers and other peripherals than both my Windows and GNU/Linux friends.
6) You say Macs seem to be "newly established" compared to Windows. Macs actually predate Windows by about a decade (a huge length of time in computing standards). It's just down to history and decisions made that meant that Windows became very popular, and Apple Macs didn't.
So, to boil it down:
What course are you doing? If it's something that's going to require specialist Windows software (I'm thinking along the lines of Accounting with Sage Line 50, that kind of thing), then get a Windows PC. Acer, Toshiba, Lenovo are all good brands.
If you're going to be using it for general uni stuff; typing essays, web browsing, email, chatting to friends, iTunes, watching films, then get the macbook. Even the cheapest, most basic one will do everything you want it to do (�600 with the student discount I talked about). Just get the largest hard drive you can choose from, because you'll always fill it. On the Macbook it's very easy to replace it your self too.
(I realise I seem to have disagreed with pretty much everyone here. Oh well :P)