As to platform (Mac, Windows) -- no computer operating system is worth much without software. Since 95% of the world uses Windows, guess which one most software is written for. A lot of Mac software is *adapted* from the PC version the software engineer first wrote.
Having said that, if all the software you want is available for a particular operating system, overall availability doesn't matter.
For what it's worth, the most bullet-proof operating system I ever used was Windows NT. But of course that's out of date. What we do at home is to have two computers. One is hooked up to the internet. It has no other function, except to also serve as a monitor for the TV in the kitchen. It is not networked to the other computer, and the other computer is NOT hooked up to the web. If we want to hook it to the web, we use do so through a modem, a router, a firewall, and virus-checking program.
As for tips on keeping yourself spam-free, virus-free, etc. Steve Shelp probably knows more than most of us. But if your kids are just going to go anywhere & download everything without proper caution, nothing will work.
FWIW
Having said that, if all the software you want is available for a particular operating system, overall availability doesn't matter.
For what it's worth, the most bullet-proof operating system I ever used was Windows NT. But of course that's out of date. What we do at home is to have two computers. One is hooked up to the internet. It has no other function, except to also serve as a monitor for the TV in the kitchen. It is not networked to the other computer, and the other computer is NOT hooked up to the web. If we want to hook it to the web, we use do so through a modem, a router, a firewall, and virus-checking program.
As for tips on keeping yourself spam-free, virus-free, etc. Steve Shelp probably knows more than most of us. But if your kids are just going to go anywhere & download everything without proper caution, nothing will work.
FWIW