Apple's iMac and Mac Mini systems are good for inexperienced computer users. Apple's Mac Mini is great for novices who do not want to spend a lot of money, but would like to still get a medium-end computer. The Mac Mini is designed to work with a lot of the older Dell, HP, Apple, and Gateway peripherals such as monitors, mice, keyboards, and printers, allowing people purchasing this system to just have to get the core computer unit and some additional software if needed. This computer comes with the OS X system software installed and it's reinstallation DVD disc. The Mac Mini is Apple's lowest-end system, but when compared to it's Windows PC counterparts, it falls more in the middle of the road for overall performance and quality of build and design. The starter model for this system is around $600. This doesn't include mouse, monitor, and keyboard, but you will be able to use any USB and FireWire based devices with this computer, even if they are not made by Apple. If you buy this system, I would hold onto the older PC's mouse, monitor and keyboard. They will work with this system, and will save you a little money.
The Apple iMac, Apple's all-in-one computers, are a little more expensive, but the computer's monitor and CPU unit are built into one chassis, making this system easy to assemble and get started using right out of the box. The starter model for this system is around $1,100. This computer usually comes with a mouse and keyboard, but you can still use old PC devices if you wish for comfortable use.
If you are looking at the portables, Apple has a 13-inch MacBook Pro for around $1,100. This is Apple's mid-range laptop, but still has great graphics capability, fast memory, and a fairly long battery life.
On the desktop computers, I do not think it is necessary to get Apple's AppleCare 3 year protection plan, but if you go with a laptop, I would purchase this in case the laptop is lost, stolen, or damaged heavily.
All of these computer will come with the operating system DVD in the package, all have internet browsers (Safari), email (Apple Mail), iPhoto (photography contact sheet/photo organizer), DVD movie player, iTunes (music recording and playback software), iCal (appointment and calendar organization), Address Book (for creating and organizing business and family contact information), Garage Band (for recording sound and creating home-made music), iDVD (for creating DVD movie discs with either movie clips or photo slide shows), and Stickies (a program for creating Post-It notes on the computer for quick reminder information. Additionally, MacOS the operating system has had upgrades and add-ons made to it, but the basic way of using the software has not changed over the years. For basic or novice users, this means that once you have learned the Mac, you do not have "learn" it again in a few years when an upgrade version is released. This is unlike Windows where the user interface changes every five years, making you have to "learn" the operating system all over again with each upgrade. In corporate and government environments, this wastes both time and money.
Another thing to consider is office suite software. While these Mac don't initially come with office software "installed" on them, you can purchase Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac, Apple iWork office suite, or you can download the legal freeware off the internet called OpenOffice. From there, if you are near an Apple Store location, if that is where you are buying the computer from, you can have the "Genius" people install the office software you have chosen for you.
Two last things to note is that if you are "uncomfortable" using MacOS, these Macs will run a full copy Windows Vista Ultimate or a full copy of WindowsXP Service Pack 2 through a process called "Boot Camp." This will allow the Mac computer to run both MacOS and Windows software on the same computer if you need it to. Apple doesn't support the Windows software itself, but Microsoft will support a store-bought copy of Windows with US-based tech support. On that note, Apple will provide US-based tech support for your computer, both hardware and MacOS software.