Laptops :: Time To Change - PC To Mac?

I'm tired of PCs -- the sluggish out-of-the-box performance that grows worse by the day, the instability, the inability of the system to handle simple programs without freezing; in short, the whole Microsoft dog-and-pony-show fiasco. However, fed up as I am, PCs are my comfort zone. I've resisted looking at Macs because of cost, the potential learning curve associated with a whole new system, and the uncertainty that Mac is really any better. I've used PCs for 10 years. I do not have any interest in how or why computers work -- I just want them to work with minimal effort, just like a car: turn the ignition key, shift into drive, step on the gas, go, step on the brake, stop, do basic maintenance, etc. Should I change and why or why not? What do I need to know when looking for a Mac? Will my current programs, video files, photos, MP3s, documents, etc run on a Mac, or is it a total ground-up change?