elaby | Post of questions!

Question number 1:

I've been trying to think of a word, and neither

caitirin nor I can think of the exact one I mean. I feel like there's a perfect word that I'm just not remembering, so I thought I'd ask you lot, as you're all extremely literate and I know I'll get the answer (or something close enough) if I ask you guys.

SO: The closest word I've gotten to the one I'm trying to think of is "proactive" or "active". I don't mean active as in healthy or apt to run around without getting short of breath, but as in... the opposite of someone like Hamlet who can only think about things and never DO anything about their problem. It's a person who, while their father is lying in the middle of the road lamenting to the uncaring heavens about the horrible fate of his other sons, whips out his sword and runs off to RESCUE THEM, DAMMIT. I want something that communicates nobility and forthrightness (forthright is a pretty close word, too) and aggressiveness, but "forthright" seems to have more to do with personal interaction and "aggressive" is a little too negative. I need something really closely linked with action. Any suggestions at all would be appreciated ^_^

Question number 2:

My parents have said that they want to get me a laptop when I finish my degree. I'm thinking about getting a Mac. I know some of you are Mac users, and I'm interested in knowing what I'll be facing - the pros and cons in relation to having a PC. Obviously, I don't want to start up a PC vs Mac debate, because I'm still very happy with my desktop PC, but I wanted to try out a Mac and I thought this might be a good opportunity to do it without having to "go all the way," one might say. In case I really can't adjust or something.

Currently, the only drawback I can think of is that I won't be able to have Photoshop on the Mac unless I come into a lot of money for a Mac-version copy ^^;; And the adjustment time, but that isn't really a problem since I won't have to be using it for school. Aaaand I wouldn't be able to hook my tablet up to it either. Bugger.

Anyway, any help here would be appreciated too :)