I managed to get about halfway though the game before failing due to gaming fatigue and I'm planning of restarting as wizard/mage. I went through the game as a thief/assasin last time but want to try something different. However my impression of mages in the game and from this forum have given me doubts about whether it's worth while to sart of as a mage. And if I do attempt the path of magic what should I get prepared for? e.g combat/spell selection. THANKS!

i say no need to. just play your current character using lots of magic.

Do you want to be a pure wizard (no weapons at all) or more of a hybrid-type like a battle-mage (uses magic and weapons). Both are pretty fun, but the former is more difficult. If you do go pure wizard I have a few recomendations for skills you're going to want.
Alchemy: Potions are increadibly powerful if used right.
Conjuration: If you arn't going to fight, summon things to fight for you.
In addition you'll probably want myticism for teleport and soul-trap and alteration for levitate and waterwalk. Destruction really isn't that important, as you should be able to summon things to smite your foes for most of the game.

The other important thing is to make sure you pick a magic-friendly race and sign, in particular this means you need to get as much of an intelligene multiplier on your magicka score as you can. I generally go for a Breton w/ the Antroch sign.

Also, make sure you make full use of enchanted items.

The problem with The Atronach sign is Stunted Magicka. I say the apprentice or mage, and perhaps the ritual or serpent

Just make alchemy as a major/minor skill and keep on creating mana potion. Then you won't be afraid of the stunted magicka in that sign.

Stunted Magicka really isn't that bad, Alchemy makes it so easy to restore magicka once you get to a reasonable level that the fact you don't regain it when resting doesn't mean much.

OR
If you're not adverse to a bit of exploiting, you can cast spells for free by using Fortify Magica in conjunction with a spell effect. Only problem is that it won't work when your magicka falls below a certain point required to cast the spell. But I'd advise against it, it is a cheat after all.
Also, get yourself an item with a good enchantment value and set it as such:
Absorb Magicka 100pts on self for 1 second
Fire Damage 100pts on self for 1 second
Shock Damage 100pts on self for 1 second
...
That way you can use soulgems to fuel your magicka reserves. Instead of Alchemy, which is an expensive school, and somewhat tends to cheating and exploits in the higher levels, pick Enchantment to fuel the objects that fuel you.

that's the beauty of the game you may choose a class but you may well later excel yourself in any other skills but it is harder for you to do that but take advantage of your gold and freedom in movement through Morrowind to find ppl who can teach you until you have attained high lvls... :D