Well, B2, a lot of the decision depends on what you want to be able to do with it. If all you want is surfing and email, you're probably good with regular updates until it croaks. I would definitely not sink any money into upgrades or even repairs at this juncture.

I'm a devoted Mac user, have been since 1985 and have never, ever wavered from that decision. It's very simple, much more simple than a PC environment.

You might benefit from visiting a couple computer stores, not the massive box stores where they change college kids every semester. If you're anywhere near an Apple store, definitely go visit, if only for the fun of it!

Thanks, Cindy. As far as a "computer store", the college kid place is actually an hour and a half away. The closest Apple store would mean three days off work and overnight at a hotel! Oh well!

Use-wise, I'm probably a step above surfing and email, but 27 steps below you! It takes forever to scan a picture and edit it...I can almost hear the creaking and groaning, and it's kind of like the 60's watching all the black spaces come and go while it tries to do two things at once.

If I could figure out how to save my emails and back them up, I'd just keep chugging along. Maybe I can get somebody locally to let me test drive a Mac just to see.

>>>> "Use-wise, I'm probably a step above surfing and email, but 27 steps below you! It takes forever to scan a picture and edit it...I can almost hear the creaking and groaning, and it's kind of like the 60's watching all the black spaces come and go while it tries to do two things at once" <<<<

The newer user-centric versions of the Linux OperatingSystem are about as easy to use and KDE and Gnome based distibutionsare both very easy to learn and figure out for even the most inaware beginner.
But, just like with MSWinwhatever and the MacOS it's the curious sorts who are most successful at finding out the how/what/why of their new computers anyway.

I too was a dedicated MacOS user for many years, I still have 2 IMacs and a PowerMac (though I never use them anymore) and my son is in love with his PowerBook. The Macos is extremely stable, and "robust". That is as much due to the MACOS Unix based heritage as anything. You just have to pay the Appl tax instead of the MSFT tax when you buy a new PC.

IMHO you would be best served by simply going to your friendly local Sears-Roebuck and getting yourself one of their brand new $199 Linux PCs.

Well, I really think you would do best to go to EBay and get the highest spec "buy it now" PC you can find for less than $260.00 shipping included, a $5 a week computer....Then just put $5 back every week and when it fails, just get another one..... Then get DL and burn the ISO image for LinuxMint or PCLinuxOS or SimplyMepis7.0 or DreamLinux and like magic, and for FREE too, you'll have more software and goodies and a more stable and "robust" system than any one else in town.....

Either that, or build you a nice little simple system.

My $.02 worth on the subject

Thank you, Arthur! You speak the same language as my son, and I can't understand him, either.

had to ask mi esposo for a translation!

luckily, he's a major geek...

B2Y, I drive an eMac, used Macs since 1987, and hate everything Gatesian, especially when I've had to use 'em in cybercafes.

Macs are VERY user-friendly, and intuitive. and you'll be able to do almost everything you want to, right away.

the only problem with them is that not many games are made with Mac in mind, and sometimes there's difficulty trying to watch videos online, as folks FORGET about us Mackers, and don't put up a compatible version.

a GOOD thing about Macs is that since there's so few of us, computer viruses are hardly ever made for us, that and, as Arthur said, they're "stable and robust"

good luck with whatever you choose!

Indeed, but Apple is lightyears ahead in preventing them well before they ever get out there. Apple is always 5 or more years ahead in almost all forms of innovation.

lol, Cindy... I thought that was what "stable and robust" meant!

LOL, sorry, I thought you were referring to the user environment and the platforms, not Apple itself.