Computer purchasing advice requested please.

[starbkjrus]

Ron,

You have gotten some very good advice here and there is not really much I can add other than just to tell you what I would do.

1. Hope the techies can get your data off the hard disk (It's pretty likely).

2. Reinstall Windows XP (Professional I hope but it's not critical) and ALL updates from the folks in Redmond (MS that is).

3. Up-to-date virus / adware / spyware zapping software.

4. Some reliable method in place for backing up data regularly.

If this works for you then viola you're good to go.

If this does not work for you... er....well, buy a MAC.

I've worked with Microsoft software and operating systems or apps that must interface with them for 20 years - but at home we have three MAC's.

Each system has it's advantages and disadvantages but the key point is that I do it at work and at home I don't want to think about it - I just want it to work.

If a MAC does what you need a computer to do then it's really easiest machine for an end user to work with.

Just my two cents worth.

[Kiltman]

I have three MACs, does that mean I can/should get three Mac kilts?

[efer]

Sorry to hear about the computer crashing. I hope they can salvage your data.

Add me to the Mac camp. I've been using them personally since 85'. At work, I use Windows and have used unix boxes.

IMHO, the iMacs are great machines for e-mail, pictures and other such simple tasks.

Here's a link to Apple/iMacs:
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...78F7&nclm=iMac

Cheers