[JoeSixPack1]

This computer is 6 years old,...

Anything, and I mean anything, you buy to replace it will seem like a rocket ship on steriods.

Don't go crazy trying to buy the perfect computer, it's not out there. Buy one that does what you want, not just what it used to do or what you hope it will do.

List all the programs you use on a daily basis. Then list all the programs you use, but infrequently. Then make a list that tells you what you would like to do.

Explain these lists to whoever you are purchasing your new computer from and you will have a much easier old-to-new transition. Good Luck OP.

[johnb838]

I just bought an Athlon 1800+, 40GB HD, CD-RW, WIN XP Home, 218MB Memory, from Microcenter for $350. It is really nice, though I bought half a gig of memory from Crucial cuz it was 69.00, no tax, no shipping. I think I want a new video card, I have an S3 geforce4 FX, and I hear they suck.

I also had a 6 year old computer, K5 133. Even though I work on screamers at work, it has still been GREAT to have something with some juice at home.

The one I bought is an HP Pavilion 304w. I could have gotten a faster processor for 399 (I paid 349) but it would have been a celeron and I had read that they are not so great. I'd rather have a Top of the line AMD than a second-rate Intel.