dermod, you make very good points. I've already been under the hood in this new machine to add in the floppy drive. At some point in the future this could well come out, because I plan to convert any old data to CD or other media, then I could reuse this slot, if something else will fit there. This computer can easily expand to 1 gig memory, and I saw the slots for the memory cards while I was in there. I had to purchase the speakers, and I didn't buy the biggest ones out there for a couple of reasons. I have lots of good audio players around the house (and most of it old enough that the burglars didn't head for it first, but it is first quality stuff my Dad bought 10 years ago or more). I picked up a nice little set of speakers and a sub-woofer thing that sound nice and are more than adequate for use here in my office. The stereo that they were stealing but dropped when they were interrupted seems to be intact, and though it wasn't the most expensive out there, it still sounds very good. The part of that system that was damaged was the turntable, dropped open and upside down in their haste to grab and run. The rubber turntable pad is also ripped. I have my reservations about using a turntable that was dropped on it's head. They also ruthlessly ripped some of the cables out of devices and bent at least one plug. I have to figure out what went out the door and replace it. So I'm still looking at connecting systems and making sure everything works the way it is supposed to.

I have to be careful to maintain the appearance that I'm replacing the functionality of the old system (which I am)--should the insurance folks decide that I'm upgrading too much, they'll penalize me by not paying for the entire replacement of the stolen equipment. They'll spend a fraction of what I spent to replace my old system, and begrudge me the fact that the basics are faster and bigger now. What a pain in the backside. My job is to keep track of what I had and not shortchange myself, because no one there is going to say "oh, it looks like your old computer did thus-and-such, have you looking into replacing that bit?"

SRS