I am soon going to have to buy a new computer. My current machine is 4 or 5 years old and getting creaky. It is not upgradable. It is one of the low-end Dell's with a Celeron processor. It is also the only computer I have owned.

    I know I need more computer than I have now, but I do not need a screaming machine. In addition to basic computing and record-keeping, I would like to have a more sophisticated photo-editing program, I'd like to be able to do some two-track recording with Audacity or something similar, and I'd like to be able to get into Paltalk to join in on some of the music circles. My son would like something better at gaming, but I still would only want pretty basic capacity for that.

    I have been spending a lot of time on the Dell, HP, Sony and Gateway websites, but I do not understand the technology well enough to figure out what I really need. Money is definitely a factor. I'd like to spend less than $700, but by the time I add the Works suite, an advanced phot-editing software package, and upgraded sound card and a security subscription, that may not be feasible. I can get by with my current Monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse, but most of that is bundled with the computer on the Dell site. On the other sites I can't find the software options.

    I would appreciate hearing some recommendations from some of you with some knowledge about this stuff.

Thanks. Janie