I keep looking at the Dell E310-P4. They often offer specials on it with up to $350 off. If I were to buy one today, the deal they are offering has a 1GB HD, 512 RAM (or did I reverse those?), Pentium five-hundred-something processor, and includes a 17" flat panel analog monitor and a printer which I haven't checked out. If I add a 3.5 floppy drive and the MS Works Suite, it would come in at $699. Can't remember if this one of their free shipping specials or not. The included operating system is XP Media Center.

(John-I hear what you are saying about the Works Suite--I use it at home and Office at the clinic--but it does all that I need it to do.)

Whatcha think? Would I be wiser to go a little bigger and faster. What is the deal with the Media Addition?

I don't even know how to get the case off the computer to replace my modem which is dying on me, and my interest in computers is simply as a tool. I do not enjoy tinkering around with mechanical or electrical stuff, but will do it when necessary. That being the case, SRS and like-minded others, would you stick with your recommendation to go cheap and do my own upgrading?

All of these comments are very helpful, if somewhat mind-boggling to a technophobe like me. And they are a lot less mind-boggling than the websites. I think one reason I keep going back to Dell is the simplicity of the site.

Janie