We have an old TV that we use strictly to watch movies, and not a huge number of those--maybe 3 or 4 a month. It is not hooked up to cable or even rabbit ears. I haven't been real sure what 'multimedia' entailed. I want to be able to do some advanced photo-editing, watch and listen to streaming news videos and radio without all the stops for buffering, to do a little bit of amateur home recording of my own voice on a couple of tracks with fairly decent fidelity. My kid would like to go on Runescape and not have it constantly pause to reload, and it is ok with me if he can play some fairly basic games. Then I need a simple productivity suite and the ability to surf the internet.

There so many choices of computers, specs. and sites that the old head is spinning. And it is easy, when I'm looking at a site, to believe I want or need more computer than I really think I do need. I just know I need more computer than I have now, and from what most of you are saying would be wise to get somewhat more computer than I actually need right now--more than my minimum requirements.

As confusing as it all is, the comments all of you are sharing really are educationing me and I think will ultimately result in me making a good, and sufficiently economical choice.

What I really want is to hand one of you some money and say--go buy me a computer:^)

Janie