I set up Firefox when Safari stopped talking to my email service. Later version of Safari actually takes care of that problem, but I stuck with Firefox anyway (Safari kicks in occasionally when apple connections require it). I seem to remember being able to replicate all my bookmarks from Safari, and can't remember anything looking radically different. Just in case, I also set up Opera and Camino with the same success, but haven't ever needed to use them. I've always avoided IE for ideological reasons, used Netscape on my old machine for dial-up connection as long as that lasted.

Four-year-old machine? Such luxury! I have been finding aged but under-used Apple computers for relatively little money (eBay and even car-boot sales!), any of which could do anything my eight-year-old Powerbook can do (except possibly write DVDs, which I've not yet required it to do anyway). I'd recommend a second computer as an alternative or possibly in addition to an external hard drive. For Apple machines, there is a method of copying files between computers via Firewire, so you could either duplicate your files for backup purposes or divide between your stuff and iTunes user. (I can see that having access to a dedicated music computer might lead to even more downloads - you'll have to make up your own mind about that.)

I've just gone over 75% usage on my 60Gb laptop hard drive, so it's probably about time I did some splitting.

Ross