My old rubbish Acer has just burnt out it's motherboard and apart from the cost, I can't say I'm sorry about having to replace it. I was never able to watch tv or any live streaming because it always stopped and started.

Does anyone have any recommendations about replacement? I don't download a lot of music or any movies, but I would really like to be able to watch tv etc. We can't get much on the tv here in Gympie QLD.

Any hints about what to look for would be much appreciated. Q

I got a Dell XPS 1330 from the Dell Outlet (website) for $1500.

I've got a Dell XPS 720.....Woot!

also have a look at the XPS 1530....very nice. And don't forget about 10% discount vouchers, and salary sacrifice...

You can only salary sacrifice laptops and not desktops by the way.

Apple Mac book Pro.

then dual boot it so on the Mac OS you do all your important stuff like email, surfing, DTP etc, and the in Windoz side you use it for games and TV watching.

If I were salary sacrificing then I would go with the black macbook - only because I dont like big laptops. If I were buying with my own money then I think I would be getting a 24" imac with dual boot (just for the few windoze applications I cannot do without). I am so over PCs - apart from genealogy programs and databases.

Still can't beat a good PC for gaming though.

You don't need Windoze for watching TV. Get this TV tuner and you may never have to install Windoze again (if you don't play games).

Darren

the new Mac Air looks kindda groovy

Apple

Yes, the new Mac Air is indeed very groovy... I almost bought one last week from JB Hi-Fi, though I knew it would have earned me a major slap around the head if I did

It's a bit more expensive than say a Dell PC... though much tidier and better OS.

Uhhmmm Seeing as you're not such a fan of Acer, this is probably falling on deaf ears.
But I got one of these:

http://www.shopacer.com.au/ecprod/Ac...ode=3&id=13391

And its great (well apart from Vista taking 5 minutes to start up). Once its up and running, it works fine, works well as a media pc, records tv no problem, fast as I need, and nice monitor.

And its about the size of a large hardback book. (the PC I mean, not the monitor )

JTL

Now I've used Windows since v 3.0 (1990) but recently started thinking about Apple - especially after seeing the Air. But..... when looking closer this (while a great marketing gag) is true
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=533492
Unless travelling all the time, its really not for home use (unless very rich) as a premium is paid for size.
Anyhow bought a Mac Book Pro and LOVE it. Yes the change takes some getting used but Leopard (the OS) is fantastic.
Yes more bucks but will give your more years of hassle free puting.

Macbook air is very sexy but doesnt have an integrated dvd drive apparently which would be a disincentive to me - hate having to lug around extra stuff.