I've used a number of Dells and always found them pretty horrid. As I said above, Acer have been fine for me, but I know other people don't rate them so much.

Of course, the standard geek reply when questioned about a desktop system is to "build your own", but you probably don't want to do that.

I'm too lazy for that! Besides, I'm good at taking stuff apart but not putting it together...

macbook is good but bit expensive...

you can order from futureshop or bestbuy online and pick up from the nearest store.

I buy my computery stuff from London Drugs:
http://www.londondrugs.com/

Vancouver locations: http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/...id=1&cityid=13 Note: not all locations have a computer dept.

Good prices, good selection, easy returns and generally pleasant and knowledgeable salestaff... plus you can pick up, soap, toilet paper and a toaster while you're there.

Am I the only person who pronounces London Drugs as "Rondon Drugs" in a Scooby Doo voice?

Thought so.

My Acer laptop works fine, aside from being formatted for FAT32 (easily fixed) and all the annoying Norton crap they loaded it up with. I've never had a Dell laptop, but the Dell desktop systems we had at work were great so long as you never opened them up; installing new cards or hard disks tended to be colossal pain.

Never had one so far...I usually go with Dell (well usually in the last decade or so). BUT: I'm going to get a MacBook Pro MA895LL/A next (within a week).

Someone else's money and I'm so sick of defending against idiot hackers who hate Bill Gates even more than I do.

<yes, i picked up a backdoor trojan on my dell over the weekend.... fukit>

Consider buying a Mac from Simply Computing if they're close to you, they have phone/walk in tech support. Superb service from Mac lovers.

Unless you're into multi-media it may not be worth bothering with Mac funkiness. Mac OS, graphics design and functionality are absolutely the bollox by a country mile. This is high end kit made by and for people who are serious about their technology related work and leisure.

On the financial side, there are plenty of resources online that discuss and explain how a Mac is more financially viable over the longer term. Stability, fewer upgrades, and better trade in /resale residuals means over the longer term there's little in it.

And for the love of (insert name of random) god, don't get Vista as a preinstalled OS. The tide is turning, go with the smart flow, and don't be left with a turd floating downstream.

http://tinyurl.com/38zv7x

As they say, you put up with your PC....but you'll love your Mac.

R.

thanks for the suggestions, plenty to go on

Mac's a bit flash for me. best reserved for the more creative types.

plan a visit to FutureShop/ Best Buy/ Rondon Drugs while the wife bashes the credit card in Roots

just eager to get there and start the whole experience now