Do NOT go with a mac. If you're familiar with windows, stay with windows. There is no reason to get a mac. They're more expensive and you get more for your money with windows.

All I have to say is DO NOT get Vista! It'* crappy

Works fine for me

and so the vista bashing starts

it works great as long as you have the right specs to run it, it will give you problems if you upgrade on an inferior system

I just upgraded to this.

http://www.hsn.com/todays-special_xh.aspx?o=!HPTS&ocm=todspc&cm_re=TS*421553 5*na

It is $1100 after shipping and tax for me, But theres a 6 payment option...

dell outlet will likely be the best bang for the buck. (refurbed)

you can get a dual core 1.8ghz/1mb pentium, 2GB ram, 500GB hard drive for under $350 shipped.

you'd need to reformat though.

I'd love to hear why...

As long as you have newish hardware (he will with a new computer) Vista has NO issues. But trying to use it on hardware that'* older, barely up to spec, and doesn't have vista drivers, of course there will be issues. Service Pack 1 was released in the last few weeks, It'* sped up a few file moving/copying operations and some other various improvements.

Hans, i'm guessing that'* a single core 1.8? that will be pretty limiting, some sort of Core 2 Duo, or Core 2 Quad will be MUCH more usable, quicker, and last longer. Multitasking has little to no slow down on multi-CPU systems, they have plenty of C2D'* on outlet, and any of them would be well worth the expense over a single core. Dell refurb would be nice if you can find one with a video card...

Minimum, i'd look at
Dual Core procs
2gig Ram
150gig HD, 250-500 if you plan on storing many videos
Some sort of PCI E video card if there'* any chance you'll wanna game on it, it'* pretty much a requirement to use the pretty stuff in vista anyways. If nothign else, get a computer that the expansion slot for it, and you can put one in if you'd like.

An apple would be great, new is pricey vs comparable apples, and getting an older PowerPC version isn't going to be the best decision. If apple interests you, I'd definitely get an Intel based one...

Vista isn't as bad as most people bash. Right now I'm on my mothers laptop that has Vista Premium and it runs great. No BSOD or RSOD yet.

It isn't bad at all, on any modern computer it'* a better choice than XP.