Need a new system - what ya suggest?!

[The Dad Fisherman]

What I would do would to see which Company is going to give you the best Warranty and Service. The guts of most PC's are the same nowaday's. I used to build my own but that was when I could save $300-400 building them. They're so damn cheap now it doesn't make sense to do it to save $25-$50. I'd stay away from Gateway just because they seem to be a little overpriced IMO. Definitely DON'T buy one from QVC (I can't believe what they charge for a PC).

Unfortunately there's no perfect answer. PC's break, If they didn't I wouldn't have a job. I look to see who's going to help me when they do. I've had good luck w/ Dell's Support and I've Had good luck with HP/Compaq's Support. I know people who have had good luck w/ Dell. They are pretty good when it does break.

Any Company will sell you any options you want so that shouldn't be a problem as far as added memory. I also wouldn't be sucked in to buying the fastest processor out there. Are you really going to see the difference if you get a 2.8 Ghz instead of a 3.2 Ghz...I doubt it, and that can save you a bit of cash also. If your dealing with any Cad Software I'd put in at least a Gig of RAM. They're real Memory Hogs.

Anti-Virus - I'm Partial to Norton, McaFee is not bad either.

Hope this helps