I am ready to lose an old friend. A friend that is good to me. A friend that I have grown very fond of. It is time for us to both be glad of the time we have had together and go our separate ways. We have had some good times together, and some bad times, and some confusing times (well for me at least) and now is the time to cut our losses, and call it a day. Yes folks, that's right, me and my beloved computer are parting, forever. The end of a big romance, how will I ever cope? The thing is I am quite attached to my PC and I really like it. I am not good with change, and getting used to new things, which means I have things until they are old and worn out and on their last legs. This is my poor old computer now. It is just on its way out. There is nothing really wrong with it, but I have had it a good few years, and I just feel that it is time to get something that is bigger and better. Or should that be smaller and better, since all the good stuff appears to be tiny now. This leads me to a little problem. Just what kind of computer do I go for? There is so much choice out there, that I really am at a loss.

For about a year now I have considered replacing my old faithful computer, and I have looked online, and in shops and what's on offer, and I have to tell you all, I am pretty confused. I am not computer stupid, but I am pretty damn close. I use my PC for the basics. I don't play games on it or anything like that. I do the whole music thing on it, and I like playing with pictures and stuff on here, but I am seriously not that techincal, and I don't particulary want a computer that is smarter than me. I only really need something pretty basic, that can do all the things I want, and maybe a few added extras, as I am always willing to learn. When you go in a PC shop though, they try and blind you with science, and all these bloody added extras that you just don't want. I went in one shop the other day and before I knew it I was buying not only a computer but a desk and chair to boot. Which of course I didn't want, so I ran from the shop as quick as I could!

The point is that I don't really know what I want. I just want the basics, but unfortunately that just isn't good enough for these salesman anymore, and really I am like a lamb for the slaughter when they see me walking in there all on my own, within a few moments of throwing technical jargon at me they soon realise I don't know my arse from my elbow and proceed to take me for all they can. So if anyone could give me an idea of the best computer system I could go for, one that is pretty simple and basic, I would be really grateful.