Hey tech-minded folks! I'd like to ask your advice. I am buying myself a new computer. I badly need one (mine is still running Windows 95 and has taken to making high-pitched whining noises, not to mention it's slower than a closed Natter thread), especially now that I am going back to school this fall.

I need it for: schoolwork, freelance editorial work, hanging out with you all, downloading music, uploading photos. It should have or be compatible with stuff like Word, Excel, Photoshop, iTunes, alla that good stuff. I don't much care if it's a Mac or a PC. I do much care that it doesn't cost a ridiculous amount of money--under $1000 all told, and hopefully well under.

Which companies should I be looking at, and/or which models can you recommend?

Do you want a desktop or Laptop?

I'd look at the iBook and the Mac Mini.

I was going to recommend a Mac also, but I'm biased as hell towards them. You can get a student discount on them, I know that. And if you're willing to buy a refurbished one -- and the refurbished ones come with a warranty, as well as the option to buy AppleCare for them -- the prices are pretty decent.

But -- oh! -- on the student discount with Apple -- you can get a free damn iPod depending on which computer you buy! No fair! (No fair to me, that is, since I got nothing free when I bought my iBook, which I still love with an unholy passion that rivals my love for my car.)

If it's a desktop you're looking for, we got a Mini at the office recently, and it kicks all kinds of ass. And it's $499. (That's w/o a monitor, keyboard, or mouse -- all of which you may already have, and if they're USB, you're set.)

I'm pretty sure I want a laptop. (Whoops, I thought I mentioned that in the original post.)

Free iPod?? Uh, fuck yeah!

Edit: also, thanks for the advice. Steph, where would I go looking for a refurbished Mac?

You can get the refurbs directly from the online Apple Store. On the right side of the page near the bottom is an option for special deals.

Speaking of TiVo, I thought this was interesting.

Talk about a paradigm shift.

Thanks, ND. Ooh, I am DROOLING over the prospect of getting an iBook. But, okay, this may be a dumb question: I expect to be emailing documents (both Word and Excel, or their Mac equivalents) to people (professors, clients, whoever), many of whom will probably have PCs. Is that going to be a problem at all?

Kate, I switch back and forth between pcs and macs on a daily basis and haven't had any problems.

Word and Excel are available on both Macs and PCs.

Also? you can get NeoOffice/J for free and have Word and Excel compatible documents. [link]

In most things, Macs do Windows connectivity better than vice-versa.

Oh, and budget to buy more RAM. We can help you find more after the fact, too. Unless there is an extrordinary special, aftermarket is always cheaper.

Kate, we were able to get the academic version of MS Office for Mac with DH's computer without either of us being in any way students or professors, and it's much much cheaper than the full version.