The VAST majority of what I do at home is web browsing, and occasionally Skype or iPhoto. Once in a blue moon I fire up MS Office and use Excel.

Have you considered an iPad? I have one with a Logitech bluetooth keyboard. The combined is like a mini laptop. I use it ALL the time. On it right now. I take it to meetings, and take notes on it with Notability app. I use DocumentsToGo for excel and word types of stuff. Not sure if there is a Microsoft Suite app. Or what level of needs you have for Office & Excel. I know there is an iPhoto app. And I've Skyped with Shir from the iPad. I use it for work. I use it for home. And really suprised how fast my laptop stopped being used. My old (crappy) laptop is used for docking, and that's about it.

Doubt it's an option for you, but thought I'd mention it.

Not aware of a MS Office app for iPad. For the other purposes, an iPad is great. (I recommend the Magic Puzzle app. Endless jigsaw puzzle fun, including (for the $2-or-so upgrade) your own photos as puzzles!)

I don't have the money to get one, but played with Pages, Numbers and Keynote ont he ipad and they were awesome. Honestly, if I had the money I'd get the biggest most maxed out ipad available, a bluetooth keyboard, and one of those goosneck stands that let you put the ipad at the exact angle you want. And I'd use it for 90% of my writing. Since pages and what have you export to office, I keep some sort of mac or windows machine with office on it just to check for conversion formatting loss when sharing with others.

I have an iPad, but honestly, since I switched to an Android phone I barely use it any more. It's great for travel, but it's not a replacement for a real computer, IMO.

Yeah, I'd love a tablet for travel but alas I need both Acrobat Pro and decent Word screen size for work. In fact, I'm hoping whenever I next upgrade I can get an even bigger screen than what I have now.

Does anyone have a recommendation on a vinyl to mp3 turntable? TCG just uncovered a bunch of his old records at his dad's house.

I have a really nice Numark I think. It's the TTx if I remember right. It has a USB connection and is a direct drive turntable. Also make sure to spend the money on a good stylus and clean the records before recording them. I'm out of town right now but when I get home I can double check the model of turntable.

Quality wise it is right up there with a Technics 1200. Nice heave direct drive platter.

Thanks, ND. That might be slightly outside our budget right now, but I will keep it in mind when I look at them. Any recommendation on what to clean the records with? A stylus is something we would buy separately?

Alsop makes a good cleaning brush with a mild cleaner. You can google for options on cleaning any records that are really dirty.

Turntables may come with a stylus but they are rarely high quality ones. The type of stylus will vary depending upon how you want to use it.

Thanks, ND! I'll mark these posts for later. It will probably end up being a Valentine's Day present, so I have time to look around.