I prefer the iPad to the iPhone for going online. My aging eyes appreciate the larger screen. Also, the keys on the iPad are larger, so I'm less likely to make a typo because my finger was 1/100 of an inch off.

I've never done spreadsheets on Apple products.

Thanks -t and Fred. A lot of my reticence has to do with my lack of time to have a learning curve- I have an efficient way to do things, and I just don't have time to learn to type on a tablet. Also the person who purchases these things for me has a years long history of getting me things that I hate and are too complicated for what I need.

Geez, I was hoping to at least be able to pre-order an Apple TV today.

Sophia, I work in theater as well, and use my iPad for almost everything. We use Google Drive a lot here, to share information. The univeristy has a site license, so I downloaded the new Microsoft Office software, and it's actually rather good. It's not going to do all the charts/formula the computer version will, but for your needs, sounds fine. Highly recomend external keyboard. It does make life a lot easier. Also, checkout Wunderlist to have shared TO-Do lists for your crewbies. The free version is doing us just fine.

IOappleN - I'd love the new iPad pro, but, need a new computer to sync the bloody thing. Takes an hour to add an audiobook to my iPhone. Can either afford new iPad or new computer. not both. I hate that I have to use iTunes to add content. Why can't I log onto my NAS and transfer music/videos/audiobooks? Grumble grumble. Also, it looks like the new AppleTV doesn't have an optical out. So my old Samsung TV, which doesn't pass surround from HDMI to my sound system, will not get surround with new AppleTV. Also, the interface looks a lot like KODI XBMC for FireTV. Yes, Apple's interface looks easier to navigate. But. Remarkably they same. Funny how you can see a lot of other companies items in the new Apple items. FireTV talk to your bluetooth remote, Windows tablet keyboard, etc etc.

I've been offline on my main computer for over a week. It was slowed down to truly unusable - as in minutes between keystrokes. Problem went away in safe mode, but every anti-virus and anti-malware program known to man found nothing worse than a few tracking cookies. Finally I decided something was wrong with the virus called "Windows" and indeed that was it - "Intelligent Background Transfer Service" otherwise known as BTS was the problem. Disable that and my computer works fine - except of course without BTW can't update windows. With BTS also can't update windows cause it brings computer to its knees including using up resources needed to actually complete the download. So how can I deal with this? No switching to Ubuntu is not an option. Unfortunately I need actual Word rather than compatible programs. Certain features in end noting and foot noting still don't translate well between Open Office/Libre Office and Word.

Which version of Windows are you using?

Thank you Omnis!

Windows 7

If you haven't already seen it, take a look at this article about changing your settings to minimize the issue. (Basically you turn off automatic upgrades, then do the upgrades manually when you don't plan on using the machine).

It could also be general WinRot. One tool to try is CCleaner, which has a free version, and cleans out stuff that's hanging around that Windows doesn't use anymore (say from an incomplete uninstall of a program).

You could also do a clean install of Windows and start fresh. The good news is that Windows should work pretty snappily when you're done. The bad news is, of course, that every app needs to be reinstalled as well, along with your backed up data. If you have some extra dough handy, though, you could use this as an opportunity to swap in a newer, bigger hard drive, or even an SSD, which are getting pretty reasonable, even for bigger sizes. I put SSDs in all three of my machines as boot drives, and you're basically working 30 seconds after turning the power button on.

Edit: Which reminds me, you could also try using System Restore to go back to an earlier time when the machine might have been quicker. It's possible something got installed triggered the slowdown.

I'll windows restore. I eroutinely use ccCleaner, at least once a month just in case. CCcleaner regclean was one of the first things I tried.And Ill set automatic updates off.Tnhanks - set like all posting these days from my chromebook - the onld currently working computer in the hhouse.