I just ordered a new computer from the HP online store. Roughly the same specs as last time, except crappy speakers this time and no flashing light. =( Well, let's just hope this one doesn't disappoint like the last. *fingers crossed like hell* Yea, so I purchased the computer "for education" so they cut me a discount of like 80 bucks or so. And toss in free shipping and a $150 processor rebate, and it's a pretty sweet deal- coming in at just under $1000.

Oh, but I get PC Magazine these days, and it says that the reason HP is so cheap compared to other leading brands (comparable specs at Gateway or Dell would cost about double) is that they skimp on the motherboard and the RAM. I think they use like the oldest compatible motherboards, and they use like the slowest variation of SDRAM that can still be called DDR. So in actuality, the same processor/video card specs get less performance than they would on a Dell. But hey, I wasn't really looking to spend over a thousand bucks; I figger the less I spend now, the less guilty I'll feel when I wanna buy a newer, faster comp to replace this one.