Thanks Bob - I'll take a look. I'm interested in an I5 or Phenom II x 4 with something like the Radeon 6450. I've used a Radeon 9700 with 2 monitors for 8 years and have always been impressed with its performance/value.

How do I download or find Adobe Flash 11, tried adobe assist, but cant find it???

Product version is 11.1.102.55
Try searching adobe.com with that.

Here (untick google toolbar if you don't want it)

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

HARRYCAT, Haystack thanks ;-)

adobe site would not allow me to download or install flash, did get it from Download.com very strange IMO

Had to get it as CMC kept kicking me out of their site, and they said it was IE causing the problem, and I should only use Firefox

Laptop upgrade time as battery knacked, case cracked, ram too little etc. Not a problem, plenty of choice and I'm happy to make my own decisions here but... I'm running XP and have Office 2003 including Outlook. Windows 7 will come with my new machine and home premium version looks good enough for me however office is another matter. I've been considering using Open Office (Word and Powerpoint are my main uses) instead of paying more money to Gates but then have to find an Outlook substitute for my e mail, contacts and calendar that will import my current Outlook data easily and also will sync with my mobile Nokia which is restricted to Outlook, Lotus or Microsoft Windows calendar and contacts.
1. If I go to open office am I going to be disappointed c.f. Office? My playing so far looks satisfactory but wiser heads than me might know different.
2. Any suggestions on an e mail substitute to Outlook. I'm reluctant to just use web mail.
3. Any experiences on the Windows PIM. in Win 7?

TIA

If you don't want to use web mail, then one of the best E-Mail programs for your PC is Mozilla's Thunderbird, IMHO.

In use I feel it has lots of similarities to Outlook Express but it also has some great http://www.google.co.uk - 'Add-Ons' which you can use to tailor your own set-up.

Here's a link: Thunderbird

The program is very well supported, regularly updated, and Outlook 2003 transfers are also mentioned on the Support site. For instance, I quickly found that the quickest way, is to put Thunderbird on your old computer where Outlook already exists and then transfer Thunderbird over to the new machine. Guidance and instructions are thoroughly given on how to do this but you will have to look around the site to find them for Outlook 2003.

I use Open Office with both XP & Vista. Absolutely no problems and completely free. It also allows you to save docs in either Windows format (Excel or Word) or Open Office format. For home use I can see no reason to buy Windows Office software.

Harry - do you get any problems/clashes running it?

Not so far. The software is open source and is regularly updated with feedback from users. Incoming files in Windows Office format are easily stored in either format (.xls .doc .dot .rtf. .txt .xml .html etc) but it will always offer you the choice. No software conflicts and Avast anti-virus and registry cleaner cope without problems.

Ok thanks.

I don't like Open Office as much, but also find Office is sometimes too 'heavy'. I run Office 2007 with Win7.

Can you not uninstall Office 2003 and reinstall on the new machine?

Thunderbird is great - I agree with the others.

Seymour - which one -

2 was always my favourite!

LOL.

LOL

:-)

Yes. What a great conception and series. No 2 was my favourite too.

"Thunderbirds are Go................" (running round room a few times making aeroplane wings with arms)

Mine too funnily enough - and what a name "Hiram J. Hackenbacker"

OK guys - thanks for the advice. Downloaded thunberbird 1 - looks ok but need to play further with a calendar option. Seymour I'm assuming (and shouldn't do) office 2003 will not work under Win 7.

Not sure about that Kernow. Have a trawl of the web.

Windows 7 - Compatibility Checker

Many thanks. The answer is ....maybe. The links on 2003 take me to some end user licence agreement download - duly followed but dowloaded file leads to a dead end :- Subsequent trawling for answers gives the inconclusive conclusion above.
I do so hate microsoft - perhaps its time I tried an apple.