I would like to upgrade my computer so that I can have faster access to the internet and be able to run programs that my current system can’t handle. Not being very computer literate, I don’t know where I should begin. Price is also an issue. Any advice you could give me would be very helpful. My current operating system is Windows 95.

The speed of a computer can impact upon the download speed from the internet but this is not usually a major issue. The download speeds which you are experiencing would probably be more of a modem and ISP issue. Currently, the fastest dial-up modems are 56k. These have come down in price to about $100. However, you may wish to upgrade your computer so, as you have mentioned, you can download and run software which your computer currently cannot handle. As you are running Windows 95, your computer is probably quite old. I suggest that you do not try to upgrade to Windows XP or alike as your computer will probably struggle to run new software of this kind. If your computer is very old and slow (eg. 133Mhz) you will probably need to replace the computer. A good place to start looking, is on the website for Dell’s selection of computers at www.dell.com.au. This is an interactive website where you can’build’ the computer and view the price. However, if your computer is more modern (eg. 400 - 500 Mhz) then you may consider upgrading and this can be done at many of the computer shops in the ACT. You can find a large selection in the Yellow Pages. I strongly suggest that you shop around to get the best deal. The system specifications you should look at, whether upgrading or buying new will largely depend on your intended use. If you want to play games, you are probably looking for at least a 1.2GHz computer with 256mb RAM and a video accelerator (for high-end graphics performance). However, if you are mostly looking to use your computer as a basic work horse, then you can probably get by with an 800Mhz computer. Be aware that any computer you buy now will be outdated within a few months. When buying a new computer you should consider how the whole box is put together for ease of future updates, even though at some point in the future, a new computer will be the most economic way to go. I think that you will be quite surprised at how affordable some computers are!