I am not planning to buy a desktop system, and currently have no upgrade plans in the pipeline either.

The last complete system was an accidental aquisition, when I legitimately rescued a kodak picture processing machine from being skipped, and was surprised when I began stripping it when a complete IBM thinkstation popped out of the bottom (immediately clamed by Mrs WTM!)

All the machines I have still doeverything I want them to do, and althouth they collectively represented a significant investment in time and money, they have served well, and continue to do so.

I may just put my trusty old HP Pavillion Ze4800 laptop out to pasture and treat myself to someting new in the sub-£400 pound bracket next year. Unfortunately thats not what this thread is about.

But its good to talk.

WTM

As I don't do games any cheepy PC will do for surfing and accounts and some letters. But I won't buy another desktop PC, I now use a little 10" Samsung for nearly everything. Now that we've all gotten over the power beast syndrome of 10 years ago (well I've gotten over it anyway), I only need sufficient computing power now so long as it's not painfully slow at doing what I want done.

The question is a bit odd as a barebones would be far cheaper than one with all peripherals.

In truth this is two completely different questions, one regarding a barebones buy and the other a full rig unless the question was meant to be something along the lines of, "How much have you got to spend on updating a desktop PC?" - but this would be a bit presumptuous.

Perhaps these questions are more designed to see how many of us read them and less on gaining accurate information??

I agree with johndrew.

Anyway, just bought a new one*, a smidge over £600 for just the tower, though I bought better than I needed and am already thinking about trying to sell the graphics card as I think its noisy and unnecessary). I think I'd draw the line at around £800 with mouse, keyboard and monitor.

Mind, i wouldnt rule out a Mac in future, but I cant be bothered to think how much I'd pay for one (a relatively large amont though, necessarily, unless it were a Mini), and you haven't asked.

* Many thanks to all who offered advice on that.

About a months wages. If I'm honest my PC has already recouped most of what I paid for it. As I go to the pub less which soons adds up.