Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Wow. I sure do type a lot.
With all due respect, I must stand by my Linux suggestion. Computer haters need only install it and use it, especially if they are just web browsing and emailing. I sneered at DOS when it came out, and I've been cursing Winders since 3. 1. I've been exposed to MacOS since the LISA; it's always been a sluggish system, and still is. Except for *one* thing, Linux lets me gets my work done.
Linux vector graphics programs are still young, though they are vastly improved from several years ago. I've just started to redo MDTDC's logo in vector format using Inkscape. It's slow going because the user interface is generally orthogonal to Adobe Illustrator; AI is about the only reason I use Winders any more (testing cross-browser compatibility and reluctantly helping people fix their Winders system are the other reasons).
I'll still suggest finding a 3-5 year old Dell Latitude with a 40GB HD and 2GB RAM, and installing Debian or Ubuntu on it. Except for games and some specific tasks, a computer hater will soon be at home with GNU/Linux, and will be much more productive.
But Scott's chosen Mac, so we shouldn't hijack his thread any more. I'll post an update on the other thread.
