I guess I'm not good with change /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> , plus the upfront money is important to me.

I dont have a ton of it. The next time i'm at a store I may have to go check one

out though. Just to see what it is I'm fighting so hard against haha

and maybe i'm wrong, maybe things have changed

but Macs dont have as many software options do they?

In 5+ years I have only found 1 computer program that I needed that didn't have a Mac equivalent. It was my original web development software. It turns out that the program I switched to as a result was much better anyway. (I switched to Dream Weaver.) Then I spent the extra $99 to get the MS office suite of products (Word, Excel, etc.) and that's pretty much it. If you're reeeeally attached to Windoze you can even load up Windows for Mac and run Windows as a program within the Mac OS. If you do that then ALL MS software works on Mac. I just didn't care that much.

Mac is about 5 - 15% more expensive up front than PeeCee. But the reliability and ease of use more than makes up for the extra $200 or so. No Norton to buy, no McAfee to update, no patches to download, no viruses to clean.... it is precisely as advertised. It works without a hitch.

When I say none of my 3 Macs has ever crashed I mean that literally. NEVER crashed. I have never lost a single file due to computer error while using a Mac. I can't begin to calculate the amount of time Mac has saved me with regards to maintenance chores.

Picture a computer which never crashes, takes care of its own maintenance, pops on like a light bulb when you turn it on, is immune to all types of viruses and malware and which requires no special security precautions to remain "safe".

That's a Mac.

One you go Mac.... you never go back! (ohhhh - no he dit-int! no he dit-int!!)

and maybe i'm wrong, maybe things have changed

but Macs dont have as many software options do they?

I'll be honest, I've never even SEEN a Mac /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=';)' />

Picture a computer which never crashes, takes care of its own maintenance, pops on like a light bulb when you turn it on, is immune to all types of viruses and malware and which requires no special security precautions to remain "safe".

That's a Mac.

One you go Mac.... you never go back! (ohhhh - no he dit-int! no he dit-int!!)

It's a shame about the Mac thing. I quit using Windoze in 2003. It took me about 2 hours to get used to the slightly different navigation. I will never touch a PC again.

I'll be honest, I've never even SEEN a Mac /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I do have friends who swear by them though.

I'm not at a place where I can afford to change computers

but the next time I change maybe I'll look into one.

No promises though /tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

I have 3 Macs now. All are run continuously, day and night. None has ever crashed or been compromised. Never. Not once. No viruses. No malware. Invisible updates.

Regarding your pix - every PC comes with a clean boot up disk. If you don't have it you can buy it. I suspect that if you can get to a point where you can see your files you'll be able to rescue them. And as I mentioned before - most security programs will have an emergency boot up disk in the pack. Good luck.

Your pictures probably aren't lost.

Recommendation: Put your original Norton disk (or similar product) into the drive and boot up your computer. It may open your computer in safe mode automatically and it should boot off the disk. If it's a virus you'll be able to pop the newest fixes into the drive and load them up.

Next: download free "Zone Alarm" and free "Ad Aware". Use them.

Next: sell your PC asap and buy a Mac. (You'll be much happier.)

If your disk is trashed your pics are probably gone. If it's a software problem you can work around it.

Thanks so much Zen!

I'm not sure if I have the disk or not. I had a fire last year,

so I may have lost it, but I'll go digging. Then i'll show someone who had better

computer skills then me this post /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> and let them see if they can save my pics.

Wont be buying a Mac though /tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

I dont like change /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

So last night I got the "Blue Screen of Death" on my computer.

It had been acting up for a while now. I was okay with it though.

We had another computer so I just switched that one out for this

one I'm using now.

I was emailing with a friend who asked about halloween,

I was going to send a pic of Colin TorTing and it hit me.

I've lost all my pics *cry*

Most of them should be on my camera still, but I know

not all of them will be. I'm so sad just thinking about it /sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

Your pictures probably aren't lost.

Recommendation: Put your original Norton disk (or similar product) into the drive and boot up your computer. It may open your computer in safe mode automatically and it should boot off the disk. If it's a virus you'll be able to pop the newest fixes into the drive and load them up.

Next: download free "Zone Alarm" and free "Ad Aware". Use them.

Next: sell your PC asap and buy a Mac. (You'll be much happier.)

If your disk is trashed your pics are probably gone. If it's a software problem you can work around it.

Nope, experimenting. I saw someone that has this animated gif in their siggy but I can't find him. So I'm trying different things.

Wow that hurts, even though your a cowgirl fan that you wouldn't even ask me for help on an animated siggy....zoinks that burns to the core....

NOT MY WIFE!!!

well, since i've decided i hate my wife, Vlad can keep her /tongue.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' />

she was way too high maintenance /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

that's how Vlad operates /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':P' /> /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

okay, if I am the hostage then so be it. wow finally a little bit of excitement. yeah me a hostage /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />