My main PC right now is a 1.8 Ghz P4, 512MB RAM, WinXP, about 7 years old. I have a 40 + 80 internal, a 160 external, and a 1TB external. I have a Linux box that was my "big" file server until I got the 1 TB drive... it's a P3 450 w/ a 500 GB SATA. I recently got a netbook... that's provided a "faster" way to be on the web... and I've been using it for processing recordings. I'm thinking it's time to replace my desktop. I've thought about building one w/ parts from Newegg (and maybe Best Buy, etc) ... the latest "cart" had a AMD X3 & 2 GB of RAM at the center of it. I've also thought about buying a computer off the shelf... or possibly switching over to the Mac side of things w/ a Mini. I'm a little hesitant to go to the Mini because of a lack of expandability... but there is always USB. My budget is in the $500-700 range, I'd say. Any thoughts?
ETA: To bring this back into the taping-related fold: I'd say my audio processing/filesharing is about the heaviest load I put on my computer. Right now my workflow is JB3 > Audacity > CD Wave Editor > Foobar. I know Audacity has a Mac version... the only thing I think I'd really need to find a replacement for is CD Wave Editor. What say you, Mac users?