One of my jobs here is to keep the experts honest - to prevent this forum from straying for too long into boffin/extreme computing territory.
-Yep, must be a Mac user.
I hope our aces will at least consider this and perhaps think of some of my rules of thumb. If someone doesn't spend at least 80% of their time gaming or simulating what possible use can they have for a 2+ghz cpu and a high end video card??? When someone posts a tightly specified query (cost and spec) on a digital camera why did it only go for a couple of hours before we were launched into flights of fancy regarding 3, 4 and 5 mb cameras and their supposed merits.
Rob, it comes down to Best Bang for the Buck. The person that does not use the computer for gaming or high end simulations on average keep their computers much longer than gamers. I cannot see the point in recommending a comp with a 1Ghz Duron or a 1Ghz Celeron when you can get a AthlonXP 2500+ for a few dollars more. They might not need it for what they run now, but a couple of years down the road it will be really handy having the extra horsepower. Same with Cameras, you can get a good 3Mp Camera for a little more than a 2Mp camera. It is a good investment. (Even the 5Mp Kodak camera I mentioned runs £170 here is the U.S., not exactly a high end price.)
Take Care,
Richard
P.S. The best method for troubleshooting people's problems is, K.I.S.S., especially what you are doing it online and are not in front of their computer.