Melanie, I have had to learn some things by necessity about my computer because it is either spend the money to get new things or spend it to get the computer fixed. Basically it is just a matter of time and you will get things upgraded I am sure. Prices on things are dropping and that is the only reason I can get more things. One suggestion is to think about building your "replacement" computer. it is not too hard if you have an old one to tinker with. You would be amazed at the savings to learn things yourself. Anyway, you might be doing fine with the separate hard drives for storage. I have two computers actually, one is the older one and the other is the newer one which comes about by the older one spitting and sputtering with my stuff like zip drives and cameras and scanners and printers and all that stuff. So I have a computer network of sorts, the two computers hook together. What I can't get done on one I get done on the other and pass files back and forth. My husband is far more advanced in the area of hardware and he usually assembles the stuff but I have learned it is better to build your system to suit your needs. I have just upgraded the cd burner to a 8x which is great, but I also have a zip and lots of hard drives.... I have used poser since 2 but I was not very good at anything but bendy weird people, until poser 3...and this forum. So I have learned so very much from everyone here...thank you thank you. Bast it is all a matter of investing time, I have had to learn stuff about graphic programs at the same time I was learning more things about artistic technique. I just kept looking at what others were doing and asking questions. I used to train horses and when people asked me how to get to be a good rider I always said: "it takes a certain amount of hours actually doing something to get good at it, if you spend 4 minutes a day you will eventually reach each level but if you spend 10 hours a day it will only appear to be faster, it is all the same investment." I think everyone has the potential to do things, they have some natural talent in different areas but it also takes skill and technique that can only be learned by investing the time doing.