Thanks again.

I am set on a quad core.  I will buy as much high end technology as I can so I won't be dissatisfied in 6 months.  But I do know not the buy the first of anything.  Quad core technology is no longer new and several companies are building quad machines for across the counter markets.  Software will catch up for sure.  Same goes with 64bit.  I'm leaning toward the PC platform because I've seen no Mac advantages that outweigh the availability of PC stuff and prices associated with them.  I wish MS was as stable.  Maybe SP3 will help.  

I've got XP Home now and the random crashes come once a week maybe but sometimes twice in one day.  They all report as "some driver issued a stop command"  No way to track it down short of removing one item at a time and wait for weeks to see if problem went away.  I live with it (save often)

I appreciate the advice that is being given.  Keep it coming.