Have you been intrigued by Avatars? Have you thought about how one might speak to potential clients on your Active Rain site? Has it even crossed your mind? I've really been wanting to give it a try! They are pretty amazing but you must be selective. 
If you receive an invitation to visit with a well known friend by Avatar in your email...delete, delete, delete.
Beware! Don't do it! I received an invitation from a very nice client of mine a few days ago inviting me to join his Avatar site. At that very moment I had a lapse of judgement...
...a want, a desire, a need to create an Avatar washed over me. I became temporarily deaf, dumb, blind, daft and deadly.
I clicked yes...
And Snap, Crackle and Pop went my operating system! 
"Crapola."
In marched the soldiers of Troy...
Okay, I just threw this pic in for fun...
Open went the doors of the Trojan Horse and bit by bit my operating system was destroyed! Ugh..............
I have been smart enough to do back ups of my photos since I once lost them all to the "I love you" virus.
It's like, if it's out there I will get it!
My pooter has been at the Doctor. There was nothing they could do to save it. They had to reinstall the entire operating system and I'm having to start from scratch.
I am in mourning and I have been gone from Active Rain for much too long. I have missed you my friends and I must tell you I will not lose this battle! I am attempting to befriend this blank pooter that use to say, "good morning Debra" but there is a long way to go. I am actually considering purchasing a new one.
Ssshhhh...don't say that in front of this one...it might crash again.
But, just in case I go shopping do you have any suggestions what I should look for? All recommendations are welcomed! My current Dell is 5 years old and everyone keeps telling me to get another. What do you think?
By the way...I'm a Realtor and Proud of it. I lost it all and will have to rebuild.
Later in the rain~Deb
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Check out my website at: www.debs-realestate.com.
Karen, you go on that T-mobile wing!! I'm trying to get geared up for some new technology. It's just not easy for change. You know how us women are. Change? No way. You are way ahead of me. Later in the rain~Deb
Missy, I will look into HP. That is the kind of notebook my husband works with but it is so heavy. I think we just don't keep up with the times. Once you purchase it, it becomes obsolete like driving a car off the lot. Thanks for the advice and I will check out the HP's! It looks like you got over your misery and are back on track. Just wish me luck. I need it.
Later in the rain~Deb
Debra - I feel for you... we lost a server a couple of months ago because one of our grandkids was playing on the computer and downloaded something... Ugh. Thank heavens it was mirrored or I would have had to give serious thought to pulling every last hair out of my head. haha.
We've replaced all of our computers (and servers) in the past year with new Dell's. While I never really had any issue with them, I can say the customer service has improved dramatically... In 6 years we have never had a hint of an issue with our Dells. My only advice would be to load it/them to the gills with RAM, memory and hard drive capacity..
Jesse and Kathy, thank you for the encouraging words. I will get through it. I'm doing better already and am enjoying the shopping involved in my new quest. Dell has always been great for me. I will most likely stick with it but again, the shopping is fun. I'm sorry to hear about your server. Later in the rain~Deb
Yes Sandra! I will survive. I just keep knocking myself in the head for clicking that stupid button. I knew better...but nnnnnnnnoooooooooooo I had to go and push it. Complacent is the right word.
Thank you all. Later in the rain~Deb
Hey I love all these suggestions! I am setting aside time this holiday weekend to shop for a new notebook. It needs to be powerful enough to take off to the moon because I am a creature that doesn't like change. I get use to one machine and we bond.
I'm going to check into all of these before jumpimg. Later in the rain~Deb
Howdy Deb
my friend
I will never understand
why some out there
think it's fun
to do that to folks.
Look in to the HP computer's they
are very good.
Laptop's and Desktops.
Happy Easter to ya!
Lindsey, back up all that you can while you can. It's a pain in the patootie.
Lissa, big ouch. I'm still working on my old one but not for long. Happy Easter~Deb
Trey, so you are gullible too! I totally understand. Why do people have to be so mean?
Tina, It is scary. A crash rocks your world. Stay healthy...stay smart and don't click the wrong button.
Dale, I love your graphics and a Happy Easter to you too! Thanks for the good wishes!
Ricki, I am looking forward to meeting you! This should be a lot of fun. Happy Easter.
Later in the rain~Deb
Wow thanks for the warning Debra and sorry for your loss. - I have trouble enough loading widgets LOL - I would not venture into this invitiation lol
sincerely,
Grace
Thanks for the warning. Sorry about your loss! I recently posted a blog about tablet pc's.
To Tablet Or Not To Tablet- Which PC For Me?
Lots of info. there. I am an HP fan!! I have a Dell laptop and it started to fall apart after just 18 months!
Best of luck to you!
Stephanie, I'm running in to lots of HP fans. I'm going to your post and check it out. Thanks.
Later in the rain~Deb