Beginner into Micros, etc.

Its really time OR money. Many of us on the list are bargain hunters with old computers the choosen prey. There is nothing wrong with just BUYING what you want and letting someone else do the hunting. Years ago on the Compuserve Hifi forum somebody was lamenting that try as they might they could not find a certain very desirable old Marantz tube amplifier. The advice he got was to make a "serious" cash offer, which he did, and half a dozen of them magically became available. He was able to buy a matched pair in mint condition, for what later turned out to be a VERY fair price ($500 each if I remember correctly). If you REALLY want some certain item, that is what I would suggest, make a large serious cash offer and pick the finest system out of what you are offered. This list has a HUGE bias toward buying near junk at cheap prices and spending the rest of your life fixing it, and looking for parts and manuals. If that is what you like, and its more or less my personal preference, then hop in the mud is fine. If you want a "working" system without a LOT of time spent, buy the absolute best unit you can afford. A complete working system that has never been out of a clean room with conditioned power that has all the software, manuals, and spares is a WORLD apart and better than many of us start with, or end up with. Kind of funny the two main questions from collectors are; Where can I find more stuff. Where can I put all this stuff I found.