intel or amd ?????

If you want an easy answer, Intel has been out-innovating AMD recently.

Thing is, CPUs don't get outdated that quickly these days. Software isn't getting complex at the rate it used to and you can now often get by with a computer for several years without any problems.

Just make sure there are no bottle necks in RAM and the graphics card and you'll be fine for a few years. I used to change computers every 10 months or so, but just finished replacing one that I had for almost 3 years.

The advance in computers have been amazing during the past five or so years, and the cost keeps dropping.

Just off the top of my head, I'd consider duo-core computers with at least 50-GIG harddrive and 2-GIG operating memory. Graphic cards are a must.
I also have Norton 360 loaded on three of our computers. My main working computer, an HP, has been a very good workhorse that I'll keep until it breaks down. I'll also consider a desktop with a very small profile.

There's a lot to choose from in the under $1,000-range. I think that's great!

Paid $1200 for my very first Apple II computer that ran on basic with no bells and whistles.

intel, unless amd has upped their game