Well after some research I think i'm going to wait on the Sony prosumer camera model for a couple months. In the mean time I was thinking of going with a relatively inexpensive camera to do some basic/pre-work before I get completely serious. I've been checking out reviews of the Panasonic models and the things i've been noticing in a lot of the reviews is the the lower priced models are just....for a lack of a better word, crappy preformance wise. While I don't want to break the bank here, I also don't want to have a sorry excuse of a camera and waste money on it. I plan to give it to my mother after I'm done with it. I was also considering picking up one of those small digital camera's that are relatively flat and can fit in your pocket, but I haven't really heard anything about them and if i'm not mistaken their a bit on the pricey side.

As far as computers go -- i've been searching around and I can't find a decent PC so i'm leaning more and more towords the iMac. I don't dare to go to a brick and morter store like CompUSA or of course the ever popular best buy and the local Mac Store is a bit of a...well...it's just not the kind of shopping experience I'd expect or want. I'll probably order online or call it in (which one would be better)?

Once again, thanks for all this help.