your way, especially when adding "free" programs, you'll be much better off. This is why the UAC is handy, because I too sometimes click aimlessly, and the UAC, which is only one extra click, is way worth the extra resources you get to play with. The Red Shield eventually goes away, believe me on this one, hidden with other useless icons. We ITs tend to be OCD (guilty as charged) so I wanted mine to go away really bad (showing because of no Virus Protection). Once I let go of my obsession, I got to breathe and relax, it doesn't really matter, if you know what you're doing, and since you're in this forum, it's safe to assume you do. Graham: OS, on PCs, Macs or wherever, are getting more complex and will use more resources. If you think the next Vista or Leopard is going to be leaner, you're just going to be agravated. I work with Macs because most of my Graphics and Video collegues have Macs, but there's nothing that they do on Macs that a PC won't do and for substantially smaller price. Yes, Macs are cool, and designwise are amazing and I love them, but when it comes to shedding an extra couple thousand for the same system, I shy away. As systems get more complex Apple's rigidness has to loosen up and MS open architecture will become more rigid (the UAC is a prime example). And it's not about egos, but plain numbers. The