The thing is, massively upgrading an old computer is still cheaper than buying a whole new computer. They're essentially making money off consumers who don't know better, something that I see with disturbing frequency in the computer world.

Saving up for a better computer means you can go that much longer without upgrading, and when you do it'll be cheaper than simply plunking down more money for a whole new computer.

But at this point in time, a powerful computer that can do anything you want would just be a waste of money. $500 for a computer now, and then maybe another eight hundred a few years down the road isn't a whole lot. It might be "cheaper", but getting a costume/powerful computer now instead of in 2010 would be a bigger waste of money, especially if he has no intention of using the power he's paying for.