I had a computer with USB 2.0 on the back, while the front USB ports were 1.0.
I don't know why they did that. Anyway, I mention it just in case.

As far as installing a PCI card, it's not much more difficult than changing a lightbulb (and you don't need anyone to turn the ladder!). You probaby know someone who has installed something; ask them to show you how. It really doesn't get any easier than installing a USB card.

Cheers Blackhorse.

So this installation thing isn't that difficult then....?
Well if that's the case and there's a chance it might improve performance - then I guess it's worth a try....

I might even take the bull by the horns, get brave and have a go myself....

Now that could prove interesting!

When it came to it - I kinda thought better of it....

Me being the dozy cow I am - I'm sure I'd have done something I shouldn't have and *inadvertently* invalidated my warranty.
I've therefore taken the easy way out and got an extended warranty bloke out

He's coming tomorrow afternoon....

Bearing in my mind my recent pc 'issues' - is there anything I *really* need to ask or bring to his attention....?
Things perhaps I haven't thought of that one of you lot has....?

All replies/suggestions will be most appreciated.

That does sound very odd. On my next older mac all USB ports were 1.0 or 1.1 whichever. It just was not practical for me to use USB except for keyboard & mouse. I used firewire 400. And of course on my new mac I use firewire 800. Both are apparently faster than USB 2 in practice or so I've read (despite USB 2's supposed capabilities), especially for external drives. USB 2.0 is supposed to be capable of up to 480 Mbps but apparently Firewire 400 (400 Mbps) in practice tends to be faster. Likewise FW 800 is double FW 400's speed.

I think earlier I suggested firewire to PickaxeFairy, but if it's an older computer then perhaps waiting till the next machine might be better so you get faster all round speeds (cpu, bus speed, ram, etc.) And there are faster options around now than firewire 800 such as eSATA which is up to 3Gbps (though its burst speed I think is only double FW 800's burst speed.)

On that topic I notice external drives seem to have dropped price this year since 4 GB drives are now on the market. Last two I bought were 1 TB ext drives.