Hi Ann, I removed the *** SPAM *** from the subject line, my host rewrites it so that clients may filter emails from mail servers with bad reputations, more easily and the place you are sending emails from sometimes sends out more spam than ham and is therefore judged as a bad source. You should think about voting with your wallet and be "green" on the Internet :) http://multirbl.valli.org/lookup/216.40.38.60.html so the *** SPAM *** is not related to your email, but to the place you are paying to relay your emails... thought I should just clarify that :)

Hi Andre -- you know far more than I do. Yes, most likely just Linux - Ubuntu would be fine, I have a double boot on this old faithful laptop I am writing on right now, but I feel you are correct I do not need a double boot on the new laptop I intend to buy because Linux has become much more mainstreamable.

cool, then you can just 'single boot' into Ubuntu :) It is easy to install (it does it by itself and a default install is secure, the rest of your security is related to your own habits (whether you share/open attachments, whether your chosen email software automagically opens and parses emails (some of us still use pine and/or even older email software - even I struggle to figure out how to hack that, one has to result to social engineering or other dirty tricks to access that type of kit :) ) You can easily get Ubuntu here: https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop and when you get the new notebook, you just install it :)

I do not game on my computer ever so my specs are not high that way. I do travel, hence laptop only. I also am older so I like to have a big screen. I am looking with some interest at this computer: Lenovo Ideapad 320 which Costco sells. My old faithful is a Lenovo and I like it.

imho the new Lenovo's are fine and afaik work great with Linux. The 320 could have a 14" / 15.6" or 17" screen? (also it could have an i3, i5 or i7 Intel processor... - 320 vs 320S, etc) Other Linux friendly brands are also HP :)

I am concerned with security, more from stuff being sent to me, but also interference in my computer that could undermine my work. If you

Ubuntu is fine, regarding security it is a very broad subject and these days everyone is and expert :) I see you are already using web mail, so that means that you are immune to certain security things... except... is your hosting secure? :) The usual problem is with communication/attachments, if you frequently open attachments this is where your weakness would be and there are no easy answers as anyone could access any device that opens attachments (has java installed, etc) Also web browsers and other applications that open/run any third party software on your device... For example I have just seen very cool, cutting edge spyware, on a known multinational company web... there are hectic things out there and one is not always sure whether it is the staff, gov agents, criminals or actual company that is doing weird stuff :) imho, you could only have simple user land security on any device used for communications. You can protect yourself form known virus, etc. but not from spying or compromise. As in, this device I am typing this email on, is not a trusted device as it is used for communication - so devices like that should never contain anything of any value... (and is never trusted) real security is bothersome, expensive (running multiple systems and networks) and is only intended for people with lots of tinfoil.

want more of an idea of the sort of work I do, you can see the poorly organized blog at https://kentcountynbenvironmentwatch.wordpress.com/ -- almost all of that is my writing, but I also do frontline and organizing stuff. I am on FB if you want to see me there.

I hope this additional info answers most questions. -- Thanks again for the quick reply and interest in my situation -- Ann Pohl

it is not that poorly organized it is a nice blog :) Andre