Certainly Open Office is a viable alternative to Microsoft Office depending on your needs because the two platforms are not 100% compatible. Certainly you can try Open Office and see if it meets your needs. I don't know about Quicken but I would imagine there is some kind of "export" feature. Whether you use that in a newer version of Quicken or move on, is up to your. I hear good things about Mint (.com) but haven't used it personally. Microsoft has discontinued Money.

Yes you can go USB to USB but not using the normal cable. Check out the link, it shows the special cable you need that has a small circuit board built in. Here is a link that might be useful: Special USB to USB connector

RW type disks, whether it be CD or DVD, should only be used for short term storage. Either type disks will let you transfer files to a different computer. If you use the RW type disks you can edit the files on the disks. If you use the R type disks you can copy the files to a computer, then edit the files, and then put them on another disk, R or RW. RW type disks are not a reliable storage media. If you are just moving a file from one computer to another you shouldn't delete the original until until the copy is safely on the other computer. If you are just wanting to back up files on your computer, use the R type disks and make a new copy periodically. If you have a small number of files to back up consider using a web service to store them or get a USB jump drive. (very handy to have). Whatever backup solution you choose remember, it won't work if you don't use it. Pooh Bear

I'm now leaning more towards doing the transfers through external hard drive (gulp) - however, I'm confused on how to hook up the new computer with the old computer still hooked up. Would I just plug it in, and then connect it to our wireless home network? It seems the (old) monitor has only one hook-up spot which the old computer is plugged into. Should I wait for the new monitor to arrive (which is supposed to be about a month from now according to the estimated delivery date)? Or do I need the new computer hooked into a monitor just for transferring data? Now I'm thinking maybe I just need the new computer plugged into the monitor, and the XP computer not plugged in - lol - I'm confused. Maybe I should wait until everything arrives.