Cheap linux box

  My trusty laptop batteries started to deteriorate.  I also realized that editing pictures over the network via the NFS isn't that effective.  The problem was that I didn't tag my pictures properly, since I didn't think I would ever want, or need to create picture collections of say family, or travel etc...
  I decided to build a box, for under $250 I got a pretty good deal.  I already had the monitor, since I used the laptop with dual monitors, and I had 2 Hard drives as well.  Final build :

• MSI s775 G41M-P28
• Intel E6600 3.06Ghz
• 8 GB DDR3 Memory
• 2x 500GB SATA drives using Software raid 1
• Intel GMA x4500 built in graphics
• 22" LG 1680x1050
• TP-Link Gigabit Router 
• OS Ubuntu 12.04

  I hope it turns out to be good, I still need to think of a backup strategy.  Having a NAS which has a media server, I don't think I need to store the music and video files on my local HDD...

Made the jump to 11.10 Oneiric

Before this version, I had 10.04, but was intrigued by getting the latest and baddest.  So I finally decided to  make the jump.  After disabling Unity, and getting Gnome to work almost as it was, a classical view.  Not perfect yet but I think I can live with this.  I've also been experimenting with Archlinux, which I think is a great distribution, and I think I will have that on my budget box that I am building.  One thing that I need a computer for, is surfing, reading and sometimes photo editing.  So I don't need a speed deamon, yet, not that weak that makes my current laptop look like speedy gonzales.  So stay tuned for more on the new new cheap box, and what I build on it.